Review of Malahara Kalpana of Rasa Tarangani

The word Malahara or Malhama is derived from unani system of medicine. Yogaratnakara mentioned this first by the name of Malahara Kalpana. It derives its name as it removes Mala (residue etc.) from Vrana (wounds), Vidradhi (abscess) etc. This is similar to ointments in modern pharmaceutics. Malahara Kalpana is the ointment preparation which has Siktha Taila (bees wax and oil mixture) or Ghrita, as the basic constituent. The other ingredients may include herbal, metal, or mineral contents depending upon the usage. Malahara has a property like Snehana (oelation), cleansing, Ropana (healing), Lekhana (scaraping), and Varnya (beautifying), depending on the drugs used in the preparation. Rasa Tarangani a Rasa Shastra treatise of 20th century by Acharya Sadananda Sharma has enumerated various types of Malahara Kalpana taking mainly Siktha Taila as a base. Though this Kalpana holds firm roots in treating diseases the mention and explanation of this particular topic is scattered in this treatise. Hence the present article is an attempt to elucidate and unfold the Malahara Kalpana of Rasatarangani

STANDARDIZATION OF YOGAAMRUTO RASA BY USING MODERN ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

Rasa Shastra is a partially independent branch of Ayurvedic medicine, which deals with preparation of the drugs with metals and minerals to produce the drugs with higher efficacy in lower dose with good palatability. Yogaamruto Rasa (YMR) is one such Rasoushadhi mentioned in Rasa Kamdhenu indicated for all types of Kushta. Parada, Gandhaka, Tamra churna, Vatsanabha, Vacha, Trikatu, Musta and Vidanga are the main ingredients of YMR. Shodhana, Mardana, Murchchana, Pishti nirmana, Aagni paaka are the important steps involved in preparation of YMR. Till date no standards are available for the above drug. Need of the hour is to revalidate the safety and efficacy of the above said formulation. In the current study of YMR it was subjected to analysis through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Zeta potential (ZP). XRD of YMR reveals that major peaks are of Cu20 (Cuprite) and minor peaks of HgS (Meta Cinnabar), Cu2S (Cuprous Sulphide). SEM study found the smallest grain size ranging between115nm at 5Kx magnification to 82.11 nm at 7Kx magnification. EDX study reveals that YMR contains significant percentage of O-25.96%, Cu-22.82%, C-20.41%, Hg- 12.84 %, S- 9.8%. w/w. ZP mean value for YMR is 51.4 mV which indicates moderate colloidal stability.

Comparative evaluation of craniofacial anthropometric measurements in Indian adult patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea: A pilot study

Aims: The study aimed to compare the craniofacial features of North Indian patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to that of normal North Indian population. Materials and Methods: Selected 25 North Indian subjects (age: 18–65 years) were divided into two groups (OSA group [n = 14] and non-OSA group [n = 9]) according to the results of full night polysomnographic sleep study. Body mass index (BMI), neck circumference (NC), and lateral cephalograms were recorded for each subject in both groups and total 22 parameters of craniofacial anthropometric features were measured on lateral cephalograms for each subject. The differences in BMI, NC, and craniofacial features between the OSA and non-OSA groups were compared statistically. Results: Independent sample t-test was used to compare the differences between OSA group and non-OSA group. The results showed that the BMI, NC, bulk of tongue (tongue length, tongue height, and tongue area) and length of the soft palate (PNS-U) were significantly higher in OSA group. OSA group was also found to have inferior positioning of hyoid bone (MP-H, ANS-H, PNS-H, ANS-Eb), narrower superior and middle airway space (SPAS and MAS), antero-inferior positioning of mandible (Gn-C3, ANS-Me, SNB, N-Me) and lower cranial base flexure angle (N-S-Ba). Conclusion: Craniofacial features, which play an important role in the pathophysiology of OSA, differ significantly between North Indian patients suffering from OSA and normal North Indian population