Gurvadi Guna

1. INTRODUCTION
TO GUNA

2. Guna =
Attribute
The literal
meaning may
not hold true in
all contexts
Code words: Indicate
physiological and
pharmacological effects
various entities of
physiological /
Twenty pairs are
important; each pair
consists of opposites

3. ANALOGY
“Pilocarpine is Cholinomimetic”
• The term ‘cholinomimetic’ is self- explanatory
• This means that pilocarpine causes:
• Cconstriction of pupil,
• Decreases heart rate,
• Increases peristalsis, increases exocrine glandular secretions
• etc. etc.

4. GURU-LAGHU (HEAVY – LIGHT)
Heavy: Promotes
growth, anabolic,
making big or fat or
strong , nourishing
Light: Catabolic,
Reducing weight,
lightening

5. MANDA-TIKSHNA
(DULL – SHARP)
Dull:
Suppressing, calming, tranquillizing, soothing, allaying,
extinguishing, pacifying, extinction
Sharp:
Cleaning, purifying, cleansing, refining, purgative

6. • Cold: Decreases motility, stiffening
, making rigid or immovable ,
paralyzing, stopping , arresting ,
checking , restraining
• Hot: Causing to perspire
SHITA-USHNA
(COLD – HOT)

7. SNIGDHA-
RUKSHA
(UNCTUOUS –
DRY)
Unctuous: Increases water content /
making wet, moistening, promoting
secretion, anointing, lubricating
Dry: Absorbing, drying up,
draining, parching, withering,
removing, destroying

8. SHLAKSHNA-KHARA (SMOOTH – ROUGH)
Smooth: causing to grow, causing to
grow over or cicatrize, healing
Rough: scratching, scraping,
scarifying, lancing

9. SANDRA-DRAVA (DENSE – LIQUID)
Dense: clearing ,
rendering clear,
calming, soothing,
cheering
Liquid: stirring up ,
churning, agitating,
alarming, splashing

10. • Soft: Making pliable ,
weakening, making flexible
• Hard: firmly fastening ,
shutting fast , tightening ,
closing, fixing, making firm,
hardening, strengthening,
solidifying
MRIDU-
KATHINA
(SOFT –
HARD)

11. STHIRA-SARA (STABLE - FLOWING)
Stable: holding , bearing,
keeping, retention,
preserving , protecting,
maintaining, possessing
Flowing: setting in motion,
urging, inciting, direction,
command, impelling to

12. SUKSHMA-
STHULA
(SUBTLE –
GROSS)
Subtle: the act of uncovering ,
spreading out , opening , laying bare
or open,
Gross: covering ,
containing, shutting, closing, he act
covering or enclosing or concealing

13. VISHADA-PICHCHILA (CLEAR – SLIMY)
Clear: washing, washing or wiping off, cleansing
Slimy: the act of smearing, anointing ,
plastering, spreading on

14. THANKS