4. Bheshajagara ( Rasashala) Pharmacy .pptx

Ayurveda Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana

1. Bheşajāgāra / Rasaśālā (The Drug Manufacturing Unit) Dr. Nishigandha Chaudhari MD (RSBK) Asst. Prof. of RSBK Ananya College of Ayurved Kalol, Gandhinagar

2. In Ayurveda, there was no separate mention of pharmaceutics in the early period. This branch of learning was also dealt with while describing the treatment part of the diseases. Hence the details regarding pharmaceutics are not found described at one place collectively.

3. As and when required such details were given in ancient texts of Ayurveda. In ancient times all the physicians used to prepare their own medicine, they were supposed to know the preparation methods of various types of medicaments

4. From the historical view, upto the 7 th century, it may be said that herbal preparation was used for curative purposes after this period, the usage of minerals and metals for therapeutic purposes started. As these minerals could not be used orally in their mineral/metallic form, they found it necessary to have a specialized technical knowledge for converting minerals & metals into bhasma .

5. Hence the concept of separate branch of learning known as “Rasa- Sastra” including the concept of Rasa-Sala and Rasa- vaidyas emerged in the field of Ayurveda. Auşadha nirmana kendra or pharmacy is always expected to be a quite hygienic and workable place with all facilities. We put up many rules and regulations for its establishment under the umbrella of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) now-a-days. In the similar way our ancient acharyas were much concerned about minutest parts of the bheşajägăra / rasasälä .

6. They concentrated not only on the construction of the manufacturing unit but also on the selection of place for construction, interior plans and arrangements, appointment of skilled attendants for different sections of pharmacy etc. This chapter deals in brief about few of the classical references about the establishment of manufacturing unit .

7. Selected area/interiors of Bheşajāgāra / Rasaśāla : (R. T. 1/13-14) The place selected should be; 1. Clean, hygienic and plain area. 2. It should look beautiful with adequate water resources and lot of vegetation around.

8. 3. The unit building should look good with sufficient ventilation. 4. The building area should be situated away from trespassers. 5. All the drugs are to be neatly arranged in specific order with neat labelling. 6. The unit should have the pictures of Lord Šiva on the walls. 7. The unit should comprise adequate machineries old and modern to ease the process of preparation.

9. II. The plan of Bheşajāgāra / Rasasālä : (R. R. S.7/3-5) The plan showing different directions and the particular work to be carried out; 1. In the 'eastern block' of the manufacturing unit ' Rasabhairava ' should be placed; 2. Agni- samskaraņa procedures are to be carried out in south-east( āgneya ) block of the unit; 3. Paşāņa karma (pounding, grinding etc) is carried out in southern ( yāmya or dakşiņa ) block

10. 4. Sastra karma (cutting, slicing etc) has to be done in south west ( nairrtya ) block; 5. Kşālana karma (washing, soaking etc) are restricted to west ( varuņa or paścima ) block; 6. Soşana (drying) has to be done in north-west ( vāyavya ) block; 7. Vedhana karma is performed in northern ( uttara ) block; 8. For storing raw materials and finished products, northeastern blocks ( aišānya ) are to be used;

11. Moreover the setup of manufacturing units basically depend availability of place for the whole setup, amount of work carried out a day, use of machineries in the unit, water source available etc, Now a days GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) makes it mandator to build manufacturing units as per its strict norms (refer the chapter DCA GMP). Eventually it is all required to bring out the desired quality and standard in the products manufactured.

12. III. Paricăraka (Attendant) : (R. R. S.7/27) 1. The assistants in the manufacturing units should be clean from the hygienic point of view. 2. He should be brave enough to carry out the given work efficiently. 3. He is expected to be physically strong to endure the heavy work load of the unit.

13. IV. Drug keeper: (R. R. S.7/35) 1. Persons with adequate experience to know the names of the raw drugs and furnished products are to be appointed for this work. 2. Appointed person should be clean and good natured. 3. He should have good general knowledge. 4. He is supposed to know many languages for better interaction with the customers. Such a person suits well for drug keeper job.

14. V. Pākakarmaghna : 1. The assistant of pāka-sālā should be first and foremost hygienic and should understand the essentiality of hygiene at pāka-śālā . 2. He should be a truth speaking person. 3. He should be the person who believes in the existence of God. 4. He should have full control over his mind. (R. R. S.7/36) 5. He is also expected not to have any doubts regarding the manufacturing work assigned to him. In other words, he should be expert in the work and a quick learner.

15. VI. Storage of raw materials: The drug storage techniques are to be followed with utmost care and intelligence as the potency of the raw drugs has to be retained until the stored drug goes into a preparation. For this our classics also have emphasized the fact of proper storage of drug materials and the store house.

16. As per Suśruta the methods of drug storage are said as below; According to Acharya Sushruta ( Su . Sa. 36/17) The raw drugs required for the preparation of medicines are to be stored in cloth, mud pots, drugs hanged in cloths/gunny bags or specially designed hangars to the roof of the store house or to the nails ( sańku ) fixed in the walls. East or north direction of the storehouse is preferred for storing the drugs.

17. According to Acharya Charak (Ca. Ka. 1/11) The drugs collected are to be stored in suitable containers, neatly arranged in a store house facing east or north with regulated air entry. The house should be fumigated ( puspa , upahāra , balikarma ) frequently. The drugs inside should remain unaffected by fire, water, upasweda (temperature from earth), smoke, dust, rats and other animals. In such a place the drugs are to be neatly tied and hung to the walls and roof

18. Plan of modern pharmacies : The plans of each pharmacy solely depend on the place available for the construction of building and the scale of production (small, medium and large-scale production). The below given plan includes all the essential sections to be considered before preparing the plan for the pharmacy building.

19. Ideal plan for construction of pharmacy: A mediocre manufacturing unit will have all the compartments and the blueprint mentioned below; Wash and change room for workers Pounding and pulverization Drying of raw drugs Raw drug receiving and storage Washing and soaking section Conference hall Fermentation section Research and Development (R & D) section Filling and bottling section PASSAGEWAY Statue of Lord Siva Packaging and Labelling Manufacturing unit Storage of the finished products ENTRANCE Dispensing section Administrative block and Office

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