A Review on “Anupana” is the base of Ayurvedic treatment

Ayurveda is the science of life with aim swastasya swasta rakshanam and aturasya vikara prashamanam has a different approach towards arogya sthapana. Anupana is the inseparable concept of Ayurveda in the treatment aspect. It plays a very important role, it brings certain changes in a substance along with which it is administered. Anupana is the one that is taken along with or after medicine. In the context of food, Anupana help in its better digestion and absorption and provides complete nourishment of the body. To cure the diseases the use of proper Anupana along with specific drug therapy is equally important. It acts as a vehicle that carries the drug to its target site, hence this article deals with the importance of Anupana in the Ayurvedic practice.


INTRODUCTION
Ayurveda is the system of medicine which is a part of Indian culture since ancient period. It has also proven its existence from the time of origin till the date. The concept of Anupana is unique one which is very well established in Ayurveda. Anupana is a substance which is taken along with or after intake of Aahara dravya (food material) and Oushadhi dravya (Medicine). Through the anupana is administered along with medicine to improve the taste and to mask the bad odor of the Dravya, it is mainly given for carrying the essential substance to the exact place. Therefore suitable anupana should be selected for different individuals and different conditions to obtain maximum benefits. The concept of anupana plays a very significant role in treating the diseases and also help the drug to act quickly.

Anupana Nirukti (Derivation of Anupana):-
 The word Anupana is formed by the combination of two words i.e. anu + pana  Anupaschat (After, along, with, near to.)  Panapaa dhatu and pratyaya 1 (A drink, protection, defense.)  Liquid which is taken after food is called as Anupana 2 . Another way it is taken along with food or medicine.

Anupana Paribhasha (Definition of Anupana):-
Anupana is defined as the pana which is taken immediately after Oushadhaanga (part of medicine) and Oushadhi yoga (medicine formulation). 3 Anupana is defined as that, which enhances the properties of medicines along with it is taken 4 .

a) Anupana for Aahara: -The ancient
Achyarya's like Charaka, Sushruta and Vagbhatta have given the swaroopa (nature) of anupana should be dissimilar to the qualities of food. But it should not be opposite to the qualities of dhatus (body tissues).

b) Anupana for Oushadha:-The later
Achyarya like yoga ratanakar mentioned that, the anupana is not limited to food, but it is administered with oushadha. The oushadha becomes more potent when given with suitable anupana by considering the avastha (stage) and bala (strength) of the rogi and roga (patient and diseases) 7 . 8 The different terms implying the meaning of anupana have been mentioned in different contexts and these synonyms of anupana are as follows-1. Anupana -the one which is consumed along with or after the bhesaja. 2. Vahana-the one which carries 3. Sahayogi-the one which brings together 4. Maadhyama-the one which acts as media or the one which is taken in the middle. 5. Anutarsha-the one which is beneficial in thirst. 6. Anupeyathe one thing which is taken along with or after food. 7. Anupaneeyathe one which is taken along with food. 8. Oushadhanga peyathe peya which is used along with medicine.

Anupana Matra
It depends upon the involvement of dosha and from of the dravya 9 .

Anupana kala
According to the Acharya Chakrapanidatta following are the different time periods in which anupana should be taken. 10 a) Adhi -for karshanartha (for emaciation); when the anupana taken before food, it is affected by the adhogata vayu and becomes ruksha, hinders the aahara akanksha (appetite) and does the deha karshana (emaciation). b) Madhya -for Sthapanartha (for maintenance); the anupana taken in the middle of the food. This anupana along with the sneha guna (moisture) of pitta maintains the body equilibrium. c) Antha or paschatfor bruhanartha (for nourishment).

Shrestha Anupana
According to Acharya Vagbhatt jala (water) is consider as best anupana to both healthy and diseased person 12 .

Anupana Karmukata
As the oil added to water spreads quickly on the surface of water, so the oushadha along with the Anupana spreads in the body and produces its effect when administered with appropriate Anupana 14 .

Benefits of Anupana
If dravya is alpha doshayukta or adoshatyukta, atimatraa (body humors are contaminated with less or moderate or excess vitiation). Anupana brings out the sukhaparinama (mitigation). Acharya Kaiyadeva states that, even though laghu, satmyakara dravyas (light and healthy substances) were consumed in appropriate time, atyambhupana (excess intake of water), vishamashana (untimely intake of food) and swapana viparyaaya (changes in sleeping pattern) results in apaka (indigestion). In such a condition, utilization of Anupana results in sukha Pachana / Jeerana (easy digestion) 15,16 . individual to get the desired effect of dravya which is taken in the form of ahara and oushadha.      Anupana is a factor which helps in absorption, assimilation as well as in the efficacy of the drug. The potency of the medicine gets enhanced and brings about the desired effect when given with suitable anupana. Single drug can be used to treat most of the diseases when given with proper anupana. Therefore care should be taken in selecting anupana suitable for getting all the beneficiaries from intake. Always remembers anupana should be decided according to the constitution of the person as well as condition of three doshas. Anupana has multidimensional effects, it acts as nutritive, stimulant, preventive and curative. The concept of anupana plays a very significant role in treating the diseases and helps the drug to act quickly. From above various references it is concluded that Anupana is the base of Ayurvedic treatment.