PREPARATION
Shudh (purified) Gandhak is given 7Bhavana (treatments) with Go-Dugdh (Fresh Cow's milk). On drying it is given treatments with following Bhavana-Dravya(Items used for treating the formulation). Kwaath (Decoction, see glossary) prepared from Chaturjaat plants, Kwaath prepared from Guduchi, Kwaath prepared from Triphala plants, Kwaath prepared from Shunthi and Kwaath prepared from Bhringraaj. Gandhak is given 8Bhavana with each of the Bhavana-Dravya. Finally Gandhak is given 8Bhavana with Aradrak Swaras and dried. This formulation is called Gandhak Rasayan. Gandhak Rasayan is then mixed with equal proportion of Sita (Crystal Sugar) and stored.
Gandhak Rasayan - Ingredient Details
NOTE
- Gandhak Rasayan is prepared in two potencies; Maha-Gandhak Rasayan and Laghu-Gandhak Rasayan. The above method described is of Maha-Gandhak Rasayan. Laghu-Gandhak Rasayan is prepared in a similar way the only difference being in the amount of Bhavana given with Bhavana- Dravya. To prepare Laghu-Gandhak Rasayan 1Bhavana each of the Bhavana-Dravya is given to Gandhak as opposed to 8Bhavana with Maha-Gandhak Rasayan. Generally Vaidya's (Ayurveda physician) prefer Maha-Gandhak Rasayan to Laghu-Gandhak Rasayan.
- The above method of Gandhak Rasayan preparation instructs given Gandhak 8 treatments with Aradrak Swaras during final processing. However Aushadhigundharmshastra mentions that Vaidyas (Ayurveda physician) traditionally give 1 treatment of Aradrak Swaras to Gandhak after every 8 treatments with each of the Bhavana-Dravya mentioned.
Yog-Ratnakar mentions to mix equal proportion of Sita(Crystal Sugar) with Gandhak Rasayan. However Vaidyas traditionally avoid mixing sugar with the formulation and instead prescribe Gandhak Rasayan to their patients to be consumed with equal quantity of sugar.
SUGGESTED READING
Aushadhigundharmshastra.