Herbology Foundation

Question 1

What is Dravya Guna Shastra?

Answer 1

Dravya (substance) Guna (qualities) Shastra (science) Is the branch of Ayurvedic herbology that deals with qualities, actions and uses of substances such as medicine and food

Question 2

What is the law of uniformity?

Answer 2

This is the law of nature that Ayurveda accepts. According to the law of uniformity, substances and living bodies are similar in composition, both being the products of the same cosmic forces.

Question 3

What are the basic concepts of a substance?

Answer 3

This covers the basic qualities of a substance on which all other aspects of Ayurvedic herbology are based. It includes Rasa, Virya, Vipaka, Prabhava, Gunas and Actions.

Question 4

What is Pharmacognosy?

Answer 4

Pharmacognosy (Nam Roop Vigyan) deals with the substances botanical family, name, morphology (form and shape of a plant), histology and includes the effect of ecology (how plants interact and are effected by their environment) on these substances

Question 5

What is pharmacy?

Answer 5

Pharmacy (Sanyoga Vigyan) deals with the different combinations and preparations of substances

Question 6

What are the 2 branches for ‘The Administration of Herbs’?

Answer 6

Pharmacodynamics (Guna Karmavigyan) includes the qualities of substances and their effect in different body organs.

Pharmacotherapeutics (Prayoga Vigyan) is this use of substances in relation to different ailment, on the basis of their quality and action.

Question 7

What are the two branches or part of Pharmacotherapeutics (Prayoga Vigyan)?

Answer 7

Clinical Pharmacology - the study of drugs in humans

Pyscho - Pharmacology - the scientific study of the effects of drugs on mood, sensation, thinking and behaviour

Question 8

Classification of medicine is determined by what?

Answer 8

The source of derivation or where the substance is derived

Question 9

What are the two type of sources that substances are derived from?

Answer 9

Chetna (animate or organic) - Those in which a soul is present e.g an animal or plant

Achetna (inanimate or inorganic) - Those in which a soul is not present e.g minerals and metals

Question 10

What are the 4 types of animal products (Jangam)

Answer 10

1. Jaryu (Mammals)
2. Andaj (Born from eggs, such as birds)
3. Swedaja (Those that originate from sweat or moisture, such as insects)
4. Udbhijja (Born from the earth, such as frogs)

Question 11

What are the four types of plants?

Answer 11

1. Vanaspati (Plants that do not flower or tall trees)
2. Virudha (Soft shrubs or weak plants)
3. Vanaspatya (Medium trees which have visible flowers and fruit, such as mango and jambu)
4. Aushudhi (Plants which perish after fruit has been produced, such as Yava or Durbha)