Nanal tradition of Ayurvedic medicine preparation

(Introduction to Ayurvedic medicine preparation and their processes)

• Churna (herbal powders) - fresh herbs are taken in parts or as whole (flowers, fruits, leaves, stem and roots) as required. They are dried [Hot dried (in sunlight) or cold dried (under roof away from sunlight) Drying is done in two ways depending on properties of the medicine.] and then crushed to powder form at 40mesh, 80mesh or 120mesh size as per the requirement (depending on external or internal use). Herb once powdered, has a normal shelf life of only 2 to 3 months. Hence it has to be prepared fresh on a regular basis. After 2 to 3 months there is a definite change in the taste as well as the medicinal properties. Some formulae contain powders of pure and processed metals in which, the shelf life may be longer depending on the specific contents. In this category Mashi and Satva preparations are also included. Satva and Mashi are two different types and prepared in specific ways. In food also we use these processes. e.g.Satva – Wheat Satva, Ragi Satva, Barley Satv Mashi – Tobacco masheri (burnt form of tobacco used in rural areas). Above examples are stated so that reader can get an idea about preparation. The same processes are used to prepare medicines from herbs and hence are Satva as well Mashi. They are used in Powder form hence are included in this category of ‘Churna’.

• Pills or Tablets – the herbal as well as metallic ingredients are taken in appropriate proportion along with various decoctions (according to the formula) and then are mixed together evenly till it turns into wet dough. Then, the pills are manually made out of the dough. Sometimes tablets are also made using tablet making machines. Then the pills/tablets are dried and stored. This generally has a shelf life of 6 months to 2 years at the minimum. Some preparations may not have shelf life, depending on the specific ingredients. The Nanal Tradition specially uses single drug medicine formulae the for pills section, i.e. turmeric, ginger, holy basil (Tulsi), Garlic, Indian gooseberry and many more.

• Bhasmas – (this is a vast subject to be explained in brief!). Broadly it can be said that these medicines are prepared from various metals. This form, if prepared by strictly adhering to the processes described in the ancient texts, is safe and excellently effective. Bhasmas are used on regular basis and in large scale by Ayurvedic physicians for thousands of years. They are used in various ways like singular (only one Bhasma) use or mixed use (with other bhasmas and/or herbs) in powder, pill and tablet forms. These, generally do not have limited shelf life and generally, it is more effective as it ages (in particular formulae).  Some medicines containing gold in them do not have a limited shelf life and can even be kept for centuries!! (This a specialty of this category of Ayurvedic medicine) Many countries like USA have banned Ayurvedic drugs because of a misconception that consumption of Ayurvedic Bhasmas can cause damage to particular organs like Kidneys. It is not at all true. The Bhasmas made by strictly adhering to the processes described in the ancient texts, are safe and very much effective in various diseases, where other sciences lack behind in treatment. This is a proven fact and regular and large scale usage of it is there in all over India for thousands of years.

(People interested in knowing about this more, should study the preparation processes of these medicines and should consult Vaidyas like us who prepare these medicines)

 

• Decoction of herbs (Kwath and Arishta kalpana): The process is designed to preserve the medicines in liquid decoction form for longer time. 

  • Kwath: In this, generally ingredients (mainly dry herbs/medicinal plants) are taken in described quantities as per the formulae and this is considered as one part. Water is added to it in the ratio of 1:16 (16 parts of water). This mixture is boiled till 1/4th of water remains. Then this decoction is cooled to room temperature, filtered and is ready to use. It should be made fresh for use on a regular basis. If it has to be stored for a longer period then it is converted to arishta by adding natural fermenting agents described in the texts (mainly a typical herb flower called Dhataki pushpa is used along with sugar or jaggery) and is kept for minimum 90 to 180 days in a dark place. After this it is filtered and stored.

  • Fermentation concoctions (Aasava kalpana): This process is used to prepare liquid suspensions from cereals, fruits etc. one can say, it is similar to wine making. The basic difference is that the fermentation process is made by adding natural fermenting agents described in texts. (In the process of making wines, yeast is used for fermentation. But in making Aasava mainly typical herb flowers called Dhataki pushpa are used along with sugar or jaggery. Here the flowers act in two ways. They ferment the media as well as they have their own medicinal properties)The process is simple. First prepare the juice of fruits. If made from cereals then prepare decoction (as said in kwath) of it. Subsequently add natural fermenting agent, sugar or jaggery and store it for at least 3 to 6 months. The sugar should be completely dissolved and the fermentation process should be complete. This is the indication that the medicine is ready to use. Then it is siphoned and filtered gently and stored for use.The shelf life concept is same like Bhasma. Older the Aasava, better in terms of effect.

The speciality of Ayurved is that, the Aasava or Arishta kalpana are specifically designed in such an excellent way that the generated alcohol’s percentage always remains in the range of 9% to 13% which is way below intoxication levels since the amount of medicine consumed will be limited. Further, there are processes described using which the percentage can be changed and controlled to any particular desired level.

• Herbal Oils (Tail Kalpana): When the disease is treated externally, then usually the preferred form of medicine is oil application. It is easy to use and gets quickly absorbed by the skin. It nourishes the skin and other body constitutes like muscles, bones. It burns fat (if made from castor oil and specific herbs) etc. Many more uses are described in the texts. The process is simple- one part medicine, four parts oil & 16 parts of water is boiled together till complete evaporation of water to create a concentrate. When it cools to room temperature, filter it & store it to use as per the requirement. Any herbal oil can be used for 3 to 4 months after preparation in order to avail its optimum medicinal properties. However after this period the oil becomes less effective.

• Druti: This is a unique concept of Ayurved only. Late Vaidyaraj Madhusudan P. Nanal established his own process in Nanal Tradition. Nanals are one of those few vaidyas, who use Druti kalpana on a very regular basis. It is a process by which solid metals like sulpfur, copper (and many others) are converted into a usable liquid form. It stays in this form at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature. (This concept is not at all known to modern science). This specific form of medicine is also not having any limitations with shelf life and can be kept and used for centuries as a medicine. The process is a trade secret of Nanal Tradition and is unknown to anybody except Nanals.

(It is strongly believed and said by the classical texts of ayurvedic metallergy, that Druti can be obtained if and only if Lord Shiva wishes to give it to you. This is experienced by us at various times that the process can not be documented on screen. The experiments have failed many times during attempts to records it from start to the end).

 

OUR Preparations

Specialized medicines of Nanal Tradition

In Nanal Tradition, number of drugs used, are around 300. Out of which some are from classical traditional ayurvedic medicines and some are Nanal Tradition’s proprietary formulas. Few examples are as follows:

Decoction of herbs (Kwath and Arishta kalpana):

Arishta

• Dashamoolarishta: Made from 10 different herbs

• Ashmari kwath: useful in diseases of urinary system

• Rechan kwath: useful in diseases of digestive system connected with constipation

• Raktashodhan kwath: Blood purifying medicine combination

Aasava

• Drakshasava: made from Grapes

• Dadimasava: made from Pomegranate (this formulae is designed by Vd. Ramesh Nanal and no other ayurvedic practitioner in the world uses it except Nanals at Mumbai)

• Kumari Asava: made from Aloe vera juice

 

Liquid distillations of herbs (Arka Kalpana): This is a medicinal form only used by Nanal Tradition on a very large scale.

This particular medicine form is to be used only on fresh basis. Its shelf life is around 3 months.

In Nanal Tradition many formulae are used. e.g.

• Shataveerya arka: made from Shatavari & other herbs – useful in many gynecological problems, skin problems, fatigue syndrome, etc

• Hrudyarka: made from herbs along with Cabbage (food vegetable) – Excellent Heart tonic

• Surasarka: made from holy basil and other drugs – helpful in diseases and various allergies of respiratory system

• Paripathadi Arka: useful in boils, sun stroke, heat problems, skin problems, etc

• Jwaraghna arka: made from many herbs (medicinal as well as food ingredients) useful in fever. It is used for all types of fevers as a base medicine

 

Herbal Oils (Tail Kalpana):

Nanal Tradition has a wide range of oils for use. We have various formulas in our practice.

• Body massage oil

• Baby massage oil

• Oils for Arthritis

• Oil for wound healing

• Oil for skin diseases

• Oil for fat reduction

• Oil for digestive system (to be used externally as well as internally)

• After- shave balsam

 

Ayurvedic ointments and creams:

• Fairness and all-season cream (made from fresh Ghee and rose water and other medicines)

• Crack healer cream (heals cracks – made from coconut oil and cow milk ghee)

• Druti Malam – (cream made from Druti)

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Madhvamalak Mixture:

A Nanal Tradition’s speciality combination similar to Chyavanprash and is made from Indian gooseberry (amla). The formula is designed and used for years together in Nanal Tradition. Chyavanprash cannot be used throughout the year but this formula can.

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Ayurvedic soap:

Bath soap for all types of skin is used on regular basis in Nanal Tradition in Mumbai. It is designed by Vd. Satyavrat Nanal. (It mainly contains Triphala (trio of Harad, Amla and Behda), Sandalwood, Neem, Cow-dung’s ash, Multani soil etc) It’s a 90gms bar can be used on daily basis for bath to keep the skin healthy.

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Other seasonal medicines:

• Ketchups (made from farm fresh tomatoes along with medicines – useful in blood purification process, to add taste to food without ill effects of regular ketchup)

• Ayurvedic jams (Made from tomatoes, mangos, pineapples, beetroot from farms of Nanals)

• Ayurvedic squashes (especially made from Indian gooseberry (amla), Lemon, Oranges, Pineapples collected from private farms)

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Tablets and Pills:

In Nanal Tradition around 35 types of pills are made from single drug formula. In this few pills are made from food items like Ginger, Garlic, Turmeric, Indian gooseberry, Drumsticks and few pills are made from single herbs like Shatavari, Ashwagandha, Kutaj, Holy basil, Nirgundi. In Tablets many Classical Textual Medicines are made on very regular basis. There is a huge range of Guggulu formulations, Guti-vati, Ghana Vati etc.

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Suvarna Kalpa (Gold Praparations):

Many gold preparations are used on regular basis in Nanal Tradition. Gold preparations do not have expiry. Many formulations take years together to get prepared. Gold Preparations are famous as ‘Older the medicine better the result’. Many formulations used today are prepared few decades ago. e.g.

• Suvarna Suta Shekhar Rasa

• Suvarna Malini Vasant Rasa

• Vasant Kusumakar Rasa

• Kasturi Bhairav Rasa

• Brihat Vata Chintamani Rasa

• Chaturmukh Rasa

• Chaturbhuj Rasa

• Siddha Makardhvaja

• Suvarna Bhasma

• Yogendra Rasa

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Churna (Powders):

Amla, Triphala, Punarnava, Gokharu etc.

 

Satva:

Gudichi satva etc

 

Mashi:

Amla, Triphala, Punarnava, Gokharu etc.

 

Kshar:

Chanak (Horse gram), Apamarg, Shigru (Drumstic)