Ashtavarga: Eight
Miraculous Herbs
Buchake V.V.*, Bachhav R.S., Rode R.B., Aher
S.S., Muthal A.P., Dhokchawle
B.V. and Saudagar R.B.
KCT’s R. G. Sapkal College of Pharmacy, Anjaneri,
Nashik – 422 212 (MS) India
ABSTRACT:
The medicinal plants identified as Ashtavarg
are Jeevak-Malaxis muscifera ; Rishbhak-Malaxis acuminata;
Meda- Polygonatum verticillatum; Mahameda- Polygonatm cirrifolium;
Ridhi- Habenaria intermedia; Vridhi- Habenaria acuminata; Kakoli- Roscoea alpina and
Kshirkakoli- Lilium polyphyllum. They were known to
impart Jeevaniya - Vitality, Vayasthapan
- revival of youthful conditions, body nourishment, and antioxidant effects.
The great Ayurvedic sages Charak and Sushrut made a mention of 5 of Astavarg
plants for use in Chyavanprash. Majority of these species are habituated in the
Himalayan ranges. The north-western regions of Himalaya, Garhwal
belt in Uttarpradesh, Kangra
in Himalaya, Plateus of West Bengal, Kalpa district in Nepal, Kandy District and Hunnasgiriya in Sri Lanka, in the forests and grassy slopes of Gansu, Guangxi, Ningxia,
Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang(as Chinese herbs) are the resident lands of
these varied species. The hilly and remote forest areas of Auli,
Joshimath, Tapovan, Badrinarayan, Hemkund, Ukhimath, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Renthal, Gangnani, Yamunotri, Rishikesh, Dhanaulti
in Uttarakhand and Karsog, Jalpa, Kamarunag, Rewalsar, Rewanda, Lahaul-spiti, Hatloo, Thanedhar, Narkanda, Matiana, Shilaru in Himachal
Pradesh are also rich heritage of these herbs. This expedition had fetched the
most revitalizing species from the traditional Ayurvedic fraternity of therapy
as a boon to mankind.
KEYWORDS: Orchids, Orchideaceae,
Medicinal Plants, Ayurveda.
INTRODUCTION:
The preparation containing combination of various ingredients which were
fetched for jeevaniya (Vitality enhancing), Vaysthapan (revival of youthful condition), body
nourishment, antioxidant and invigorating group of eight plants popularly known
as a ASHTAVARGA
plant. They were the measure ingredient of combination which was named as chyavanprash)
Ashtavarga is a set of eight herbs which are used in combination
to ensure vitality and stamina. It thus increases the morbidity rate of an
individual. These herbs are found in the formulation of chyavanprash,
as they are eight in number; referred as ‘Ashtavarga’. These energizing properties can be correlated with the
pharmacological purview of therapeutics as well as convalescence. These herbs
are engaged in rejuvenating the dead cells of the body and also by empowering
the fragile and debilitated body parts. They were effectively used in the
preparation of the famous ‘CHYAVANPRASH’ for the cure of ailing frail old body
of Chyavan Rishi who, in
turn, regained youthful vitality and vigor1.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE:
ASHTAVARGA HERBS
1. JEEVAK
Botanical Name: Malaxis
muscifera
Family: Orchideaceae
Habitat: Himalaya, Khasi hills
(Meghalaya) Andaman Islands, Travencore, Madhya
Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Shimla-Glen,
Boileaugunj, Elysium Hill in forests, way to Rani forest, way from Khajiar to Chamba, Chail, Hattoo, Narkanda, Dehradun-Camel back road, Mussoorie
bypass road, above Barlowgunj, chakrata,
Jaunsar, Tehri(Magra); Pauri-Pode khal, Chamoli-Nagnath; Ukhimath, Gopeshwar, Pithoragarh-Sarju Valley, Berenag,
Thal Kedar; Nainital, Bhowali, Ramagarh, Almora-Ranikhet, Between
Ranikhet-Chaubatia. Himalayas 1850 m to 2300 m
Himachal Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh2,3.
Medicinal properties: In fever, Phthisis, burning sensation, bleeding
diathesis.
Ayurvedic dynamics: Sweet in taste, cold in potency,
pacifies vāta and aggravates kapha. 4
Actions: Cooling, febrifuge and spermopiotic5
2. RISHBHAK
Botanical Name: Malaxis acuminata
Family: Orchideaceae
Habitat: Himalaya between 1800-3500m eastward
to Sikkim, Shimla (Mashobra,Fagu,Hattoo
forests) Rahala forest, Dhanchoo,
Sangla, chamba, Gulmarg,Datni,Leh, Pithoragarh -Tejum Haya, Bakariudiyar,
Ralam Valley, Palangarh, Ralam, Almora -Dwali,Dehradun- Chakrata,Deoban Tehri-Masartal, Bokhills, Dhanolti, way to Nagtibba; Chamoli-Vasukital, Bajmora, Jumma Area, Dunagiri, Valley of
flowers, Rambara, Hemkund; Uttarkashi-Jamuna Valley above village kharsil.
Himalayas 1800 m to 3500 m eastwards to Sikkim6
Medicinal properties: in fever, Phthisis, burning sensation, bleeding
diathesis, seminal weakness, dysentery, emaciation and general debility.
Ayurvedic dynamics: Sweet in taste, cold in potency,
pacifies vata and aggravates kapha 7
Actions: Cooling, febrifuge and spermopiotic8
Therapeutics: Bleeding diathesis, burning sensation, fever and
phthisis.9 10,11
3. MEDA
Botanical Name: Polygonatum
verticillatum
Family: Convallariaceae
Habitat: The species is widely distributed
in temperate Himalaya between 1600m and 3500m, Shimla,
Narkanda, Hattoo, Churdhar, Janjelli, Sikari Tibba, Kamarunagh,
Trikuta Hills,Udhampur,Doda
area, Ponwalikanta, Tali, Amardhar, Ganganani dhar, Rainthal, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Madmaheshwar
Medicinal properties: They are beneficial in phthisis,
burning sensation in the body, and fever (Dhan.Ni.).They
are emollient, aphrodisiac, tonic, galactagogue, and
beneficial in aggravation of pitta, cough, ulcers,
skin diseases, general debility and vulnerary
4. MAHAMEDA
Botanical Name: Polygonatm
cirrifolium
Family: Liliaceae
Habitat: Temperate Himalaya 1500m to 2700m, Shimla, Matiana, Narkanda, Mussoorie, Chakrata, Gaurikund, Rambara, Harshal, Ganganani, Devban, Rainthal, Mandakini Ghati, Bhilangana Ghati, Ponwali, Kalimath.
Medicinal properties: emollient aphrodisiac, galactagoue, tonic and useful invitiation
of vata-pitta, strangury
seminal weakness, anorexia and general body weakness12.
5. RIDHI
Botanical Name: Habenaria
intermedia
Family: Orchidaceae
Habitat: Himanchal Pradesh, Koti (Shimla)Summer Hill Indian
Institute of Advance study, Kamana Hill, Rawanda and Kamarunag, Rewalsar hills, Shimla,
Dalhousie, Kinnaur, Azmabad, Poonch, Pirpanjal Range, Dehradun-Mussoorie
(Jaberkhet),Camel back road, company bagh, Bhatta Fall, Kampty fall;Tehri (Nagtibba)Suakholi, Chamoli-on way to Kedarnath, Jangal chatti, way to valley of
flowers, Gaurikund (Rambera),
Utarrkashi- Tons Valley, Bhagirathi valley and way to
Dodital. E. Asia - Himalayas. In dry grassy slopes,
field borders up to 2800m 13
Medicinal properties: It is intellect promoting, aphrodisiac, rejuvenating,
tonic and cures emaciation, epilepsy, cough, skin diseases, haematemesis
and general debility. Ayurvedic dynamics: Sweet in taste and
pacifies vata and pitta
but aggravates kapha 14, 15
6. VRIDHI
Botanical Name: Habenaria
acuminata
Family: Orchidaceae
Habitat: Summer Hills, Shimla,
Mountains near Manali, Rahla
Forest, Kothi, Manali, Sarahan, Nirmand-Annu, Rawanda, Kamarunag peak, Saptasar above Rawalsar , Chansel, Churdhar, Jangtoo, Chamba, Narkanda, Mussoorie-Jaberkhet, Mussoorie, Kyarphulli, Company Bagh, Deoban, Tehri-
Nagtibba West of Dhanolti; Uttarkashi-Jamuna Valley, Kharshali,
Har-Ki-Dun, Chamoli-Valley of flowers, Gobindghat,
Khirsu, Pithoragarh-Tejam, Jankhola Vally, Kali Valley, Sarju Valley, Nainital-Nainital, Bhowali, Ramgarh, Fatehgarh, above Malli Tal; Almora-Binsar, Almora, Lorakhet, Ranikhet to Chaubatia. E. Asia - Himalayas. In dry grassy slopes, field
borders upto 2800m 16, 17
Medicinal properties: is emollient, aphrodisiac, rejuvenating and tonic and
is beneficial in aggravated vata and pitta, burning sensation in the body, hyperdipsia,
fever, cough, epilepsy, insanity, emaciation and general debility.
7. KAKOLI
Botanical Name: Roscoea alpina
Family: Zingiberaceae
Habitat: Western Himalaya 1000 to 2700m
commonly found in these altitudes in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Uttaranchal.
Medicinal properties: It is beneficial in consumption,
burning sensation in body, increases spermcount. It
is also an effective cure for pains, thirst 18
8. KSHIRKAKOLI
Botanical Name: Lilium polyphyllum
Family: Liliaceae
Habitat: Himachal-Hattoo
peak, Narkanda forests, Chail,
Sungari-Bahli on Rampur Road, Gulmarg,
Liddar Valley, Gangotri, Rainthal, Amardhar, Kedarnath, Madmaheshwar.
Medicinal properties: It promotes appetite. It is efficacious
in bleeding disorders, cardiac diseases, dyspnoea,
cough, consumption and diseases of urine system and is tonic. Bulbs are
refrigerant, galactagogue, expectorant and
aphrodisiac. They are useful in bronchitis, burning sensation, hyperdipsia, rheumatalgia and
general weakness in the body.19,20, 21-23
CONCLUSION:
The magnitude of Ashtavarga plants
is potent in the pharmaco-therapeutic loom. Ayurveda has a rich heritage and detailed know-how
regarding the usage of these plants in the preparation of Chyavanprash.
However, the pharmacognostic evaluation,
authentication of the plants and the pharmacological screening is yet to be
fanatically performed. The exhaustive study of plants would surely make a
revolution in the field of pharmacy for such far-fetched drugs.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Author hereby would like
to genially lengthen credit towards Mr. Rajendra Thange for his efforts and interest in referencing for Ashtavarga.
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http://www.divyayoga.com/HerbalGarden.htm
Received
on 06.10.2009
Accepted on 20.03.2010
© A&V Publication all right reserved
Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.
2(4): July-Aug. 2010, 260-263