Ayurveda relies on medicines obtained from natural sources like plants, minerals and ores. Before utilizing these as medicines, it is important for a physician to know the properties and uses of these medicinal substances. These properties are mentioned in the form of rasa, guna, virya, vipaka and prabhava.. Each of these factor has its own action on the body, some times similar and sometimes contrary. But the cumulative effect of all will lead to the exact pharmacological action of that particular drug. Sometimes, effects are observed which are beyond the actions of these rasadi gunas. These actions are called as prabhava. They are unpredictable by the rasadi gunas, but have a unique action and are important for the clinical and therapeutic effects. Hence the concept of prabhava has a wide range of clinical applicability in the field of ayurveda.
| Section/Chapter/topic | Concepts/Prabhava |
|---|---|
| Authors | S. Pavan Kumar 1 |
| Reviewer | Basisht G.2, |
| Editor | Deole Y.S.3 |
| Affiliations |
1 Department of Dravyaguna, TTD's S.V. Ayurvedic Medical College, Tirupati , India, India 2 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 3 Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India |
| Correspondence emails |
pavansangu@gmail.com, carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India |
| Date of publication: | March 03, 2022 |
| DOI | 10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.131 |
Etymology, Synonyms and Meaning
According to Monnier and William’s Dictionary Prabhava means might, power, majesty, dignity, strength and efficacy.[1]
It is formed by Pra + bhāva, where “pra” denotes that it extraordinary or excessive or rich and bhava or the qualities or the actions.
So prabhāva can be considered as that extraordinary capacity of a drug to act on diseases beyond expectation.
The word prabhava is described as the shakti (strength or ability) with which special actions will be expressed by the drugs.[2] Eg: Lakucha and Amalaki despite of being similar in guṇa (properties), show different actions, like tridoṣhahara property (prabhava) of amalaki, is not seen in lakucha.[3] Hemachandra considered it as Teja (energy or the light).[4]
In the sarasundari commentary on the book Amarakoṣha, it is said as shaktivisheṣha (specific ability or strength), which will be formed from the superior form of the veerya.[5]
Definition
References
- ↑ Sir Monier Monier Williams, A Sanskrit – English Dictionary, Motilal Banarasidas, Delhi, first edition, 1986 reprint, pp.684
- ↑ Srujan Jha, Shabdakalpadruma, Android app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.shrutijha.sanskrit_sanskrit_on&gl=US
- ↑ Bhavamishra. Bhavaprakash First part
- ↑ Hemachandra ??
- ↑ Amarkosha commentary