Introduction
Lehana (to lick or lickables) is unique concept of balroga given in Indian ancient classics. Lehana is semisolid combination contains ghrit(clarified butter), madhu(honey), and various herbal drugs adopted to make drugs easily palatable or lickable to children. In Kashyap Samhita a separate chapter on Lehana is devoted to explain its various forms, uses, indications and contraindications etc.
The purpose of Lehana is to supplement nutrition, enhance immunity, develop physical and mental strength and a convenient method of administration of medicine to children.
Swarnaprashan is one of the Lehana type in which Swarna bhasma, honey, ghee and herbal drugs are given in various combinations for desirable benefits.
Evolution of swarnaprashan
| Time | Ancient Classic | content | Indication/ benefit |
| 6th BCE | Kashyap Samhita | Swarna, Ghrit, Honey | Medha, Agnibala, Aysuhya,
Mangalam, Punyam, Vrishyam, Varnyam, Grahapaham, Shrutdhar |
| 2nd – 1st BCE | Sushrut Samhita | Swarna (Kanchan, Kanak, Hema), Ghrita, Honey, Herbs- Kushta, Vacha, Matsaykshi, Shankhapushpi, Arkapushpi, Kaidarya, Shweta Durva. | Medha Bala Vardhan |
| 6th AD | Ashtang Sangrah | Swarna (hema raja), Vacha | Medha, Rakshoghna
and Agnivardhan |
| 7th AD | Ashtang hriday | Swarna, Ghrita, Honey, Sweta Vacha,
Matsaykshi, Shankhapushpi, Arkapushpi, Kaidarya, Shweta Durva. |
Medha, Bala Vardhan, Varnyam |
| 13th AD | Sharangdhar | Swarna Bhasma, Ghrita, Honey | Given at birth |
| 13th-14th AD | Rasaratna
Sammuchaya |
Swarna Bhasma, Pipalli, Honey | |
| 16th AD | Bhavprakash | Swarna Bhasma, Ghrita, Honey, Kushtha, Vacha, Matsaykshi, Shankhapushpi, Arkapushpi, Kaidarya, Shweta Durva. | Medha Bala
Pushtikara |
| 16th AD | Yogaratnakar | Same as Bhavprakash | Medha Bala Vardhan |
| 18th AD | Bhaishajya
Ratnawali |
Swarna Bhasma, Ghrita, Honey,
Kushta, Vacha, Abhya, Brahmi |
Varna, Ayu , Kanti Vardhan |
General Information about Swarnaprashan (SP)
Dosage of Swarnaprashan– Acharya kashyap has not mentioned the precise doses of Swarnaprashan. Classical text dosages of Swarna bhasma is considered routinely for calculation of SP dose.
2 Gunja (250mg) Rasaratna Samucchaya
1/8 -1/4 ratti (15 mg -30mg) Rasatarangini
15.5-62.5 mg – Ayurvedic Pharmacopia of India.
Current Swarnaprashan publication
| Preparation Name | Gold Form | Other herbs | Dose and adjuvant | Indication | Duration | Result | References |
| Swarnabindu Prashan | Bhasma | Honey, Ghrita | 4mg gold/dose | Healthy children | Daily on the day of pushya nakshatra for 6 months | Improved eating habit, weight, height , mood, reduced frequency and severity of illness, improvement in IQ, behaviour complaints, | Patil aniket etal ,july 2017 |
| Swarnamrita prashan | Bhasma | Honey ,Ghrita, Guduchi, Kashaya Vacha,
Jatamansi, Ashwagandha, Shankhapushpi Yashtimadhu, Pippali,, Maricha |
2mg gold/dose | Cough and common cold (3 to 8yr Children) | 30 days daily/ empty stomach | Reduction in complain of cough, rhonchi, tonsillitis, sleep disturbance, dysponea, pharyngitis | Rao N Prasanna etal. 2012 |
| Swarnaprashan | Bhasma | Honey, Ghrit | 1mg gold bhasma upto 5 year, above 5 year, 2mg gold bhasma | Children with recurrent respiratory, GIT, and other recurrent infections (3 -10 year children) | 30 days daily/empty stomach | Improvement in recurrent sneezing, nasal discharge, cough, loose stool, vomiting, loss of appetite | Kritika Joshi et. al March 2018 |
| Swarnaprashan | Bhasma | Honey ,Ghrita, Vacha, Kushta | 1mg/kg body weight | Healthy children(up to 12 year) | Every 27th day of month upto 1 year, | Singnificant weight gain | Ramteke RD et. al, 2014 |
| Swarnaprashan | Bhasma | Honey, Ghrita | 0.7mg Swarna bhasma | Full term newborn – 0 to 3 days, | Daily once a day in morning for 6 weeks | Episodes of common illnes (recurrent respiratory tract infection, diarrheal episodes and skin problems) infrequent or absent, Renal and liver function test were normal, increase weight, height, HC, CC, increase in lymphocyte count. | Poonam singh et al 2016 |
| Swarnamritaprashan | Bhasma | Honey ,Ghrita, Guduchi, Va, Jm, Ag, Sp, Ym, Pi, Ma. | 4 drops of swarnamrita prashan( 2 mg gold /dose) | Healthy children ( 1 to 2 year) | Daily on the day of pushya nakshata for 9 months | Improvement in development and deviation quotients of motor and mental age .Improvement in weight, height, head, chest, mid upper arm circumference. | Kannan Sagar Shailaja U Etal.2018 |
| Swarnaprashan | Bhasma | Honey ,Ghrita , Brahmi Sp,Va, Ym, Ag Bala | Swarnaprashan 1mg/ml | Children ( 0- 15 yr ) complain of recurrent respiratory illness , gastrointestinal ailments | Pushya nakshata for 1 yr 9
( total 14 dose ) |
Improvement in weight, height, HC, CC and decrease frequency of illness ,improves in dhi ,dhriti, smriti | Dr depak Khawale et al 2017 |
| Swarnaprashan | Bhasma | Honey, Ghrita, Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, Vacha,
Guduchi |
4 drops of swarnaprashan | Preterm(less than 37 wk) 0- 3 yr | Daily on the day of pushya nakshata for 6 month | Improvement in weight , height , recurrency of disease decreased | Rathi renu et al 2017 |
| Swarnaprashan | Pure gold as shalaka (24 carat) | Honey,
Ghrita |
Pure gold 3 circle ( 0.07235% w/w) | Children upto 5 year | Daily on the day of pushya nakshata ( total 20 doses ) | Improvement in wt., ht, HC, frequency of respiratory and GI tract infection decreased. No any clinical toxicity , adverse effect seen | Jayabhay vikas et al 2016 |
Swarnaprashan and Market
Now these days due the popularity and awarness about Swarnaprashan lot of preparations in the name of swarnaprashan are available in the market. We have gone through the gold content and price of the 17 different swarnaprashan. Surprisingly there is huge variation in the cost of swarnaprashan from 100rs/5ml upto 642rs/5ml and if we see the mean it is almost 284rs. Only 4 among 17 brands have shown the concentration of gold. When we go for the swarnaprashan it becomes quite difficult to choose and rely on which brand? In this regard authorities should come forward for quality control and regulation of the rates of swarnaprashan. But any swarnaprashan whose cost ranging between 218-284rs is optimum to purchase.
Ghrit
- Immunomodulator
Due to presence of short chain fatty acids
- Antioxidant
Vitamin A, E, carotene,SCFAs prevents lipid peroxidation
Increases the antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GST)
- Hypolipidemia
MUFAs-Decreases total cholesterol, LDL, TGs, CLA, LDL
Vitamin D, Steroid, Sex hormones synthesis
Cholesterol
Honey
- Antioxidant
Low Ph, acidic environment, hydrogen peroxide, flavonoids, phenolic contentsrestore antioxidants enzymes (CAT, GPx)
- Antimicrobial
Phenolic and flavonoids content, increase beta carotene, vitamin C, GR enzyme
- Anti inflammatory
Decreases proinflammatory cytokines such as IL- 6, TNF-α, COX-2 , PGE2, NO, iNOS
- Immunomodulator
Stimulate T, B lymphocytes, neutrophils
- Wound healing
Increase stimulation and production of lymphocytes, phagocytes, monocytes /macrophages
Swarna bhasma
- Immunomodulator
Increases peritoneal macrophage and phagocytic index of macrophages
- Antioxidant
Increases antioxidant enzymes SOD, Catalase, GST, GSH, GPD, GR and decreased lipid peroxidation, so act as neuroprotective, rejuvenator.
- Antistress
Restored the altered level of brain catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine), serotonine, corticosterol
Increases Acetylcholine level in brain by decreasing AChE activity ,and improving learning and memory.
Collective properties of Swarna, ghrit, honey in the form of swarnaprashan promotes generalised immunity, intelligence, digestion capacity and strength.
In context of swarnaprashan in sushrut samhita sharir sthan 10 achrya has told about Matsyakshi among herbs used in swarnaprashan. Now in some available commentaries of sushrut samhita author has considered it as Brahmi. But, there is difference in the phytochemistry of Alternanthera sisselis and Bacopa monnieri. Use of Alternanthera sisselis is recommended.
Lacunae
- Sound silence upon swarnaprashan in AFI
- Precise dose of swarnaprashan according to pediatric age, weight, BMI or parameters of dose calculation not clearly mentioned anywhere.
- There is variation in the contents of swarnaprashan of individual or different pharmaceutical companies.
- There is inter centre variation in the use of swarnaprashan for disease or health promotion is high.
- Variable swarnaprashan practices in different regions are not therapeutically, pharmacologically evaluated.
- We have searched pubmed, Scopus, google scholar, research gate etc. but there is limited study published on Swarnaprashan.
- Limited study published upon toxicity of Swarnaprashan
- Standard operating procedure (SOP) – There is no clear description about method of preparation of There is inter individual variation in method of preparation of Swarnaprashan in different research papers. Ratio of ghrita, honey(equal or unequal) and herbs quantity is not clear.
- Physicochemical characterisation of Swarnaprashan is still not done. Its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) is also not well undertaken.
Future prospect
- A public health initiative
Now various practitioners, institutions are organizing the swarnaprashan camps due to which its popularity is increasing, people are aware about the benefits of swarnaprashan. So, it may prove as a good public health initiative
- Standalone or along with immunization
Immunomodulation is a well known and proven effect of swarnaprashan. Various publications has advocated it’s role in enhancing the immunity. It can be stand side by side with immunization or may stand alone.
- Disease specific intervention
It may play imperative role in prevention of diseases. One such example is from Gorakhpur (UP) where cases of Japanese Encephalitis(JE) has significantly decreased after administration of swarnaprashan in children.
- Adjuvant capacity
It should be screened
Research Potential
Although now research is going on in this regard but there are so many effects of swarnaprashan mentioned in different samhitas which needs to be explored on scientific background. Few of them are as follows
- Varnya
Melanogenesis pathways
Desqamation pigmentation
Melanin transfer mechanism
- Chakshushya
Vision correction
Retinopathy of prematurity
Retinal repair
- Medhya
AChE activities
NMDA receptors
BDNF activities
- Immunomodulation
Phagocytic activities
TLR signaling pathways
TH1 and TH2
Multiple choice questions
1.Purpose of swarnaprashan is
(i) to supplement nutrition
(ii) enhance immunity
(iii) promotes physical and mental health
(iv) all of the above
- contents of swarnaprashan according to Acharya Kashyap are
(i) swarna , vacha
(ii) swrana, madhu and ghrit
(iii)swarna bhasma, ghrit and honey
(iv) none of the above
- according to Rasatarangini dose of swarnaprashan is
(i)1-3mgmg
(ii)3-5mg
(iii)10-15mg
(iv)15-30mg
- Which statement is correct about Ghrit
(i) causes hyperlipidemia
(ii) enhances the immunity by decreasing the short chain fatty acids
(iii) enhances the immunity by increasing the short chain fatty acids
(iv) decreases the activity of SOD, CAT, GST
- Which statement is correct about swarna bhasma
(a) improves the cognitive function
(b) decreases the level of acetylcholine in brain
(c) increases the phagocytic index of macrophages
(d)increases antioxidant enzymes
(i) a & b
(ii) a, b & c
(iii) a, c & d
(iv) a, b, c & d
6.According to API recommended dose of Swarnaprashan is
(i)10.5-20.5mg
(ii)15-30mg
(iii)15.5-62.5mg
(iv)62.5-120mg
7.Benefits of Swarnaprashan are
(i)medha, agni, bala vardhanam
(ii)Ayushyam
(iii)Mangalam
(iv)all of the above
- The term Swarnaprashan is coined by
(i)Acharya sushrut
(ii) Acharya Vagbhatt
(iii) Acharya Charak
(iv) None
- Match the following
(a)Kashyap Samhita (1) Swarna (hema raja), Vacha
(b)Ashtang Hriday (2) Swarna, Ghrita, Honey, Sweta Vacha,Matsaykshi, Shankhapushpi,Arkapushpi, Kaidarya, Shweta Durva
(c)Ashtang Sangrah (3) Swarna, Ghrita, Honey
(d)Sushrut Samhita (4) Swarna (Kanchan, Kanak, Hema), Ghrita, Honey, Herbs- Kushta, Vacha, Matsaykshi, Shankhapushpi, Arkapushpi, Kaidarya, Shweta Durva.
(i)A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
(ii) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
(iii) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
(iv) none
- Future prospects of swarnaprashan can be
(i)specific disease intervention
(ii)adjuvant capacity
(iii)immunization
(iv)all
Suggested Readings
Kashyap Samhita, Sutra Sthan, Lehadyaya
Sushrut Samhita, Sharir Sthan, 10/13-15
Ashtang Hridaya, Uttar Sthan, 1/9
Ashtang Sangrah, Uttar Tantra, 49/29-34
