VIRECHANA GANA ACCORDING TO CHANDRA NIGHANTU- A REVIEW

The Virechana Gana was selected from the one of the oldest Nighantu called Chandra Nighantu. The author of this Nighantu was Acharya Chandra Nandana who was the one of the Kashmiri Pandit well versed in Ayurveda Shastra. He wrote a commentary on Asthanga Hridaya called Padartha Chandrika. The Chandra Nighantu to be placed in 12 century AD. Because one of the Kashmiri Vidwan, Kshira Swami in his Amarakosha Tika he mentioned Acharya Chandra. The Virechana Gana comprises 19 drugs among them some are liquids like Ksheera, Dadhi, Takra and Mutra. The group contains; Trivrutta, Triphala, Haritaki, Dhatri, Vibhitaki, Snuhu, Shankhini, Nilika, Lodhra, Aragwadha, Kampillaka, Swarnaksheeri, Ksheera, Mahisha Dugdha, Ushtri Dugdha, Hasthini Dugdha, Dadhi Guna, Takra Guna, Gomutra. These drugs help to induce purgation. Among these group the Trivrutta, Snuhi, Kampillaka, Swarnakshiri acts as drastic purgatives. Rest all are mild to moderate purgatives. The present works is to highlight these drugs with their botanical name, family along with pharmacological activities are mentioned in the Chandra Nighantu. The cross references were added to know the pharmacology of the purgative action.