In this concept the word Bhaishajya means medicine and kalpana means forms hence the branch which deals with the various forms of medicine such as syrups, juice, tablet, powder etc. is named as Bhaisajya Kalpana.

Bhaisjya Kalpana importance

• It increases the potency of medicine by sanskar i.e. vishesh gunantardhana (adding or generating special property)
  
• It makes the medicine durable
  
• It makes the medicine palatable.
  
• It removes the toxic effect of medicine by shodhana karm.
  
• As per the severity of the disease it helps the adjustment of dosha
  
• It makes the medicine as per need of patient and disease.

Panchavidha Kashaya Kalpana

Under Pancha vidha Kashaya Kalpana branch accoridng to ayurveda five basic forms of medicine have been described. The word Kashaya denotes two meaning:

• Distortion of the original shape of dravya during different medical preparations
  
• It is used to remove disease
  
• Thereby in ayurveda dainty medicinal preparations are considered as Kashaya Kalpana.

Yoni (sources) of Kashaya Kalpana

The five rasas (tastes) are the five yoni (source) of kashaya kalpana i.e. Madhur, Amla, Katu, Tikta, Kashaya with the exception of Lavana Rasa (salt taste) as its swarasa (juice) etc cannot be extracted from it. There are five Kashaya Kalpana that are more efficient in potency than the other ones:

• Swaras Kashaya Kalpana (juice)
  
• Kalka Kashaya Kalpana (jelly like)
  
• Kwatha Kashaya Kalpana (decoction)
  
• Shita Kashaya Kalpana (cold infusion)
  
• Phanta Kashaya Kalpana (infusion)

Swarasa Kalpana

Swarasa is the juice of it self and means the juice of the dravya hence is said to be its swarasa.

Preparation

Crush the dravya properly and filter juice with the help of clean cotton cloth.

When the plants give less quantity of swarasa by these methods then its swarasa (juice) is extracted or prepared by putapaka method, which is as follows:

In this process dravya is collected and its bunch is formed that is covered by wet wheat dove. A layer of clay is formed over it and this thing is kept in the fire. After it becomes red the shell or muda and wheat flour is removed and swarasa (juice) is extracted either by crushing or filtering.

If the case is of powdered dravya then it is thoroughly mixed with water and then filtered to get juice. In this process the proportion of water to be added is double from that of powder. Mixed preparation is kept for 24hrs before getting filtered. Dosage - General dose of swarasa is 2 tola (20gm approx).

Kalka

It is the crushed paste form of dravya.

Preparation

Crush the dravya properly to make its paste. Dry powder or dry things are mixed with water and then crushed to paste or Kalka Dosage i.e. 1 tola (10gms approx)

Kwatha

When dravya are boiled in water and filtered.

Preparation

Crush the dravya thoroughly and mix it in appropriate water as per requirement and then boiled in slow flame till reduce to half or one fourth and then filter properly.

The quantity of water used is determined by the following rules

• Four times more must be the water than the medicine for mridu (soft) dravya
• Eight times more must be the water than the medicine for madhya dravya
• Sixteen times more must be the water than the medicine for
• Kathina (hard) dravya

According the quantity of medicine

• If the medicine is less than four tola (40gms approx) then add to 16 times the water.
• If the quantity of medicine is 5 to 16 tola (50 to 160gms approx) then add eight times water.
• If the quantity of medicine is above 16 tola (160gms approx) then add to 4 times water. Dosage - 4 tola (40gms approx)

Shita Kalpana

In this process hot water is added to the medicine and then it is kept outside for 12 hours at night. The whole process is called Shita Kalpana.

Preparation

To the powdered form of medicine six times water is added. The choice of hot and cold water is up to the user. The mixer is now kept for 12hrs at night in open place. In the morning medicine is ready for use.

Dosage - 4 tola (40gms approx.)

Phanta

This process involves the mixing of medicine in boiled water, then covering it and keeping it to cool.

Preparation

Boil 16 tola (160gms approx) water, then add four tola (40gms approx) powder form (not fine) of medicine in it. Keep the container for cooling and use it in lukewarm (koshna) condition.

Dosage: 4 tola to 8 tola (40gms to 80gms approx)