SWARNAPRASHANA TO SWARNAMRITAPRASHANA: EXPERIENCE INSPIRED MODIFICATION THROUGH AGES

Swarna has been used all through these ages in various forms such as raw gold, pure metal, gold foils, red colloidal solution, Swarna Patra, Swarna Parpati and bhasma and other forms in varying dose and stands time tested. The procedure in which Swarna along with herbs are taken in the form of liquid, semi-solid or paste form by children orally is referred as Swarnaprashana. Swarnamritaprashana is formulated by modifying Swarnaprashana with scientific inputs and references from Ayurvedic classical literatures. Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia (Thunb.) Miers), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri(L.) “Vacha” Pennell), (Acorus calamus L.), Jatamamsi (Nardostachys jatamansi (D. Don) DC.), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal), Shankhapuspi (Convolvulous pluricaulis Choisy), Yastimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabraL.), Pippali (Piper longum L.) and Maricha (Piper nigrum L.) are the constituents of Swarnamritaprashana. Since 2009 May, Swarnamritaprashana has been administered once in a month at 12 centers at the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda and Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India as a public health initiative. The current paper details how Swarnaprashana has got transformed into the current form of Swarnamritaprashana by way of modification happened through ages.