Dravyaguṇa Vijñāna (Ayurvedic Pharmacology) — A Complete Overview

Dravyaguṇa Vijñāna (Ayurvedic Pharmacology) — A Complete Overview

Dravyaguṇa Vijñāna is the branch of Ayurveda that deals with the properties, actions, and therapeutic uses of medicinal substances, mainly herbs. It is comparable to modern pharmacology and pharmacognosy, but with a more holistic approach. Instead of focusing only on chemical constituents, Ayurveda evaluates a substance based on its inherent qualities, energy, taste, and post-digestive effect. This knowledge forms the foundation of Ayurvedic treatment.

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1. Meaning of Dravyaguṇa

• Dravya = medicinal substance (plant, mineral, animal origin)

• Guṇa = qualities

• Vijñāna = scientific understanding

Thus, Dravyaguṇa Vijñāna means the science that explains a drug’s nature, qualities, actions, and therapeutic value.

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2. Sources of Dravya (Medicinal Substances)

Ayurveda uses three primary sources:

1. Vanaspati (Plants) – roots, leaves, bark, flowers, fruits, seeds

2. Pashu (Animal products) – milk, ghee, honey, bile, etc.

3. Minerals & Metals – gold, copper, mica, sulphur (after proper purification)

Plants form the largest group, making Ayurveda the world’s oldest herbal medicine system.

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3. The Six Fundamental Principles (Ṣaḍ-Padārtha) of Dravyaguṇa

Ayurveda evaluates every drug using six characteristics:

A. Rasa (Taste)

Six tastes: madhura, amla, lavaṇa, kaṭu, tikta, kaṣāya.
Taste reflects the basic pharmacological nature of the drug.

B. Guṇa (Qualities)

20 qualities like heavy/light, oily/dry, cold/hot, soft/hard.
They influence how a drug behaves in the body.

C. Vīrya (Potency)

• Heating (uṣṇa)

• Cooling (śīta)
  Determines immediate therapeutic effect.

D. Vipāka (Post-digestive Effect)

Three types: madhura, amla, kaṭu.
Represents long-term metabolic action.

E. Prabhāva (Specific Action)

Unique or unexplained special effect not covered by rasa-guṇa-vīrya-vipāka.
Example: Guggulu reduces cholesterol despite heavy nature.

F. Karma (Therapeutic Action)

Actions like Vatanulomana, Deepana, Pachana, Rasayana, Lekhana, Bhedana, Shothahara etc.

Together, they determine a drug’s complete pharmacological profile.

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4. Panchabhautika Siddhānta (Five-Element Theory)

Every drug is made of five elements — Prithvi, Ap, Teja, Vayu, Akasha.
Their proportion decides:

• drug strength

• drug action

• suitable diseases

• impact on doṣas

Example: Tejas-dominant drugs reduce Kapha; Ap-dominant drugs nourish tissues.

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5. Relationship Between Doṣa and Dravya

A fundamental rule:

• Like increases like (Sāmānya principle)

• Opposite decreases opposite (Viśeṣa principle)

Thus:

• Hot drugs ↓ Vata & Kapha, ↑ Pitta

• Cold drugs ↓ Pitta, ↑ Kapha

• Dry/light drugs ↓ Kapha, ↑ Vata

This is the core of Ayurvedic drug selection.

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6. Classification of Dravyas

Ayurvedic texts classify herbs for easy therapeutic use:

A. Based on Action (Karma Varga)

Charaka lists groups such as:

• Deepaniya (digestive stimulants)

• Pachaniya (digestive enhancers)

• Mutrasangrahaniya (urinary astringents)

• Chardinigrahana (antiemetics)

• Jwaraghna (antipyretics)

• Kushthaghna (anti-skin disease)

• Kasahara (anti-cough)

• Shothahara (anti-inflammatory)

B. Based on Botanical Similarities

Dashamoola, Triphala, Trikatu, Panchakola, etc.

C. Based on Habitat

• Jangala (dry forests)

• Anupa (marshy lands)

• Sādhāraṇa (common areas)

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7. Anupāna (Vehicle/Substance Taken with the Drug)

The same herb produces different effects depending on the vehicle:

• Milk – nourishing

• Ghee – penetrating and calming

• Honey – scraping effect

• Hot water – digestive enhancing

Anupāna is a unique Ayurvedic concept influencing drug delivery.

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8. Collection, Preservation & Preparation

Ayurveda describes:

• Best season for collecting roots, leaves, flowers

• How to preserve potency

• How to prepare kwathas, churnas, arishtas, lehams, tailas, and ghrtas

This ensures maximum therapeutic effectiveness.

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9. Importance of Dravyaguṇa Vijñāna

Dravyaguṇa is essential because it helps the physician to:

• Understand drug selection scientifically

• Predict a drug’s effect on doṣas and tissues

• Choose proper dosage, vehicle, and time of administration

• Prevent adverse effects

• Personalize treatment for each patient

It bridges classical knowledge with clinical practice.

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Summary — What Dravyaguṇa Vijñāna Teaches

• Nature of medicinal substances

• Their qualities, potencies, actions

• Their effects on doṣas and dhātus

• Their preparation and clinical application

• Holistic understanding of pharmacology

Dravyaguṇa Vijñāna is the heart of Ayurvedic therapeutics, guiding every prescription.