The pharmacological action that is considered as a type of VIRECHANA karma and does the evacuation process of MALA (faecal matter) which may be either in consolidated or unconsolidated form is known as BHEDANA. The action is more on the intestinal part of GIT where the substance will be undergoing the process of digestion. The word meaning of BHEDANA is to break or the ability to break. Here the ability of the drug to break a hard or a complex structure is to be taken into consideration. Then it also has the ability to expel the same through the lower orifices. There is a group among CHARAKA’s 50 GANA named as BHEDANEEYA
DETAILS OF THE ACTION
ACTION NAME
भेदनीय
MODERN EQUIVALENTS
PURGATIVES, EMOLLIENT LAXATIVES or LUBRICANTS
DEFINITION
DEFINITION
EXPLANATION/MEANING
REFERENCE
The reference is from Sharangadhara Samhita (शा. स.) and reference from the Gangadhara Commentary on Charaka Samhita
SYNONYMS (IF PRESENT)
SYNONYMS
EXPLANATION/MEANING
REFERENCE
भेदनं
The action of the substance that will evacuate Mala (bye-products of metabolism) are removed either in the form of consolidated or unconsolidated form forcefully is known as BHEDANA.
The reference is from Sharangadhara Samhita (शा. स.)
भेदी, पुरीषभेदी, विडभेदी, etc
Anything that breaks a complex formation such that they are expelled out or becomes rudimentary.
The reference is from Sharangadhara Samhita (शा. स.)
MODE OF ACTION / PHARMACODYNAMICS
AYURVEDA EXPLANATION
MODERN EXPLANATION
The action of BHEDANA or BHEDANEEYA are those set of substances that are bit more irritant and powerful than ANULOMANA & SRAMSANA. But the same is less irritant and powerful than RECHANA among the four types of VIRECHANA considered by SHARANGADHARA. It is due to the property that it can penetrate the hard and complex formations by breaking it and allowing it to perform the action of evacuation of the MALA (bye-products of metabolism). By use of this substance there may be increased peristaltic movement along with squeezing type of pain or colic pain if not used judiciously. Hence these substances are not to be used without proper guidance.
The properties that are responsible in bringing out this action are तीक्ष्णगुण (Teekshna), सूक्ष्मगुण (Sukshma), उष्णगुण (Ushna) along with अधोभागहर प्रभाव as in case of any VIRECHANA substances. It is the degree of the properties that are important in attaining the different varieties of VIRECHANA. Even the व्यवायी and विकाषी गुण or कर्म is necessary for the activity to result as per Charaka. The substances are predominant with जल & पृथ्वी महाभूत due to which the action of VIRECHANA is resulted.
The BHEDANA action can be seen in case of RAKTASANGHATA BHEDANA, ASHMARIBHEDANA, GULMA BHEDANA, etc. In all these contexts the activity will be different according to parts that are involved. But the properties remain the same. Along with the above mentioned properties the substances are seen to possess कटुरस (Pungent) along with क्षारीय गुण (Alkaline) properties can be observed.
The said action is commonly correlated to the action named PURGATIVES mentioned in the modern Pharmacology.
A purgative is a substance that is taken orally with an aim to promote defecation as per the article “Purgatives.” British medical journal vol. 4,5682 (1969): 543-4. Even though there are different varieties of Purgatives mentioned in the same article, the most suitable with respect to the said action is Lubricant purgatives. The lubricants are those which soften the stools and lubricate it such that its evacuation is easier.
In the context of Laxative there is a mention of a variety known as Emollient agents which are also known as stool softeners. These have the capacity to incorporate additional water and fats into stools making them soft and easier for evacuation. There are other form of purgatives mentioned in the paper namely Bulk purgatives and Irritant purgatives which can be considered as the varieties of purgatives but as other types of VIRECHANA namely SRAMSANA or RECHANA.
The activity also can be equated to Irritant or Stimulant purgatives where they irritate or stimulate the myentric plexus or Auerbach’s Plexus or other nerve endings such that they increase the peristaltic movement of intestines. This is considered as the main cause for the action to result.
INVESTIGATIVE PARAMETERS TO ASSESS
Sl. No.
CATEGORY OF PARAMETER
INVESTIGATION NAME
TYPE OF INVESTIGATION
1.
NOT YET COMPILED
NOT YET COMPILED
NOT YET COMPILED
LIST OF PLANTS THAT EXHIBIT THE ACTION
भेदनीय गण/BHEDANEEYA GANA of CHARAKA
Charaka has enumerated the BHEDANEEYA GANA consisting of 10 substances. It also includes the plant which Sharangadhara had mentioned as example for the action BHEDANA.
Sl. No.
SANSKRIT NAME
BOTANICAL NAME
PART USED
1.
सुवहा
Operculina turpethum (Linn) Silva Manso
Root
2.
अर्क
Calotropis gigantia (L) W T Aiton
Latex, Leaves, Root & Stembark
3.
उरूबक
Ricinus communis Linn
Root, Seed oil & Leaves
4.
अग्निमुखी
Gloriosa superba L
Root
5.
चित्र
Balispermum montanum (Willd) Mull Arg
Root, leaves & Seed
6.
चित्रक
Plumbago zeylanica Linn
Root
7.
चिरबिल्व
Holoptelea integrifolia Roxb Planch
Stem Bark & Leaves
8.
शङ्खिनी
Euphorbia dracunculoides Lam
Latex
9.
शकुलादनी
Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth
Root
10.
स्वर्णक्षीरी
Argemone mexicana Linn
Root, leaves, seed & Latex
RESEARCH PAPERS ON THE PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION
Sl. No.
TITLE OF THE PAPER
PUBLISHING JOURNAL
CITATION
1.
BHEDANA KARMA VIVECHANA
Ayurveda Patrika
Amit Ashok Gajarmal.”Bhedana Karma-Vivechana”. Ayurveda Patrika. Vol 68 Issue 12 No. 984. June 2015. Pg 32-34
2.
PURGATIVES
British Medical Journal
“Purgatives.” British medical journal vol. 4,5682 (1969): 543-4.
3.
Effect of irritant purgatives on the myenteric plexus in man and the mouse
GUT Official Journal of British Society of Gastroentrology
Smith, B. “Effect of irritant purgatives on the myenteric plexus in man and the mouse.” Gut vol. 9,2 (1968): 139-43. doi:10.1136/gut.9.2.139
4.
UNDERSTANDING THE APPLIED ASPECTS OF SHARANDHAROKTA VIRECHAN KARMA” – A REVIEW
Prayeshana International Journal of Ayurvedic Research
Manikrao Kulkarni et.al.. “UNDERSTANDING THE APPLIED ASPECTS OF SHARANDHAROKTA VIRECHAN KARMA” – A REVIEW”. PIJAR. Vol.1. Issue 6. July-August 2017. Pg. 18-27