Ayurveda Properties of herbal preparations

The herbal preparations are described by basic seven properties Rasa, Virya, Vipak, Guna, Dhatu Affinity, Srotas, and impact on Dosha. Some of the manufacturers call these properties as 'Ayurvedic energetics', or "Bio energetics', or 'Ayurvedic energy dynamics'.
In addition, a manufacture should list precaution of using the given herbal preparation

Rasa (Tastes)

According to Ayurveda there are six Rasa (Tastes)

1. Madhura (Sweet)
2. Amla (Sour)
3. Lavana (Salty)
4. Katu (Pungent)
5. Tikta (Bitter)
6. Kasaya (Astringent)

Virya (Energies)

There are two types of energies
1. Shita (Cooling effect)
2. Ushna (Heating effect)
The Sweet Bitter and Astringent Rasa have cooling effect. Sour Salty and Pungent have heating effect

Vipak (Post Digestive Action)

After digestion, a Rasa transforms into one of the three Vipak Rasa as experienced by the tissues. The three Vipak Rasa are: Sweet, Sour, or Pungent. The re-digestion Rasa are transformed in to Vipaka as follows
- Sweet Vipak, result of digesting Sweet and Salty Rasa
- Sour Vipak, result of digesting Sour Rasa
- Pungent Vipak, result of digesting Pungent Bitter and Astringent Rasa

Guna (Qualities)

There are twenty classifications of Guna.
1. Guru (Heavy)
2. Laghu (Light)
3. Manda (Dull)
4. Tikshna (Sharp)
5. Shita (Cold)
6. Ushna (Hot)
7. Snigdha (Unctous, moist)
8. Rooksha (Un-unctuous, Dry)
9. Slaksna (Smooth)
10. Khara (Rough)
11. Sandra (Dense)
12. Drava (Fluid)
13. Mridu (Soft)
14. Kathina (Hard)
15. Sthira (Stable)
16. Sara (Unstable)
17. Suksma (Subtle)
18. Sthula (Gross)
19. Visada (Non-slimy)
20. Piccila (Slimy)

Dhatu Affinity (Tissues Entered)

The herbal preparation may enter up to seven types of tissues in the body
1. Rasa (Plasma, Lymph)
2. Rakta (Red blood cells)
3. Mamsa (Muscle tissue)
4. Meda (Adipose tissue, fat)
5. Ashti (Bone tissue)
6. Majja (Bone marrow, Nervous tissue , Connective tissue)
7 a. Shukra (male reproductive tissue)
7 b. Artava (Female reproductive tissue)

Srotas (Channels of movement)

Modern Ayurveda recognizes three Srota (Channels). Blockage of any one or more of the channels causes disease.
1. Anna Vaha Srota (Digestive System)
2. Rakta Vaha Srota (Circulatory system)
3. Prana Vaha Srota (Respiratory system)

Dosha

Each Human body is composed of all the three Dosha: Vata Kapha Pitta. A disease is an outcome of an aggravated Dosha. Objective is to balance (decrease) aggravated Dosha. The herbal preparation may have following three characteristics
1. Balance (decrease) or Aggravate (increase) Vita
2. Balance (decrease) or Aggravate (increase) Kapha
3. Balance (decrease) or Aggravate (increase) Pitta

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