Angamarda Prashamana Gana – Analgesic Group Of Herbs Of Charaka

By Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD.
‘Angamarda’ refers to squeezing kind of pain what a person experiences due to the Vata predominant condition. In vata kapha associated conditions also this may be complained by the patients. 

Here, due to the altogether vitiation of vata dosha the dosha spreads all over the body and hence the pain is found in most parts of the body at a time. Especially, the pain complained by such patients in the deep muscular area as well as in joints.

So the drugs prescribed in such cases should be the potent herbs to counteract the deep sited vata and that too with its full extent. The drugs referred here must act as nutritive/nourishing as well as soothing too.

Angamarda Prashamana Gana

The drugs explained under this heading and their characteristic features are explained here below –

Let us review the quality and action of these drugs one by one in brief –
1. Vidarigandha (Desmodium gangeticum ) – Roots
Neuro muscular stabilizer, energizer, anti inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic etc.

2. Prushniparni (Uraria picta Desv. ) – Roots
Immune modulator, tissue replenisher, analgesic, anti inflammatory etc.

3. Brihati – Solanum indicum – Roots
Anti asthmatic, broncho dilator, anti inflammatory, analgesic, immune modulator etc.

4. Kantakarika – Solanum xanthocarpum – Roots
Broncho dilator, anti tussive, anti inflammatory, anti bacterial, anti fungal etc.

5. Eranda (Ricinus communis Linn.) – Roots
Anti inflammatory, analgesic, aphrodisiac, cholegogue, laxative, scraping etc.

6. Kakoli – Fritillaria roylei – Root
Rejuvinative, galactogogue, nourishing, soothener etc.

7. Chandana – Sandalwood – Santalum album – Heart wood
Blood purifier, coolant, diuretic, complexion enhancer etc.

8. Ushira – Vetiver – Vetiveria zizanioides – Roots
Diuretic, coolant, soothener, anti bacterial, complexion enhancer etc.

9. Ela (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) –Fruits
Anti tussive, blood purifier, diuretic, immune modulator, adaptogenic etc. 

10. Madhuka– Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra – Root
Expectorant, rejuvinative, cholegogue, complexion enhancer etc.

Qualities,Therapeutic uses

Qualities in general and actions of Angamardaprashamana gana drugs:
The drugs referred here are unctuous, heavy, thich and stable in nature. Most of the drugs are bitter mixed sweet in taste. They are hot in potency (majority) and pungent in metabolic change.

These drugs act as anti inflammatory, analgesic, immune modulator, stabilizer and adaptogenic in character.

Therapeutic uses of Angamardaprashamana gana drugs:
The Angamardaprashamana drugs are effective in arthritis, body ache, neuralgia, colic pain, asthma, chronic pain etc. 

Ayurvedic medicines

Formulations containing Angamardaprashamana drugs :
Vidarigandhadi kashaya, Dashamoolarishtha, Gandharvahastadi kashaya, Erandamooladi kashaya, Kakolyadi kashay, Dashamoola kashaya, Chandanadya taila, Dashamoola bala kashya etc are the important formulations of this group.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of Angamardaprashamana gana drugs:
As such these drugs are not having any absolute contra indications. But the Brihat panchamoola drugs referred in this group are hot in potency and hence it should be administered with caution in children.

Simple formulations

Simple formulations that can be made from the above drugs and their application in routine practice:
Castor root decoction is effective in body ache, back ache, arthritis etc. The medicated oil prepared by the drugs like Chandana – Usheera – Kakoli etc found to be effective for the application as well as massage in majority of Vatic complaints. 

Formulation development opportunities

There is a huge demand for the massage oils in recent days. Also the pain relieving oils are the products which have ever demand. Hence by using the drugs referred here potent pain relieving oils can be prepared and marketed.

The people who very often complain of body ache especially after heavy exercise or work can have the oil prepared out of such drugs.
Click to consult Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD