Arka –A Upavisha its Critical Review with its Toxic Effects

Ayurveda is one among the evergreen treatment modality of medicine carried out in India. Ayurveda deals with sthavara, jangama, and khanija dravyas along with Mahavisha and upavisha dravyas. Our Acharyas have shown us a wonderful way to use the Visha dravyas in the treatment of patients based on appropriate season, Person and in condition of Patient and dose. It is one of the upavisha varga. The uses of Aaka in Ayurveda in the formulations like Arkatailam, arkesvara rasa, arkavati, arka lavana, kshara panchamruta, kshara gutika. Arka is used as Kushtaghna, Kandughna, Vishaghna, Krimighna, Vranaropaka, Plihaghna, Gulmaghna, Arshoghna, Udararogahara, Deepana, Pachana, Swedajanana, etc. Arkaksheera, Arkapatra, Arkamoola are to be subjected for proper shodhana karma, to remove its tikshna, ushna and rooksha guna before its therapeutic use. If the drug is not properly undergone shodhana then Callotropis shows its toxic effects.