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Dravyaguna is the science that deals with the properties and actions of drugs, including pharmacognosy, pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics of substances. The concept of disha is applied in the source, naming, collection, preservation etc., of various medicinal plants.

Dravyaguna is the science that deals with the properties and actions of drugs, including pharmacognosy, pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics of substances. The concept of disha is applied in the source, naming, collection, preservation etc., of various medicinal plants.

a) Nomenclature (namajnana): The direction of growth of a plant is known. Viruddha is named according to the property of climbing in opposite direction to that of gravity. (The plant [[Apamarga]] got the name Adhashalya, because of the downward direction of sharp ends of its seed) The drug [[Pippali]] (Piper longum) is also referred to as Magadhi, based on the place where it is found in abundance. [Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 22/53]

a) Nomenclature (namajnana): The direction of growth of a plant is known. Viruddha is named according to the property of climbing in opposite direction to that of gravity. (The plant [[Apamarga]] got the name Adhashalya, because of the downward direction of sharp ends of its seed) The drug Piper longum ([[Pippali]]) is also referred to as Magadhi, based on the place where it is found in abundance. [Cha.Sa. [[Chikitsa Sthana]] 22/53]

b) Collection of herbs (aushadha grahana): The collection method of many herbs is explained in detail. The direction and geographic location of herbs influence the qualities of the drug in various regions and seasons. The one who collect the plant should face north or east direction.[Cha.Sa. [[Kalpa Sthana]] 1/14] The northen part of plant have more quality compared to the other parts of the plant. [Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana 36/3]<ref name=Susruta/> The part of the plant (eg.root) developed in the northern direction has better therapeutic properties. [Cha.Sa. [[Kalpa Sthana]] 1/10]

b) Collection of herbs (aushadha grahana): The collection method of many herbs is explained in detail. The direction and geographic location of herbs influence the qualities of the drug in various regions and seasons. The one who collect the plant should face north or east direction.[Cha.Sa. [[Kalpa Sthana]] 1/14] The northen part of plant have more quality compared to the other parts of the plant. [Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana 36/3]<ref name=Susruta/> The part of the plant (eg.root) developed in the northern direction has better therapeutic properties. [Cha.Sa. [[Kalpa Sthana]] 1/10]

c) Specific activity (visheshakarma): In order to attain the best therapeutic qualities for ingredients used in important procedures like pumsavana, specific collection procedures are explained in detail. Vatashringa (tender shoots of banyan tree) developed in northern or east direction shall be taken for this procedure.

c) Specific activity (visheshakarma): In order to attain the best therapeutic qualities for ingredients used in important procedures like pumsavana, specific collection procedures are explained in detail. Tender shoots of banyan tree (vatashringa) developed in northern or east direction shall be taken for this procedure.

   

   

The potency of active principles in herbs is influenced by direction of movement of the sun in different seasons. Herbs with cold potency (souamya or sheeta) or mild actions shall be collected in cold seasons. Those with hot potency (agneya) shall be collected in the hot season. [Su.Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 36/6]<ref name=Susruta/>

The potency of active principles in herbs is influenced by direction of movement of the sun in different seasons. Herbs with cold potency (souamya or sheeta) or mild actions shall be collected in cold seasons. Those with hot potency (agneya) shall be collected in the hot season. [Su.Sa. [[Sutra Sthana]] 36/6]<ref name=Susruta/>