European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A REVIEW ARTICLE ON ATIVISHA (ACONITUM HETREROPHYLLUM) – AN IMPORTANT HERBAL MEDICINE FOR PEDIATRIC AGE GROUP IN AYURVEDA

Dr. Sheetal Shankar Surve*, Dr. Sadhana P. Babel

ABSTRACT

The aim of Ayurveda is maintaining the health of healthy person and to cure the diseased person. Ayurveda deals with prolongation of healthy life in terms of mental, physical, social and spiritual health of a person. In literature of Ayurveda there are innumerable medicinal plants which are having a lot of benefits to the health and these herbal medicines are having very minimal adverse effects. Ativisha (botanical name – Aconitum heterophyllum) is one of the valuable herb in Ayurveda, especially in paediatric diseases. The different classical texts of Ayurveda like ‘Bruhdtrayi, laghutrayi and various Nighantu, mentioned many uses of ativisha. Ativisha is having tremendous role in various paediatric diseases such as fever, diarrhoea, indigestion, helminthiasis etc. hence one synonym of the ativisha is ‘Shishubhaishjya’, means a best medicine for the paediatric age group. In classical texts of Ayurveda various formulations of ativisha are mentioned. The aim of this study is to evaluate the various medicinal properties of ativisha with special reference to its importance in paediatric age group.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum), paediatric health.