Study of Abhava and Abhava Pratinidhi Dravyas

Abstract

The overall objectives of this study were to compile a list of ADs and APDs from Ayurvedic texts and tradition and to study the functional similarity between selected pairs of AD and APDs through a trans-disciplinary research (TDR) involving Ayurveda, phytochemistry and pharmacology studies. Enhancing the awareness about legitimate substitution among Ayurveda practitioners was also an objective. Through this PhD work, a referenced list of AD-APDs has been compiled. Twenty Ayurvedic texts written from c. 15th century BCE– 19th century CE were screened systematically to obtain a list of APDs for 156 ADs, including 123 plant drugs, 19 metals and minerals, 12 animal products and 2 processed drugs. The criteria for selecting the texts were that they should be non-controversial, completely available and recommended by Ayurvedic scholars. From the compiled list of AD-APDs, 20 pairs were prioritized for detailed analysis based on Ayurvedic principles. Two AD-APD pairs were taken up for phytochemical and pharmacological analysis.