The document provides an overview of the historical context and essential practices of herb and drug manufacturing in Ayurveda, including the establishment of specialised units called bheşajāgāra/rasaśālā. It discusses the importance of hygiene, proper layout, skilled personnel, and good manufacturing practices in ensuring quality medicinal preparations. Additionally, it emphasizes traditional methods for storing raw materials and outlines modern considerations for pharmacy construction.

1. Bheşajāgāra/Rasaśālā
(The Drug Manufacturing Unit)
Dr. Nishigandha Chaudhari
MD (RSBK)
Asst. Prof. of RSBK
Ananya College of Ayurved
Kalol, Gandhinagar

2. •In Ayurveda, there was no separate mention of
pharmaceutics in the early period. This branch of
learning was also dealt with while describing the
treatment part of the diseases. Hence the details
regarding pharmaceutics are not found described
at one place collectively.

3. •As and when required such details were given
in ancient texts of Ayurveda. In ancient times
all the physicians used to prepare their own
medicine, they were supposed to know the
preparation methods of various types of
medicaments

4. •From the historical view, upto the 7th century, it
may be said that herbal preparation was used for
curative purposes after this period, the usage of
minerals and metals for therapeutic purposes
started. As these minerals could not be used orally
in their mineral/metallic form, they found it
necessary to have a specialized technical
knowledge for converting minerals & metals into
bhasma.

5. •Hence the concept of separate branch of learning
known as “Rasa- Sastra” including the concept of
Rasa-Sala and Rasa- vaidyas emerged in the field of
Ayurveda.
•Auşadha nirmana kendra or pharmacy is always
expected to be a quite hygienic and workable place
with all facilities. We put up many rules and
regulations for its establishment under the umbrella
of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) now-a-days.
In the similar way our ancient acharyas were much
concerned about minutest parts of the
bheşajägăra/rasasälä.

6. •They concentrated not only on the construction of
the manufacturing unit but also on the selection
of place for construction, interior plans and
arrangements, appointment of skilled attendants
for different sections of pharmacy etc.
•This chapter deals in brief about few of the
classical references about the establishment of
manufacturing unit.

7. I. Selected area/interiors of Bheşajāgāra/Rasaśāla: (R. T.
1/13-14)
The place selected should be;
1. Clean, hygienic and plain area.
2. It should look beautiful with adequate water resources and
lot of vegetation around.

8. 3. The unit building should look good with sufficient
ventilation.
4. The building area should be situated away from
trespassers.
5. All the drugs are to be neatly arranged in specific order
with neat labelling.
6. The unit should have the pictures of Lord Šiva on the walls.
7. The unit should comprise adequate machineries old and
modern to ease the process of preparation.

9. •II. The plan of Bheşajāgāra/Rasasālä: (R. R. S.7/3-5) The plan
showing different directions and the particular work to be
carried out;
1. In the 'eastern block' of the manufacturing unit
'Rasabhairava' should be placed;
2. Agni-samskaraņa procedures are to be carried out in south-
east(āgneya) block of the unit;
3. Paşāņa karma (pounding, grinding etc) is carried out in
southern (yāmya or dakşiņa) block

10. 4. Sastra karma (cutting, slicing etc) has to be done in south
west (nairrtya) block;
5. Kşālana karma (washing, soaking etc) are restricted to west
(varuņa or paścima) block;
6. Soşana (drying) has to be done in north-west (vāyavya)
block;
7. Vedhana karma is performed in northern (uttara) block;
8. For storing raw materials and finished products,
northeastern blocks (aišānya) are to be used;

11. •Moreover the setup of manufacturing units basically
depend availability of place for the whole setup,
amount of work carried out a day, use of machineries
in the unit, water source available etc, Now a days
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) makes it
mandator to build manufacturing units as per its strict
norms (refer the chapter DCA GMP). Eventually it is all
required to bring out the desired quality and standard
in the products manufactured.

12. III. Paricăraka (Attendant): (R. R. S.7/27)
1. The assistants in the manufacturing units should be
clean from the hygienic point of view.
2. He should be brave enough to carry out the given
work efficiently.
3. He is expected to be physically strong to endure the
heavy work load of the unit.

13. IV. Drug keeper: (R. R. S.7/35)
1. Persons with adequate experience to know the names of
the raw drugs and furnished products are to be appointed for
this work.
2. Appointed person should be clean and good natured.
3. He should have good general knowledge.
4. He is supposed to know many languages for better
interaction with the customers. Such a person suits well for
drug keeper job.

14. V. Pākakarmaghna:
1. The assistant of pāka-sālā should be first and foremost hygienic
and should understand the essentiality of hygiene at pāka-śālā.
2. He should be a truth speaking person.
3. He should be the person who believes in the existence of God.
4. He should have full control over his mind. (R. R. S.7/36)
5. He is also expected not to have any doubts regarding the
manufacturing work assigned to him.
In other words, he should be expert in the work and a quick learner.

15. VI. Storage of raw materials:
• The drug storage techniques are to be followed with utmost
care and intelligence as the potency of the raw drugs has to
be retained until the stored drug goes into a preparation.
• For this our classics also have emphasized the fact of proper
storage of drug materials and the store house.

16. • As per Suśruta the methods of drug storage are said as
below;
According to Acharya Sushruta (Su. Sa. 36/17) The raw
drugs required for the preparation of medicines are to be
stored in cloth, mud pots, drugs hanged in cloths/gunny
bags or specially designed hangars to the roof of the store
house or to the nails (sańku) fixed in the walls. East or north
direction of the storehouse is preferred for storing the
drugs.

17. According to Acharya Charak(Ca. Ka. 1/11) The drugs
collected are to be stored in suitable containers, neatly
arranged in a store house facing east or north with regulated
air entry.
• The house should be fumigated (puspa, upahāra,
balikarma) frequently. The drugs inside should remain
unaffected by fire, water, upasweda (temperature from
earth), smoke, dust, rats and other animals. In such a place
the drugs are to be neatly tied and hung to the walls and roof

18. • Plan of modern pharmacies:
• The plans of each pharmacy solely depend on the place
available for the construction of building and the scale of
production (small, medium and large-scale production).
• The below given plan includes all the essential sections to be
considered before preparing the plan for the pharmacy
building.

19. • Ideal plan for construction of
pharmacy:
A mediocre manufacturing unit will
have all the compartments and the
blueprint mentioned below;
• Wash and change room for workers
• Pounding and pulverization
• Drying of raw drugs
• Raw drug receiving and storage
• Washing and soaking section
• Conference hall
• Fermentation section
• Research and Development (R & D) section
• Filling and bottling section
• PASSAGEWAY
• Statue of Lord Siva
• Packaging and Labelling
• Manufacturing unit Storage of the finished
products
• ENTRANCE
• Dispensing section
• Administrative block and Office

20. THANK YOU