Collection and Storage of drugs / Husoole Advia
All drugs are
not found everywhere. Drugs from either zoological, Botanical, or Geological
sources are not available in every region and season. Even if the same drugs
grew in different geographical areas and different climatic conditions differ
in their medicinal properties. Hence, Unani
scholars have instructed that the drugs of which geographical region and
quality are known for their best effect should be collected at the prescribed
time by proper methods of collection. In Unani Ilmul Advia (Pharmacology and
Pharmacognosy), a special pattern has been adopted as the name of the
geographical region has been indicated for particular drugs. Like Sabr saqootri
(Scotrin aloe), Afsanteen Roomi (Rome absynthium) Senna makki (Arabian Senna)
Revand Chini (China Rhubarb), etc. Some herbal drugs are cultivated for
commercial purposes others are collected from wild sources. Similarly, animal
drugs are also obtained from the wild or pets. Mineral drugs are available
naturally but if any chemical is synthesized artificially, then its
authenticity must be established. Classical text of the Unani pharmacology
mentioned the time and conditions for the collection of drugs. Collected drugs
should be purified, preserved, and stored as per their standard procedure. The
quality of a drug can be identified by its physical properties like color,
odor, taste, consistency, and weight, any change in normal physical properties
is an indicator of a change in their pharmacological action. There are some
standard guidelines for the collection of drugs. The following four points
should be kept in mind during the collection of drugs of either origin.
1.
Identification
of drug
2.
Geographical
area of availability of a drug
3.
Time
and climatic conditions to collect a drug.
4. Age and maturity of the drug
1.
Flowers
and leaves (Gul wo Burg): These should be collected in the fresh and mature
stage. If the immature buds and leaves are needed, they should be collected as
per instruction.
2.
Fruits
and Seeds (Phal wo Tukhm): These should be collected when they are fully ripped
and they fell themselves. If unripe fruits are indicated like unripe Mango, and
unripe Papaya then they should be collected as per instruction. Ripe fruits
should not fall on the ground but they should be collected when they are
attached to the stem/ branch.
3.
Roots
(Asl): These should be collected, when plants have attained their maturity,
just before fruiting. So that root may contain maximum active constituents.
4.
Branches
and barks (Shaakh wo Chaal): They should be collected in the spring season from
healthy and fresh plants. Dry and diseased plants should be avoided.
5.
Shrubs
(Bootiyan): Shrubs should be fresh, healthy, and mature. They are procured
along with their flowers, fruits, and all the other parts and generally, these
are used as a whole.
6.
Gums,
Latex (Gond/Samag): These are procured, when the flowers are falling, generally
in spring. There are collected before the sun rises in the morning or after the
sun sets in the evening. The sun's heat may alter the constituent in some
products. Like some secretions are obtained in the afternoon. As with Opium,
Gums should be collected before they break up into pieces. It is better to
collect the entire lump.
B.
Haiwani
Advia (Origin Drugs): Animal (Zoological) drugs generally obtained from young and
mature animals. For example, Zuhra Gao (gall bladder of the cow), Neesh aqrab
(Scorpion sting) Uroosak, Qarnul Ayyal (Stag horn), etc. Some animal drugs are
obtained from either child animals or old like chicken soup or old chicken soup
obtained as per requirement.
C.
Medani
Advia (Geological/Mineral Origin Drugs): These drugs are obtained from their
ores. They should be free from impurities like mud and stones. These must be in
their standard physical properties, like color, shine, fragrance, etc
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