DHANWANTHARAM GHRUTHAM – Benefits, Ingredients, Indications, Dosage, Usage, Preparation, Side effects, Equivalent Medicines, Research Papers

Dhanwantharam ghrutham is a formulation said in Ashtanga hridaya Prameha chikitsa. It is used in the management of all types of Prameha and the pidaka (abscess) which occurs in diabetic patients. It is used in snehapana (oleation therapy) prior to the panchakarma procedures. 

INDICATIONS

Dhanwantharam ghrutham is indicated in various conditions like,

• All types of Prameha
• Prameha pidaka (diabetic ulcers)
• Poisoning
• Pandu roga (anaemia)
• Vidradhi (abscess)
• Gulma (abdominal tumours)
• Haemorrhoids
• Oedema
• Ascitis
• Respiratory diseases and cough
• Vomiting
• Splenomegaly
• Rheumatoid diseases
• Skin diseases
• Psychiatric diseases

INGREDIENTS AND METHOD OF PREPARATION of Dhanwanatharam Ghrutham

Sl. No.	English name	Sanskrit name	Latin Name	Proportion
1	Coomb teak, Cashmiri tree	Kasmari	Gmelina arborea	10 pala (480 g )
2	Bael fruit	Vilwa	Aegle marmelos	480 g
3	Rose flower fragrant	Patala	Stereospermum colais	480 g
4	Indian trumpet	Syonaka	Oroxylum indicum	480 g
5	Wind killer	Agnimantha	Premna corymbosa	480 g
6	Sal leaved desmodium	Salaparni	Pseudarthria viscida	480 g
7	Indian uraria	Prisniparni	Desodium gangeticum	480 g
8	Indian night shade	Brihati	Solanum anguivi	480 g
9	Wild eggs plant	Nidigdhika	Solanum virginianum	480 g
10	Small caltrops	Gokshura	Tribulus terrestris	480 g
11	Perfume ginger	Sathi	Hedychium spicatum	480 g
12	Wild castor	Danti	Baliospermum montanum	480 g
13	Himalayan cedar	Surahva	Cedrus deodara	480 g
14	Hogweed (red variety)	Punarnava	Boerhavia diffusa	480 g
15	Hogweed(white variety)	Svetapunarnava	Boerhavia verticillata	480 g
16	Common milk Hedge	Snuhi	Euphorbia nerifolia	480 g
17	Madar	Arkamula	Calotropis  gigantea	480 g
18	Chebulic Myrobalan	Pathya	Terminalia chebula	480 g
19	Burflower tree	Bhukadamba	Neolamarckia cadamba	480 g
20	Marking nut	Arushkara	Semecarpous anacardium	480 g
21	Indian beech	Karanjamula	Pongamia pinnata	480 g
22	Three leaved caper	Varana	Crataeva magna	480 g
23	Long pepper root	Pippalimula	Piper longum (wild variety)	480 g
24	Elicampane	Pushkaramula	Inula racemosa	480 g
25	Barley	Yava	Hordeum vulgare	768 g
26	Bet fruit	Kola	Ziziphus mauritiana	768 g
27	Horse gram	Kulatha	Macrotyloma uniflorum	768 g
28	Long pepper	Pippali	Piper longum	12 g
29	Java long pepper	Chavya	Piper mullusea	12 g
30	Sweet flag	Vacha	Acorus calamus	12 g
31	Willow-leaved water croton	Nichula	Homonoia riparia	12 g
32	Rusa grass	Rohisha	Sphaeranthus indicus	12 g
33	Indian Jalap	Trivrit	Operculina turpethum	12 g
34	False black pepper	Vidanga	Embelia ribes	12 g
35	Monkey face tree	Kampilla	Mallotus philippensis	12 g
36	Turk’s turban	Bhargi	Rotheca serrata	12 g
37	Dry ginger	Viswa	Zingiber officinale	12 g
38	Ghee			1 prastha (768 ml)

METHOD OF PREPARATION

Decoction:

The drugs from No.1 to 27 are taken in specified amount and eight times water is added and boiled and reduced to one fourth. This decoction is filtered and collected to get the liquid medium for ghee preparation.

Kalka (paste of drugs)

The drugs from 28 to 37 are taken and made into fine paste.

Preparation of ghee

The ghee is taken in a vessel to which decoction and paste of drugs are added and cooked till the paste of drugs can be rolled into a wick shape without cracks. This is then filtered, collected and stored in an airtight container.

PROPERTIES OF INGREDIENTS

Sl. No.	Medicine	Properties
	Kasmari	Alleviate all the three doshas. It has stomachic, refrigerant, demulcent, laxative properties. It is being used In treatments of oedema, constipation, haemorrhoids, bleeding disorders, toxic conditions.
	Vilwa	Alleviate vata kapha dosha. It has anti-inflammatory, astringent, digestive, and stomachic properties. It is used to treat diarrhoea, vomiting, oedema, etc.
	Patala	Alleviate three doshas. It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is a liver stimulant. Used to treat oedema, asthma, vomiting, phthisis, diarrhoea.
	Syonaka	Alleviate vata kapha dosha. It is having anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-bacterial, diaphoretic and stomachic action. It is used to treat oedema, cough, ulcer, diarrhoea, fever.
	Agnimantha	Alleviate vata kapha dosha. It is having anti-inflammatory, anthelminthic properties. It is used to treat oedema, constipation, fever, haemorrhoids.
	Salaparni	Alleviate vata pitta dosha.it is having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, digestive, febrifuge and anticatarrhal actions. It is used in the treatment of oedema, cough, asthma, vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, worm infection and haemorrhoids.
	Prisniparni	It cures vitiation of tridoshas. It is having antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antiemetic, and aphrodisiac and wound healing properties.
	Brihati	Alleviate vata kapha dosha. It has properties like carminative, aphrodisiac, cardiac tonic, analgesic, antipyretic and expectorant actions.
	Nidigdhika	It cures vitiated vata kapha dosha. It is having anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, stimulant, carminative, expectorant and demulcent action. It is cardio-tonic and aphrodisiac.
	Gokshura	It alleviates all the vitiated doshas. It is having properties like diuretic, tonic, aphrodisiac, and demulcent action. It is used to treat urinary problems, calculi, oedema, depletion of semen, cough, etc.
	Sathi	Reduces vitiated kapha vata samana. Cures bad breath, cough, ulcers, respiratory disorders, fever.
	Danti	The drug spreads very easily throughout body and has a quick action. It is used in the treatment of wounds, skin diseases, cough, asthma, neuralgia, ascitis, oedema, haemorrhoids, etc.
	Surahva	Cleanses wounds, cures worm infections, skin infections, neurological disorders, chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes, excessive itching, etc.
	Punarnava	Potent Ayurvedic anti-inflammatory drug, diuretic and cures swelling. Balances Kapha vata dosha.
	Svetapunarnava	Cures vitiated kapha vata dosha. Reduces swelling, anti-inflammatory.
	Snuhi	Reduces vitiated kapha vata dosha. Used in treatment of abdominal tumours, ascitis, diabetes, skin diseases, haemorrhoids, etc.
	Arkamula	Balances vata kapha dosha. Used in treatment of worm infections, wounds, haemorrhoids, poisoning, bleeding disorders, and inflammation.
	Pathya	It is having hot potency, improves colour of skin, promotes bowel movement, improves intelligence, relieves inflammation, improve vision, intelligence and memory. It is having rejuvinative, digestive properties
	Bhukadamba	It acts as coolant, heals wound, improves sperm count,  cures bleeding disorders, anorexia, diarrhoea, poisoning, etc.
	Arushkara	Improves intelligence, act as digestant, cures skin diseases, haemorrhoids, wounds and balances vata kapha dosha.
	Karanjamula	Detoxifies vaginal diseases, cures uterine diseases, skin diseases, haemorrhoids, wounds, worm infestations, diabetes
	Varana	Cures vitiated vata kapha dosha, worm infections, gout, dysuria, abscess and blood disorders.
	Pippalimula	It breaks down thick kapha (sputum), relieves asthma, worm infestations, ascitis, bloating, splenomegaly, respiratory diseases, cough. It is digestive and improve taste.
	Pushkaramula	Balances kapha vata dosha. Cures anorexia, fever, cough, cold, inflammations, asthma, and hiccups. It has anti histaminic and broncho-dilatory effect.
	Yava	It increases intestinal motility, improves voice, digestion, strength. It is aphrodisiac and useful in diabetes.
	Kola	Balances vata pitta dosha. It relives excessive thirst, indigestion, anorexia.
	Kulatha	Reduces vitiation of kapha vata dosha. Acts as laxative, and normal movement of vata. It cures oedema, inflammation, ascitis, haemorroids.
	Pippali	Balances vata kapha vitiation. It improves digestion, anti-ageing, rejuvinative, good in respiratory disease, cough, fever, diabetes, abdominal tumours, and haemorrhoids.
	Chavya	Alleviates vata kapha doshas, it relieves anorexia, constipation, worm infestation, abdominal pain, tumours (gulma), bloating, ascitis.
	Vacha	Balances kapha vata dosha and improves intelligence. It is used in treatment of neurological disorders, obesity, fever, etc.
	Nichula	Action in skin diseases, bleeding disorders.
	Rohisha	Reduces vitiated kapha vata dosha. Used in bleeding disorders, pruritus, chronic respiratory conditions, indigestion, anorexia.
	Trivrit	It balances pitta and kapha dosha. It causes severe purgation. It cures worm infestation, infected wound, ascitis, fever, inflammation, and anaemia
	Vidanga	This is the best drug in treating worm infestation. Useful in treating skin diseases, diabetes, skin diseases, colic pain, bloating, abdominal distension. It helps in expulsion of doshas (vitiated humours) from the head.
	Kampilla	It causes severe purgation, cures vrana, ascitis, constipation, inflammation, etc.
	Bhargi	Balances kapha vata dosha, cures respiratory diseases, inflammation, indigestion, abscess and infected wounds. Useful in burning sensation.
	Viswa	It improves taste and cures anorexia. It balances vata kapha dosha. It is having anti-inflammatory property. It relieves abdominal pain, constipation, throat disorders, bloating, cough, cold, vomiting and hiccups.

The drugs included in this formulation are predominantly kapha vata samana (balances kapha and vata dosha). This ghee can be administered in various conditions considering the dosha and disease of the person. This is used for Snehana prior to elimination of the vitiated doshas in the specified conditions. This can also be given in small dose as a curative medicine.         .

DOSAGE:

5 to 10 ml is given with hot water or other suitable adjuvent. For snehapana the dose is decided according to the strength of the body.

EXERCISE AND YOGA

This formulation is said in the Prameha chikitsa (treatment of Diabetes). So the yoga postures desirable for this disease can be practiced. It includes,

• Merudhandasana
• Paschimothanasana
• Sarvangasana
• Halasana
• Bhujangasana
• Naukasana
• Bhastrika pranayama
• Kapalbadi
• Anuloma viloma pranayama

PATHYA AHARAS AND VIHARAS

It is desirable to take food which is light, and easy to digest are to be consumed. Hot, spicy and fried food may cause some adverse impacts. Also avoid junk food, sugar, alcohols, smoking, etc.

CONTRAINDICATED CONDITIONS

No specified contraindications are said. Those with allergy to Bhallataka (marking nut) should not give this medicine.

SIDE EFFECTS

No side effects are noticed.  But it is desirable to take the medicine under medical supervision and for patients with conditions like dyslipidaemia; hypertension etc. frequent monitoring is beneficial. In high doses can cause purgation. It contains marking nut (arushkara) is drug that causes allergy and so the medical history is to taken prior to the advice of medicine.

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