Arka Kalpana: DR Pradeepta Kumar Singh

ARKA KALPANA
DR PRADEEPTA KUMAR SINGH

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INTRODUCTION
 The method by which the

volatile oil and active
principles of the drug are
collected is called as Arka
Kalpana and the compound
prepared through this
procedure is called as Arka.
REFERENCE
 Arka kalpana is the basic formulation

of UNANI system of medicine.
 There is no reference of Arka
kalpana in Brihattrayi.
 It is first mentioned in Gad Nigraha
by Acharya Shodhal in 12th
Century.
 It is widely described by Ravana in
his book Arka Prakasha.
DIFFERENT NAMES
 Ayurveda : Arka
 Unani : Arkquites
 Siddha : Teenir
 Homeopathy : Tincture
 Allopathy : Distillate
DEFINITION :
Arka is a liquid preparation obtained by distillation of

certain drugs soaked in water using the Arka Yantra or
any convenient modern distillation apparatus.(AFI)

 Arka is a distilled essences in a medium of water,

which contain the volatile constituents of the drugs
used in its preparation.

 Arka is equivalent to the ‘aquae’ or 'waters' of the

Western Pharmacopoeia.
OBJECTIVE OF ARKA KALPANA
 Some of the drugs contain active principles in

the form of volatile oil. Hence by using these
drugs, if kwatha is prepared; then the active
ingredients may get vaporized itself. So,
these drugs are used as Arka kalpana.
 Arka kalpana can be prepared with such

drugs e.g. Gulab pushpa, Kevada pushpa,
Vedamuska, Saunf, Chandana, Yavani, Khas,
Anant mool, Pudina etc.
INGREDIENTS
 Arka can be prepared by single drug or compound form of

drugs.
 Generally, ratio of drug and water is taken as-
 Drugs from which Arka is : 1 part

to be obtained
 Water : 8 parts* or
10 parts**INGREDIENTS
*Ayurved Sar Sangrah, **Siddhi Nandan Mishra

INGREDIENTS
 In Arka Prakasha, the herbal raw materials

used for preparation of Arka are basically
classified into five groups.
 The classification is done on the basis of

nature of drug namely Atyanta Kathina,
Kathina, Ardra, Pallava and Drava.
 The ratio of drug and water varies

according to different groups.
INGREDIENTS
GROUP RATIO OF EXAMPLE

DRUG AND
WATER
Atyanta 1:3 Chandana
kathina
Kathina 1:2 Ajamoda
Ardra 1 : 1/20 Nirgundi
Vata
Pallava 1 : 1/100 Vasa
PROCEDURE
 Arka is prepared by the process of

distillation of water soaked raw drugs
with help of Distillation apparatus (Arka
Yantra).
 The volatile constituents which are

evolved, admixture with water vapor.
Then, they are condensed and collected.
CONTD…
Distillation apparatus
consists of three parts:
1. Still
2. Condenser
3. Receiver
CONTD…
 The still consists of a basal receptacle to

contain the drugs, and a cover with an exhaust
tube which is conveniently bent to drain the
distillate into the bottle.
 A copular reservoir is provided at the region

where the exhaust leaves the lid portion.
 The receptacle of the retort may be an

earthen pot or preferably a metallic one. When
made of metals like brass or copper, the interior
should be tin coated.
CONTD…
 Iron should not be used because it

gets rusted and corroded in a short
period.
 Stainless steel stills are excellent for
this purpose.
 It is advisable to provide a perforated
false bottom in the receptacle to keep

the drug intended for extraction and
to avoid charring.
CONTD…
 The copular reservoir over the lid is

filled with cold water during
distillation and it serve as a sort of
crude type of condenser.
 This crude device could be replaced
by a good condenser in the form of a

water jacket around the exhaust tube,
or even a spiral type of condenser
could be provided.
PROCESS OF PREPARATION
 If wet and freshly collected drugs are used for Arka

kalpana, then they have to be made into small
pieces.
 If dry drugs are used, then they have to be made

into coarse powder form and soaked in water and
mixed well with hands.
 The contents are kept for about 24 hours in a S.S.

Container and then the contents should be
transferred with water into the still for distillation
which softens the drugs and releases the volatile
principles during distillation.
PROCESS OF PREPARATION -1
 ATYANTA KATHINA DRAVYAS

 For preparing Arka of these, the dry drugs are
coarsely powdered, soaked in twice quantity of water
and kept in shade till the water dries and drug turns
soft.
 Then water is added equal to the quantity of the

drug and kept in sunlight and moon light for 8
praharas (24 hrs).
 Further it is transferred to Arka yantra to extract

Arka.
PROCESS OF PREPARATION - 2
 KATHINA DRAVYA
For preparing Arka, the dry drug is coarsely

powdered and twice the quantity of water is
added to it.
 It is then kept in moon light for 8 praharas

(24 hours).
 Later it is transferred to Arka yantra to

extract Arka.
ARDRA DRAVYA
 The term Ardra means wet. It is of two types:


1. Sarasa: Sarasa means with juice. For preparation

of Arka from Sarasa drugs, the churna is prepared
from naala (stem) of these drugs and 1/20th part
of water is added and heated for 1 muhurtha (48
min).

2. Nirasa: Nirasa means drugs devoid of juice. For

preparation of Arka from these drugs, 1/20th part
of water is added and soaked for 1 prahara.
PALLAVA DRAVYA
 Pallava means leaves.
 For preparation of Arka from leaves -

1/100th part of water is added and kept for
24 minutes for soaking.
 Then, it is transferred to Arka yantra.

DRAVA DRAVYA
 For Arka preparation from liquid drugs, no

water is added to it.
 Drugs are filled in Arka yantra and Arka is

prepared.
END OF THE PROCESS
 The end of the process of Arka

preparation is marked by the escape of dark
fumes from the exhaust. Further attempts
to heat and collect the remnants of
condensate should not be made once this
phenomenon is noticed.
 Usually the volume of the distillate is

3/4th of the total volume of the drug and
water mixture taken for distillation.
FINAL PRODUCT
 Thus produced Arka is a suspension of the

distillate in water having slight turbidity.
 Depending upon the nature of the crude

drugs under going for the distillation, the
Arka will have characteristic colour and
odour.
PRECAUTIONS
 While doing Arka preparation, distillation

apparatus should be exposed with
Mandagni, because boiling of the drugs
with excessive heat will lead to water
getting vaporized early. There by spoiled
kwatha like preparation will be produced.
 Because of more heat, very soon the water

content will get vaporized and there is a
chance of burning and spoilage of arka
dravya, then little bit arka is produced
which contains improper taste, smell and
which will not be up to mark.
CONTD…
 The lid should be tightly placed and sealed

around to prevent vapors from escaping.
 Heat is applied to the drug mixture and the

distillate is collected in large bottles and mixed
well to ensure uniform concentration of the
medicine because the first distillate is much
concentrated compared to that collected at the
end of the process when the drugs are
depleted of the medicinal principles.
CONTD…
 Continuous water current should be maintained

in the condenser.
 When a copular type of condenser is used,

water is replaced by cool water when it becomes
warmed up.
 The vessel or bottle in which the distillate is

collected is placed in a container containing cold
water.
REMOVING DAURGANDHYA
 If Arka is having bad smell,

then it has to be fumigated with dhuma
produced from the powder of
Hingu, Methika and Rajika mixed in
Ghrita
and kept in new pot..
Arka Prakasha
PRASHASTA ARKA
 Arka should have more fragrance than its

constituent dravyas taken alone.
 On keeping in jeernasthi mrittika patra, the colour

of the drug must appear same.
 The Arka must resemble Shankha, Kunda, Indu on

keeping in other vessels.
 The taste of the Arka while keeping on tongue

should be that of the constituent drug itself.
STORAGE & USAGES
 Arka should be stored in tightly
stoppered glass bottles.
 Any arka if kept open and exposed to

air will loose itsNvolatile medicinal
principles.
 Arka are mixed with equal quantity of

water before use.
DOSE:
 Shelf life / Expiry date:

 1 year from the date of manufacturing
(Rule 161-B of D&C Act)
Dose:
 API: 10 to 20 ml per day in divided doses.
 AFI: 12 to 24 ml per day in divided doses.
Anupana:
 Equal amount of water
EXAMPLES WITH USES:
 Ajmoda Arka: Agnimandya, Ajeerna,

Bastiroga, Vatakapharoga.
 Brahmi
Arka: Buddhi mandata, Smriti
bhrama.
 Jatamansi
Arka: Agnimandya, Arocaka,
Mukha daurgandhya, Unmada,
Apasmara.
EXAMPLES WITH USES:
 Gulaba Arka:
 Daha, Trishna, Hrillasa, Netraroga.
 Kakmachi Arka:
 Hrid roga, Yakridroga, Sotha.
 Munditika Arka:
 Pleeha roga, Meha, Vataroga, Tvakroga, Arunsika.
 Nilodupuspa Arka:
 Kapharoga, Kasa, Svasa, Kantharoga.
EXAMPLES WITH USES:
 Parpata Arka:
 Jvara (fever), Trishna, Atisara, Daha.
 Pudina Arka:
 Chardi, Ajeerna, Udara shula, Agnimandya.
 Punarnava Arka:
 Jalodara, Sotha, Netraroga.
 Yavani Arka:
 Trika shula, Agnimandya.
THANK U ALL

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ARKA KALPANA

DR PRADEEPTA KUMAR SINGH

 The method by which the

 Arka kalpana is the basic formulation

Arka is a liquid preparation obtained by distillation of

 Arka is a distilled essences in a medium of water,

 Arka is equivalent to the ‘aquae’ or 'waters' of the

 Some of the drugs contain active principles in

 Arka kalpana can be prepared with such

 Arka can be prepared by single drug or compound form of

 Generally, ratio of drug and water is taken as-

 Drugs from which Arka is : 1 part

*Ayurved Sar Sangrah, **Siddhi Nandan Mishra

 In Arka Prakasha, the herbal raw materials

 The classification is done on the basis of

 The ratio of drug and water varies

GROUP RATIO OF EXAMPLE

 Arka is prepared by the process of

 The volatile constituents which are

 The still consists of a basal receptacle to

 A copular reservoir is provided at the region

 The receptacle of the retort may be an

 Iron should not be used because it

false bottom in the receptacle to keep

 The copular reservoir over the lid is

by a good condenser in the form of a

 If wet and freshly collected drugs are used for Arka

 If dry drugs are used, then they have to be made

 The contents are kept for about 24 hours in a S.S.

 ATYANTA KATHINA DRAVYAS

 Then water is added equal to the quantity of the

 Further it is transferred to Arka yantra to extract

For preparing Arka, the dry drug is coarsely

 It is then kept in moon light for 8 praharas

 Later it is transferred to Arka yantra to

 The term Ardra means wet. It is of two types:

1. Sarasa: Sarasa means with juice. For preparation

2. Nirasa: Nirasa means drugs devoid of juice. For

 Pallava means leaves.

 For preparation of Arka from leaves -

24 minutes for soaking.

 Then, it is transferred to Arka yantra.

 For Arka preparation from liquid drugs, no

 Drugs are filled in Arka yantra and Arka is

 The end of the process of Arka

 Usually the volume of the distillate is

 Thus produced Arka is a suspension of the

 Depending upon the nature of the crude

 While doing Arka preparation, distillation

 Because of more heat, very soon the water

 The lid should be tightly placed and sealed

 Heat is applied to the drug mixture and the

 Continuous water current should be maintained

 When a copular type of condenser is used,

 The vessel or bottle in which the distillate is

 If Arka is having bad smell,

 Arka should have more fragrance than its

 On keeping in jeernasthi mrittika patra, the colour

 The Arka must resemble Shankha, Kunda, Indu on