A LITERARY REVIEW ON ATIVISHA (ACONITUM HETEROPHYLLUM WALL EX. ROYLE): AN IMPORTANT AYURVEDIC DRUG WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO BRIHADTRAYEE AND NIGHANTUS

Abstract

Ayurveda, the science of life, is both systematized knowledge and practical wisdom, an art of healthy living that encompasses all phases of life, body, mind and spirit. Ayurveda uses different indigenous plant products to treat various ailments. Phytomedicine had its genesis in India from time immemorial. There is evidence in the early Vedic period of plants being used for a wide range of medicinal purposes. Today, a number of plants are used in different Indian system of medicine. The conventional medicine is also using a lot of plant derived chemicals as therapeutic agents but there is a need to further evaluate different uses of these medicinal plants which are concealed in Ayurveda treatise. So the aim of this study is to collect and evaluate different medicinal properties of Ativisha - an endangered medicinal plant of Himalayas. It is a highly valuable drug and is mentioned in different Ayurvedic compendia like Brihadtrayee, Lagutrayee, Chikitsa grantha and Nighantus. It is a drug with high therapeutic value as the root is bitter, tonic, stomachic, digestive; alleviates dysentery and bilious complaints; good in periodic and intermittent fevers as a tonic; useful in diarrhoea and vomiting of children; useful in bites from poisonous snakes, scorpions, rats etc. Ativisha is used in various Ayurvedic preparations in which Balachaturbhadra Churna, Pushyanuga Churna, Sudarshan Churna, Chandra Prabha Vati, Yogaraja Guggul are few important preparations which are frequently used by Ayurvedic practitioners. But still there are many other medicinal uses which further need to be explored.