Abstract

*Dr. Tushar Vilasrao Gawande and Dr. Swati Ramkrushna Dhamnikar

ABSTRACT

In Bhaishjya Kalpana application of herbal drug externally known as Lepa. Lepa preparation are the topical medicament meant for external application to the skin or mucosal membrane. The topical preparation include Lepa, Upanaha, Malhara etc. out of many Bahya Kalpana, Lepa Kalpana has due importance in Ayurvedic system of medicine. Lepa Kalpana are used in different conditions like inflammation, wound healing, wound cleaning and many more uses. Ayurveda has the science of Drug Manufacturing which is divided into two branches as Rasashastra and Bhaishajyakalpana. Bhaishajya – Medicine and Kalpana – Forms, thus it can be said that preparation of medicines by using herbal drugs. Bhaishajyakalpana includes Panchavidha Kashaya Kalpana as Swarasa, Kalka, Shruta, Shita, and Fanta. It also includes preparation of Churna, Guti, Vati, Siddha Taila/ Ghrita, Asava, Arishta, Lepa, Arka etc. In Lepa wet medicinal drugs are made in paste form, if the drugs are in dry state then they are converted into paste form by adding little quantity of water and grinding. This paste is used as an external application and called as Lepa Kalpana. From Pharmaceutical point of view Lepa Kalpana is a form of Kalka Kalpana. Kalka and Lepa are same only the purpose for which it is used, decides its nomenclature. Ayurveda has different forms of external applications They are mentioned with term like Lepa, Upanaha, Udavarartana, Abhyanga etc. Out of all these formulations, Lepa Kalpana has been selected here for the present study.