A Comprehensive Guide to Ayurvedic Specialties
Aparājita Khalam Gulika
Authentic Text: अष्टाङ्ग हृदयम्, अतिसार चिकित्सा अध्याय, श्लोक २६ (Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayam, Atisāra Cikitsā Adhyāya, Śloka 26)
The formulation is a pill/tablet (Gulika) prepared with a base of specific substances.
Ingredients in Equal Parts:
मरिच (Marica) - Piper nigrum
धान्यक (Dhānyaka) - Coriandrum sativum
अजाजी / जीरक (Ajājī / Jīraka) - Cuminum cyminum
तिन्त्रिडी / तिन्त्रिणी (Tintriḍī / Tintriṇī) - Tamarindus indica
शठी (Śaṭhī) - Hedychium spicatum
विडङ्ग (Viḍaṅga) - Embelia ribes
दाडिम (Dāḍima) - Punica granatum (Fruit rind)
धातकी (Dhātakī) - Woodfordia fruticosa
पाठ (Pāṭha) - Cissampelos pareira
त्रिफला (Triphalā) - A group containing:
हरीतकी (Harītakī) - Terminalia chebula
बिभीतक (Bibhītaka) - Terminalia bellirica
आमलकी (Āmalakī) - Emblica officinalis
पञ्चकोल (Pañcakola) - A group containing:
पिप्पली (Pippalī) - Piper longum
पिप्पलीमूल (Pippalīmūla) - Piper longum (Root)
चव्य (Cavya) - Piper chaba
चित्रक (Citraka) - Plumbago zeylanica
शृङ्गवेर (Śṛṅgavera) - Zingiber officinale (Dry Ginger)
यवक्षार (Yavakṣāra) - Potassium Carbonate (Alkali prepared from Hordeum vulgare)
कपित्थ (Kapittha) - Feronia limonia
आम्र (Āmra) - Mangifera indica (Unripe fruit)
जम्बु (Jambu) - Syzygium cumini
दीप्यक / अजमोद (Dīpyaka / Ajamōda) - Trachyspermum roxburghianum (Often equated with Apium graveolens or Carum roxburghianum)
Additional Components for Processing (Bhavana Dravya & Base):
6 times quantity of: विल्व (Vilva) - Aegle marmelos (Unripe fruit pulp)
With: दधि (Dadhi) - Yogurt/Curd, मुद्ग रस (Mudga Rasa) - Green gram soup, गुड (Guḍa) - Jaggery, and यमक स्नेह (Yamaka Sneha) - a specific compound of Ghee and Oil.
Primary & Classical Diagnoses (Sanskrit)
अतिसार (Atisāra) - Diarrhea.
अरुचि (Aruci) - Anorexia, loss of interest in food.
अग्निमान्द्य (Agnimāndya) - Low digestive fire, indigestion.
प्रवाहिका (Pravāhikā) - Dysentery (characterized by tenesmus - frequent, small-volume, bloody stools).
Scope of Application (Modern & Integrated Clinical Correlation)
Gastrointestinal System: Acute and chronic diarrhea, Dysentery (Bacillary/Amoebic), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Intestinal parasitic and bacterial infections (e.g., Giardiasis), Indigestion, Anorexia, Hyperacidity (due to its digestant action).
General Health: Conditions arising from or associated with impaired digestion and toxin (Ama) accumulation.
Dosha Karma: Vāta-Kapha Śamana (pacifies Vāta and Kapha doshas).
Dhātu Karma: Primarily acts on the Rasā (nutrient plasma) and Annavaha Srotas (channels of nourishment) to correct digestion at the tissue level.
Agni Karma: Dīpana (kindles the digestive fire) and Pācana (digests toxins or Ama).
Srotas Karma: Srotōśodhana (cleanses the channels), particularly the Annavaha (food), Purīṣavaha (colon), and Udakavaha (water) Srotas.
Roga Karma: Specific action against Pravāhikā (dysentery).
Lakṣaṇika Karma: Rucya (appetizer), Śūlahara (alleviates colicky pain or spasms), Grāhi (absorbs excess fluid in the intestines, checks diarrhea), Kṛmighna / Jantūghma (anti-parasitic and anti-microbial).
| Attribute (Guṇa) | Property |
| :--- | :--- |
| Rasa (Taste) | Primarily Kaṣāya (Astringent), Tikta (Bitter), Katu (Pungent), and Amla (Sour). |
| Guṇa (Quality) | Laghu (Light), with a combination of Snigdha (Unctuous) and Rūkṣa (Dry) qualities from various ingredients. |
| Vīrya (Potency) | Uṣṇa (Heating) |
| Vipāka (Post-Digestive Effect) | Katu (Pungent) [Inferred from dominant Uṣṇa Vīrya and Katu Rasa ingredients] |
Modern Correlate Actions: The formulation exhibits anti-diarrheal, anti-dysenteric, carminative, digestive stimulant, anti-spasmodic, anti-parasitic, antibacterial, and appetizer properties.
The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore) Limited (Based on Ashtanga Hrdayam)