Pāda Catuṣtaya Flashcards
What is Pāda catuṣtaya?
The quadrants for effective disease management
What are the 4 quadrants of Pāda catuṣtaya?
bhiṣak (physician)
dravya(therapeutic substances)
upasthātā (nurse /caregiver)
rogī (patient)
What are the 4 qualities of dravya?
- Bahu kalpa (can be turned into multiple formulations)
- Bahu guṇa (possessing multiple qualities / broad-spectrum)
- Saṃ panna (easily available and with requisite curative values)
- Yogya (should be given in the right context)
What makes up an Śreṣṭa Vaidya (Ideal Physician)?
A physician who has the ability to utilize appropriate dravya according to the condition of rogī
What is “dravya”?
a substance in which properties (Guṇa) and actions (Karma) reside and maintain an inherent relation (Samavāyasaṃbandha) with them - cannot separate the quality or property from dravya
What theory is Ayurveda based on?
kārya - kāra ṇatheory
What is the kārya - kāra ṇa theory?
Kārya – kāra ṇa theory says that anything in this universe is produced by some cause. Every cause has an effect and this effect may be a cause for another effect. Right from the origin of the universe to the evolvement of human beings to the origin of diseases, at each and every event, this theory can be found and explained.
What are the two classifications of dravya?
Āhāra (Rasa -dominant)
Auṣadha (Vīrya dominant)
Substances that act through rasas are called Āhara and those which work through potency are called vīrya.
What does Āhāra dravya do?
nourishes the tissues and gives strength, mass, and energy
What does Auṣadha dravya do?
shows specific pharmacological actions in the body and helps to bring balance
Give an example of “Properties of substances get certain therapeutic actions done in the body.”
Rough quality (guṇa) of Guggulu (dravya) causes scraping action, which is useful in lowering cholesterol build-up in the arteries.
What forms the basis of pharmacological action according to Ayurveda?
Gunas
What is a guna?
the quality of dravya through which action takes place and is inseparable from dravya
How many GURVĀDI GUṆA (PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES) are there?
Ten pairs of contrasting qualities.
Explain this guna: Guru – Heavy, Bṛṃhaṇa
Nourishing - Increases the body tissues, imparts heaviness to the body, and is heavy to digest
E.g. Blackgram, Aśvagandhā
Explain this guna: Laghu – Light, Laṅghana
Reducing - Decreases body tissues, makes the body light, and is easy to digest
E.g. Greengram, Black Pepper
Explain this guna: Śīta or Hima – Cold, Stambhana
It is arresting - Obstructs motion in the body and constricts the channels; reduces temperature or imparts coldness.
E.g. Sandalwood, Vetiver
Explain this guna: Uṣṇa – Hot, Svedana
Fermenting - Increases perspiration; increases temperature or imparts heat
E.g., Dry Ginger, Citraka
Explain this guna: Snigdha – Oily, Kledana
Moistening - Creates moistness in the body
E.g. Eraṇḍa, Licorice
Explain this guna: Rūk ṣa – Dry, Śoṣaṇa
Absorbing - Creates dryness and absorbs fluids
E.g., Śilājatu, Barley
Explain: Manda - Slow, Dull,Śamana
Slowing - Having the least amount of mobility, pacifies aggravated Pitta, increases Kapha
E.g., Śatāvari, Anantamūla
Explain: Tīk ṣṇa– Sharp/Penetrating, Śodhana
Penetrating - Loosens doṣas from the body, responsible for sharpness/ quickness
E.g., Citraka, Bhallātaka
Explain: Sthira – Stable, Dhāra
Stabilizing - Provides stability/ firmness
E.g., Bala, Vidārī
Explain: Sara – Flowing, Prērana
Stimulating - Stimulates motion
E.g., Harītakī, Trivṛt
Explain: Mṛdu– Soft, Ślathana
Loosening - Is soft and gentle on the body
E.g., Licorice, ghee
Explain: Kaṭhina– Hard, Dṛḍ hīkaraṇa
Hardening - Imparts a firmness to the body
E.g., Conch shell, Coral
Explain: Picchila – Slimy, stickiness, Lepana
Adhering - Gives coating
E.g., Śālmali, Psyllium Husk
Explain: Viśada– Cleans, Viśada
That which cleanses the body
E.g., Neem, Honey
Explain: Ślak ṣṇa – Smooth, Ropaṇa
That which heals
E.g., Licorice, Dugdha pāṣā ṇa (Talcum)
Explain: Khara - Rough, Lekhana
Scrapes the channels
E.g., Guggulu, Kaṭukā
Explain: Sthūla-Gross, Bulky, Samvaraṇā
Covering - Occupies the space
E.g., Vidārī, Aśvagandhā
Explain: Sūk ṣma – Subtle, Vivaraṇa
Pervading - Penetrates the channels
E.g., Pepper, Honey
Explain: Sāndra– Dense, Prasādana
Solidifying - Nourishes, soothe, and purifies tissues
E.g., Butter, cream
Explain: Drava - Liquid, Vilo ḍana
Liquifying - Helps secretion and spreads to the tissues
E.g., Milk, castor oil
What is rasa?
The special sense object perceived through the tongue (Rasanendriya). It refers to the total subjective experience arising from placing any substance in the mouth. Rasa is a directly perceivable parameter for herb identification.
How many Different meanings of rasa are there? Name them.
4 that is applied in different contexts in Ayurveda.
- Bhakṣāyati
- Gacchati
- Prasārati
- Āsvādyate
what is Āsvādyate
relishing - This meaning is used in the context of Dravyaguṇaśāstra for the taste of herbs
What is Prasārati?
spreading - That which spreads faster in the human body is called Rasa. This is used to represent expressed juice of a herb in the context of Ayurvedic pharmacology.
What is Gacchati?
constant motion / circulation -
That which moves constantly in a cyclic pattern is called Rasa. This meaning implies to the first formed dhātu in Ayurvedic physiology.
What is Bhakṣāyati?
consuming - Rasa is used as a synonym for mercury in Vedic Alchemy since it engulfs other metals like gold and silver
