Ph.D. Ayurveda: Dravyaguna

Brief Introduction: Department of Dravyaguna is one of the oldest Departments of Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University since its inception i.e. 1927. Teaching and Research are the essential component of the Department. Apart from undergraduate and Post-Graduate teaching, Ph.D. scholars are also registered in the Department. This Department deals with Medicinal plants of Ayurvedic Classics, their identification, properties, action and therapeutic uses in accordance with fundamental Principles of Ayurveda.

In Ayurveda more than 600 medicinal plants are included as drugs and they are used either alone or in combination with each other to alleviate the disorders. In fact, they are grown in various agro-climatic zones (Jangala, Anupa and Sadharana Desa) of our country. In recent years, Global awareness on use of medicinal plants as "Natural Medicine" has drawn the attention of State and National Institutions and Government also to look back into ancient heritage of India - Ayurveda.

Use of herbs as medicine by the sizeable number of population has drawn the attention of Health planners of developed and developing countries around the World and also of World Health Organization (WHO) to address issues related to "safe, standard and quality" products based on medicinal plants.