Swarnaprashana and Swarnamritaprashana-for health and wellbeing of children: A review

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Abstract

Practise of administrating Swarna (gold) in therapeutics is prevailing in our country since time immemorial. The specific term given to such practises is Swarna Prashana. In many a context, we come across different variations of the same in Ayurveda classics. Under the headings of Swarna Prashana, Suvarna Prashana, Swarna Vacha, Suvarna Bindu Prashana and in many more names it is being practised by many a number of hospitals, clinics and practitioners as a health promoting drop in children. Swarnamritaprashana is an indigenous preparation which is a modification of Swarna Prashana. By making use of literary backup from the classical textbooks, such a modified formulation was brought into the main stream as a public health initiative by Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda, Hassan and is in practise since May 2009. Till date, many research works for evaluating its wide applicability has already completed and even few are ongoing as well. The present paper throws light on Swarna Prashana and its modification to Swarnamritaparshana, details regarding ingredients used in the combination, along with its clinical utility as experienced by hospitals and practitioners who are regularly practising it.