A REVIEW ON PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION OF ARKA LAVANA: THE FORMULATION OF UPAVISHA ARKA

Arka lavana is a well-recognised and highly effective Lavana kalpana. Lavana preparations are widely and largely prepared in pharmacy as well as used by practitioners of Ayurveda for different ailments. In Lavana kalpana particular heating pattern is followed for drug along with lavana in a sharava (earthen crucible) by subjecting it to putapaka. Arka lavana is one of the commonly used preparation containing very safe and easily available herbo-mineral drugs. It is mentioned in various classical texts like Bhaishajya ratnavali, Rasatarangini, Vangasen, Gadanigraha etc. A scrutiny of classical literature revealed use of Arka lavana in Yakrit-pleeha roga, Gulma, Ajirna, Agnimandya and Udara. Sufficient literary, preclinical and clinical data is not available to prove its mode of action. Thus, present study aims to review all possible references of Arka lavana and formulation ingredients to establish its probable mode of action.