28.6

Dosage Forms

There is a long list of prescriptions either in from of single herbs or poly-herbal

combinations to act as immunity booster under the prescribed dosage by the

physician in different forms. Dose of the drug prescribed by the physician varies

from man to man as per the age, Prakriti and Doshas of the individual. Some of the

dosage forms are:

1. Mishran (Mixtures): Containing two or more than drug formulation which may

be in powdered form or liquid.

2. Ekal Dravya Aushadhi (Monoherbal Preparations): Medicinal products that

contain only a single herb or an extract thereof as an active ingredient.

3. Hima (Cold Infusion): It is obtained by soaking one part of herbs in six parts of

water overnight and then scoured and filtered.

4. Phanta (Hot Infusion): Powder or coarse powder is prepared of the drug

material, and then it is poured in four times the quantity of hot water in boiling

stage (but not heated further from heat source), and the same is retained as such

for some time. Afterward in hot state itself, it is strained or filtered, and this

preparation is known as Phanta (hot infusion).

5. Saar (Extracts): Concentrate sap of the crude drug which is a mixture of active

ingredients in liquid or viscous form.

6. Swarasa (Juice): The liquid extract of fresh, green, and clean herbs collected by

squeezing, using pressure, or using any instrument is known as Swarasa which

has to be to be pasteurized or treated with ultrahigh temperature to enhance the

shelf life.

7. Kwath (Decoction): The liquid prepared by simmering 1 part of herbs in

16 parts (or 1/8 or ¼) of water and reducing it to 1/8 parts (or ¼) of water is

known as Kwath.

8. Kalka (Paste): The paste made by crushing and grinding fresh herbs is known

as Kalka. It also includes paste made by dried herbs along with water.

9. Churan (Powder): It is a fine-powdered form of drugs. When made in coarse

form for making the decoction, it is known as Kashaya or Kwath Churna.

10. Sharvat (Syrups): It is a viscous preparation containing more than 50% sucrose,

mainly used as flavoring agents, to mask an unpleasant taste of the ingredients.

11. Taila (Medicinal Oils): Tailas are the preparations in which Taila (oil) is boiled

with prescribed Kashaya (decoction) and Kalkas of drugs according to the

formulation. This process ensures absorption of active therapeutic properties

of the ingredients used.

12. Asava and Arista (Fermented Syrups): Asavas and Arka are medicinal

preparations made by soaking the drugs, either in powder form or in form of

Kasaya (Decoction), in a solution of sugar or jaggery, as the case may be, for a

specific period of time, during which it undergoes a process of fermentation

generating alcohol, thus facilitating the extraction of the active principles

contained in the drugs. The alcohol, so generated, also serves as a preservative.

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