Published Paper Details:

Shankha is one of the Calcium-enriched animal origin marine materials used in Ayurvedic practice in form of Shankha bhasma, known by the Indians since vedic period, but its internal application as a medicine has been recognised from Charak Samhita period. Rasa Tarangini (a classical 20th century book on Ayurvedic pharmaceutical medicine) has detailed elaborative description of the pharmaceutical processing of Shankha to derive its Bhasma. It is used since ancient Indians to treat various ailments like Ajirna (indigestion), Agnimandhya (decresed enzymatic secretion), Amlapitta (acidity), Grahani (irritable bowel syndrome) etc. The present study is designed to compile and accesses all the relevant and standard work done related to Shankha bhasma preparation in addition to standardization in terms of its pharmaceutical and analytical parameters. Relevant literatures of ancient India related to ayurvedic pharmaceutics for preparation of SB along with contemporary research databases and various other appropriate contents on the internet were thoroughly searched. This work may provide an insight into its potential effect in characterization and therapeutics, eventually leading to betterment of human life.