AYURVEDIC REVIEW ON LEPA KALPANA
Vd. Poonam D. Patil* and Vd. Apeksha A. Patil
ABSTRACT
Ayurveda, a holistic science, addresses diseases through both internal and external medicinal applications. For external treatments, various methods such as Lepa, Udvartana, Malahara, Upnaha, and Abhyanga are described in Ayurvedic texts. Among these, Lepa stands out as a semi-solid paste applied externally. Its historical roots depict its dual role in treating ailments and enhancing beauty. Lepa, as a therapeutic and cosmetic remedy, involves preparing medicinal pastes primarily for topical application. This includes treating skin conditions and even hair colouring. The process typically starts with converting wet or dry medicinal herbs into a paste by grinding and sometimes adding water. This resultant paste, known as Lepa Kalpana, becomes the basis for external application. Despite its significance, a comprehensive chapter solely dedicated to Lepakalpana is absent in Ayurvedic literature. Therefore, understanding its nuances requires piecing together information from various scattered references. While Acharya Charaka's 'Aragwadhiya Adhaya' provides formulations for external applications, neither he nor commentator Chakrapani extensively delve into the pharmaceutical intricacies of Lepakalpana. Thus, practitioners must rely on diverse sources to grasp the full scope of Lepa preparation and application.
Keywords: Lepa, Udvartana, Semi-solid, Kalpana, Pharmaceutics, Kalka etc.
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