Abstract

Dr. Neelam Malviya* and Dr. Sheetal Choudhari

ABSTRACT

Ayurvada is the science of life that is widely practiced in India. It used medicine prepared from plants, animals and mineral origin. All the three sources of drugs can be divided under poisonous and nonpoisonous category. Vatsnabha (Aconitum ferox) is categorized under the sthavara visha (plant origin). It is the only Mahavisha which still identified and available. Even a strong poison can become an excellent medicine if administered properly; on the other hand even the most useful medicine act as a poison if not handled correctly. Vatsnabha is highly toxic in nature even then it is used as a medicine after purification and in therapeutic dose. In therapeutic doses it has capacity to treat many diseases therefore; it is used as an ingredient of various Ayurvedic formulations. Ayurveda proposes a traditional technique of shodhana (purification) to reduce the harmful effects associated with vatsnabha. The present review gives us opportunity to understand the toxic effects, medicinal importance, methods of purification, therapeutic dose antidotes medicoliegal aspect of vatsnabha.