Ayurvedic processing of plants.

December 29, 2001

Dear Frater-mercurius, Regarding your query on

eastern (or rather ayurvedic) methods of processing herbs

i would like to state that there are basically 5

methods of processing plants which is known as

pancha-kashaya. These are :- 1) swaras (juice) 2) kalka

(pulp) 3) kadha (decoction) 4) heem (cold

infusion) 5) phant (hot infusion) These are the basic

processes. Once you obtain either of these then you can

process them in various ways by using ghee, oil, sugar or

by fermentation etc. Which process should be used

on the reult desired from the final product and also

its use. Generally oil is not used for preparing

internal medication but it can be used under certain

circumstances. Rather oils prepared for external use are given orally

if the need arises. The process of extracting a

plant using alcohol is not existant in ayurveda nad

hence you wont find the ratios for the same. Rather the

process of asava and arishta which can be said to be

alcohol preparation is by the way of

fermentation. Single herbs are not used for alchohol preparations

generally. If you want to prepare from Arjun you might try

the procedure for "Arjunarishta" or

"Arjun-Kshir-pak". I do hope you have some material regarding

ayurvedic preparations where you might get the

references. Regarding alcoholic preparations increasing pitta that

might not be the case each time. Regarding the

example you have given for changes in properties

depending on the plant position ayurveda takes many more

factors into account before deciding such

things. Hope this answers have satisfied you a bit. The

topics ou have raised are very vast and cannot be

answered at one go. We will try our best to help you in

your work.

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