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Dravyaguna is an integral part of Ayurvedic system of medicine. Dravya refers to constituent of the universe and guna signifies property. Study of Dravyaguna is based on seven parameters (Dravya, guna, rasa, vipaka, virya, prabhava and karma), which are described as the nucleus of Ayurvedic drug formulation. According to Ayurvedic concept, all the constituents of the universe are medicinally useful. As far as origin of drugs is concerned, Ayurvedic formulations are based on medicinal plants, minerals, animals, poison or marine source.
Ayurveda has eight divisions are all these are interrelated. In modern terminology, Dravyaguna can be compared with Materia Medica or more accurately with Pharmacognosy. Keeping in view, the growing trends in Ayurveda, the study of Dravyaguna has become important.
Recently, NCISM has revamped the undergraduate syllabus of subjects including Dravyaguna (Ayurvedic materia medica and pharmacology). The syllabus designed by the Central Council of Indian Medicine stands obsolete. The attempt seems to add an analytical approach to Dravyaguna and other subjects. The practical syllabus is however imposing challenges to the teaching faculty in terms of conducting the practical. The main fact is lacking of a standard Dravyaguna practical book. Thus proper implementation of the new practical syllabus is facing initial hiccups. On the whole, the syllabus has glimpses of pharmacognosy rather than Dravyaguna.
Pharmacognosy is correlated with the pharmacy profession while Dravyaguna is a core subject of Ayurveda although they have some similarities.
The practical syllabus designed by CCIM was simple and easy to execute. No doubt, the syllabus designed by NCISM has long term advantages as compared to CCIM.
A major issue is the lack of pharmacognosy laboratory in Dravyaguna department of the majority of the Ayurvedic colleges for carrying out practical mentioned in the new syllabus. If any college has a Pharmacognosy laboratory attached with Dravyaguna department a Pharmacognosy professional is lacking. Some of the colleges have hired services of a part-time Pharmacognosy professional.
A trained professional in Dravyaguna is competent enough to teach theory but exposure to Pharmacognosy methods or herbarium techniques is a rare finding. However, theoretical and practical approach in Dravyaguna is entirely a different issue.
The syllabus dealing with the theory of Dravyaguna is a little bit confusing. With respect to phytochemistry as contradiction is seen in the syllabus. On one side, phytochemistry of medicinal plants has not been included in the syllabus. On the other side, correlates of the six tastes with phytochemistry have been retained. Estimation of phytochemicals has been mentioned in the practical syllabus. Even in the old syllabus designed by CCIM the study of chemical constituents of medicinal plants was a missing link.
Research methods in Dravyaguna are the need of the hour. NCISM has taken a bold step but implementation has certain practical limitations. No set methods have been invented for the laboratory detection of tastes, potency and properties of the drugs. Whatever practical attempts have been made are rudimentary and standardization studies are required.
Adding Pharmacognosy flavour to Dravyaguna is a welcome step but of little significance in enhancing the practical value of Dravyaguna. There is a scarcity of standard books dealing with practical courses of Dravyaguna. Whatever limited books are available have been written as per CCIM syllabus.
Since the conduction of the practical lessons in dravyaguna has application of botany and pharmacognosy, application of these subjects should be included in theory as well.
Practical work in dravyaguna has been an integral part irrespective of the course BAMS, MD - Ayurveda (Dravyaguna) or post graduate diploma in Dravyaguna. Even M. Pharm Dravyaguna has sufficient practical work in the curriculum. Diploma in Ayurvedic drug standardization has a good amount of practical work.
Experts have shown relationship of Dravyaguna with Ethnopharmacology, reverse pharmacology and latestly with network pharmacology. In fact, these disciplines have application of pharmacology and scattered medical institutions in India have the facility of conducting exploratory work.
If practical scope of Dravyaguna has to be validated then NCISM must come up with a strategy to introduce theoretical and practical aspects of Ethnopharmacology, reverse pharmacology and network pharmacology. Network pharmacology and bioinformatics is part of the theory syllabus the UG course.
Here it is important to mention that Ayurvedic pharmacology based on Dravyaguna is distinct from herbal pharmacology. Instead of introducing Pharmacognosy standards in the syllabus emphasis should have been on studies paving way for practical understanding of rasa panchaka. Preliminary methods to determine virya and vipaka of crude drugs have been published in the journals.
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India is a fundamental publication of Dravyaguna when it comes to the theory and practical syllabus. Even Ayurvedic Formulary of India has a direct or indirect link with practical aspects of Dravyaguna.
Relevant portions of the pharmacopoeia should be added to the syllabus so as to make student conversant with the subject.
The postgraduate syllabus for Dravyaguna has not been published so far and the experience with the undergraduate syllabus is an eye opener. In absence of suitable guidelines faculty and students are finding it difficult to follow the syllabus.
CCRAS has recommended protocol for ASU drug development, standardization and quality parameters. Drug standardization work in Pharmacopoeial Laboratory for Indian Medicine is very much acclaimed. This type of work should be introduced in Dravyaguna department of all recognized Ayurvedic colleges. For this, strong practical knowledge is required and this can be achieved only by exposure.
Practical syllabus must include assays for the estimation of active constituents of medicinal plants used in Ayurveda. Estimation of the marker compounds in the finished herbal/Ayurvedic products is another area worth consideration. Protocols and standard operating procedures described in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India are must for having sound practical knowledge.
Apparently the pharmacognosy facilities seem to be a distant dream for Ayurvedic institutions. Government Ayurvedic institutions may have a facility for drug testing laboratory but private have no option except for collaborating with pharmacy college or pharmaceutical industry.
If practical syllabus of Dravyaguna designed by CCIM and NCISM are compared together, the omission of animal products of the later is astonishing. Kasturi (musk) , pravala (coral) , shankha (conch) and muktashukti (oyster) are some familiar animal products used in Ayurvedic therapeutics and various formulations incorporate them. Mrigashringa and godanti may be of historic significance but have remained cornerstone of the ancient treatment protocols.
In case of CCIM designed dravyaguna practical syllabus study of the morphological features of the animal products was integral part. The animal products may have more application in Rasa Shastra curriculum but find mention in Dravyaguna texts including Ayurvedic Materia Medica.
The knowledge of Dravyguna is scattered in be correct and suitable for the theme of their own creations. It becomes the prime responsibility of a teacher to convey this scattered knowledge to the students in a very systematic and organized way without any confusion and controversies. Generally, the teacher adopts their own methods based on their experiences to teach Dravyaguna in their classes. Unfortunately, most of the methods are only limited to convey the traditional understanding of drugs without any experimental model or practical demonstration which only make the students prepare for the exams. Thus necessary steps are important in implementing the practical syllabus of Dravyaguna for compliance purpose.
(Author is a herbal consultant, based in Mohali - 160062)
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