Background: Heavy metal toxicity is increasing rapidly due to the increased use of products containing heavy metals daily life. It can cause acute or chronic toxicity if they used for long term unknowingly especially by the children. Objectives: To assess whether the school children have information about products containing heavy metal which are used in daily life and their hazardous effects with the help of structured questionnaire. To sensitize the school children about the products containing heavy metal which are used in daily life and their hazardous effects. Methods: Descriptive (cross sectional) observational study was designed among 300 primary and secondary school children. The questionnaires containing fifteen questions each carrying two marks (total 30 marks) about the products containing heavy metal and their hazardous effects on human body were given to students to fill the information and answers to the questions. Next day a sensitization program was conducted which was followed by the same questionnaire. The questionaries were assessed as pre and posttest. Result: All the students scored zero marks in the pretest. Hence, they were graded in no awareness category. After sensitization, in posttest 155 students (51.6%) scored between 21-30 marks and 144 students scored between 11-20 marks. The score of marks in posttest is highly significant. Conclusion: Results indicate that there was no awareness in school children about the products containing heavy metal and their hazardous effects on human body. Awareness increased after the sensitization. Hence, to avoid the heavy metal toxicity in school children, it is highly recommended to make them aware regarding sources of heavy metals which are used in daily life and their hazardous effects on body. It can be done through awareness programs to be conducted at schools. It may be achieved by incorporating this point into the syllabus of the school children.

Background: Life style disorders are an emerging problem in India where various types of arthritis are hampering the routine activities of people due to severe pain and inflammation. In such circumstances, everybody wants quick relief with the symptoms. Visha dravya used in Ayurveda are known for their quick action. Gunja (Abrus precatorius Linn) is a visha indicated in various diseases for internal and external use. Objectives: A randomized clinical study was conducted to assess the efficacy of Gunja beeja lepa to manage the local inflammatory conditions of Arthritis in comparison with a standard anti-inflammatory Ayurvedic drug Shunthi (Zingiber officinalis Linn) to provide a potent anti-inflammatory drug for the purpose of clinical practice. Material and methods: Patients suffering from transient mono or bi-arthropathies of knee were applied Gunja beeja lepa in comparison with local application of standard anti-inflammatory Ayurvedic drug Shunthi. Assessment was done with the help of Disease Activity Score (DAS-28-3) including three variables viz; tender joint score (Range 0-28), Swollen Joint Count (Range 0-28) and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Statistical comparisons were performed by both paired, unpaired student’s t test by using Sigma stat software (version 3.1) for both the experimental the groups at p<0.05 (level of significance). Result: Intervention with Gunja beeja lepa was statistically significant (p=0.003) in comparison with the intervention with Shunthi churna lepa. Conclusion: Gunja Beeja lepa is effective in comparison with standard anti-inflammatory Ayurvedic drug Shunthi in inflammatory conditions of Arthritis.

Background: Haratala is described as the Dhatu visha and it contains arsenic and sulfur. Arsenic is a heavy metal that may lead to acute or chronic heavy metal toxicity. Although Haratala is effective and popular as Rasamanikya, it is not used as Rasayana or therapeutic drug in routine practice either in pure or in Bhasma form. It is used as a main drug or an auxiliary drug to prepare formulation. Aim: To focus on the various utilities of Haratala, so that it can be safely used in the clinical practice in a wide range of indications. Review results: In the literature available, it is observed that along with therapeutic utility of Haratala, Haratala Bhasma is used as Rasayana. But arsenic present in Haratala may cause toxicity if shodhana and marana of Haratala are not conducted properly. It is observed from the previous research that shodhana may enhance the synergistic effect of Haratala in cellular apoptosis for the treatment of leukemia. Marana may provide safer bioassimilability before their use in most of the formulations in which it may act as an antagonist and subside the toxicity of the formulations. Conclusion: Haratala Bhasma is indicated in various disease conditions. Hence, it can be used as Avasthika Rasayana. But during its use, safety of the drug should be ensured by following proper shodhana and marana procedures. Clinical significance: Studies should be conducted to observe its efficacy in healthy individuals as Rasayana and in patients of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) as an adjuvant drug.

Shwetra (Vitiligo) is a skin disease which takes longer time to cure. It affects the external beauty of the body causing social stigma, shyness, loss of confidence, fear of comments marital problems, etc. The disease needs repeated shodhana and regular internal and external shaman chikitsa for longer duration. Objectives: To study the efficacy of Vishakalpa (Shwetra lepa) alone in the management of Shwetra and to provide a potent drug for sure and quick relief from Shwetra (vitiligo), this pilot study was carried out. Material and methods: Shwetra lepa was prepared and used as local application in 15 patients having newly diagnosed patches of vitiligo. The changes in shape, size and number of patches and VETI score was assessed before and after treatment. The data was analyzed with the help of parametric and non parametric tests. Results: Though there was no significant change in VETI score, minimal reduction in shape and size of patches, daha and kandu was observed with Shwetra lepa vati. Conclusion: One month study duration for local application of Shwetra lepa vati and sample size was found to be insufficient to prove the efficacy of Shwetra lepa. Hence it is recommended that Shwetra lepa should be used alone for longer period up to 6 to 9 months or it can be used along with repeated shodhana and continuous shamana chikitsa for 2 to 6 months for effective results.

Background: Among all Arishta, Draksharishta is manufactured and sold on large amount by various pharmaceutical companies and widely prescribed by the physicians. Due to its effective properties and pleasant test resembling to that of Alcohol, Draksharishta is used by the patients in over dose for longer duration irrespective of the physician’s prescription. Hence, to estimate and compare the level of alcohol and to detect the absence/presence of Methanol content in self-prepared and market samples of Draksharishta, this study was undertaken by comparing the permissible limits of alcohol in all the samples so as to inhibit alcohol intoxication due to Draksharishta. Draksharishta was prepared by two methods. Methodology: In method 1, Dhataki (Woodfordia floribunda) flowers and in method 2, Yeast was used for inducing fermentation. Analytical study of two self prepared and five market samples of Draksharishta was conducted to estimate the level of alcohol, reducing sugar, non reducing sugar and to detect the absence/presence of Methanol content. The detected values of the parameters were compared among all the samples.  Results: The data reveal that there is difference in the physicochemical values of the Draksharishta samples. The alcohol content in samples M-E (2.8 %), S-A (3.40 %) and S-B (3.80 %) is low as compared to other sample of Draksharishta. Alcohol content in self prepared and market samples of Draksharishta is within permissible limits. Methanol is absent in all the sample of Draksharishta. Draksharishta prepared according to reference (S-A and S-B), satisfy the standard parameters of Arishta kalpana. Conclusion: Draksharishta sample S-A and S-B can be easily used in all age groups even in higher dose. As alcohol contents is less and methanol is absent in self-prepared samples, they are safe to use.