A mere collection of herbs does not constitute an Ayurvedic remedy.An herbal product containing the same degree of safety andefficacy, as an Ayurvedic product may not deliver the same degreeof safety and efficacy, as ayurveda prescribes specific processingthat enhances both efficacy and safety. This summarizes theessential differences between herbal & Ayurvedic medicine. Theparticular composition and complicated processing characteristicsof an Ayurvedic remedy aim at achieving comprehensive treatmentwith no-side effects.The principle of treatment for various diseases and ailment hasbeen precisely laid out in Ayurvedic text. They involve formulationof various herbs and minerals in precise proportions with specificprocessing methods. A careful choice of the right plant by trainedpersonnel is followed by prudent selection of the parts to beprocessed, i.e. the leaves, seeds, stem, bark or roots. Each stepis vital and many cause unsatisfactory pharmacological results whennot executed with utmost care.Realizing the rapid changes in the environment, and that all ouringredients are procured from plants exposed to these environmentalconditions, quality control process, by necessity, have to be verystringent. In essence, once the medicinal herb step into the labfrom natures lap, it traverses a highly scientific path:Pharmacognosy, where is authenticity is established bymorphological and microscopic means; analytical chemistry, wherephysical and chemical parameters are analyzed and studied; animalpharmacology, where elaborate experimental studies such as acute,sub-chronic, chronic toxicity, teratogenicity, mutagenicity andcarcinogenicity studies are conducted, not only to assess theefficacy, but also to ensure the safety, after which it is furthertested for immunological, histopathological and biochemicalparameters. The Formulation and Development Division, where thefinal formulations made, conducts accelerated stability trials andestimates shelf-life. The final product is further standardizedusing state of art techniques such as High performance LiquidChromatography (HPLC), Gas Liquid Chromatography (GLC), HighPerformance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC Finger printing),Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (ASS), etc., which ensurephysical and chemical uniformity and rule out the presence ofimpurities, aflatoxins, pesticides and heavy metals.
