Anukta Dravya

N – UKATAM – ANUKTAM” i.e. which has not been said or stated or documented (ukta) in Ayurvedic texts. Thus anukta dravya means all those folklore plants which do exist in India but are not mentioned in Ayurvedic classical literature which include Brihattrayi, Laghuttrayi and Nighantus.

Need

· Many important medicinal plants have been red listed and many are on the way. Anukta dravyas may solve the problem of scarcity of medicinal plants.

· We are in era of newly emerging diseases, anukta dravyas may help in finding their solution.

· Anukta dravya can pave a way to the discovery of novel compound.

· Ethno-botanical studies carry a great importance in Ayurveda. Charak clearly directs to collect information about known and unknown dravyas from forest dwellers, shepherds, tribes etc. [5]. Their serious studies may expand our knowledge of herbs.

 · Above all, it is our duty to keep introducing new dravyas in Dravyaguna Vigyan so as to maintain the sashwata (everlasting) feature of Ayurveda.