KARMAS (PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS) - AN AYURVEDIC REVIEW

The word Karma refers to by which the action will be take place. It is responsible for Samyoga(Combination), Vibhaga(Division) and is resides in Dravya. The characteristics of Dravya are Rasa, Guna, Virya, Vipaka, Prabhava. These are the physical and chemical characteristics of the drug. The drug undergo physical and chemical changes because of action of the enzymes(Pitta or Agni), in the gastro intestinal tract, in Yakrit(Liver), and in Dhatus(Tiisues), there after it produces two different types of actions viz; General actions and Specific actions. The general action can be termed as Karma. It is takes place as manifested in accordance with Rasa(Taste), Guna(Qualities or Attributes), Veerya(Potency), and Vipaka(Taste at post digestive effect). whereas the Specific action termed as Prabhava. The Prabhava is the special efficacy of the drug which cannot be explained by means of Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipaka. It is also called as Achintya Veerya, Shakti, Vichitra Pratyayarabdha, Vikriti Vishama Samaveta, Anavadharaniya, Swabhava. Here an attempt is made to highlight the important pharmacological action in an Ayurvedic view with examples. Further scope of study is to evaluate these pharmacological actions with modern parameters.