AVALEHA OR LEHA AND PAKA

Definition AVALEHA OR LEHA AND PAKA

• Avaleha or Lehya is a semi-solid preparation of drugs, prepared with addition of
• jaggery, sugar or sugar-candy and boiled with prescribed drug juice or decoction. They are
• also known as Modaka, Gu·a, Kha¸·a, Rasayana, Leha etc.

AVALEHA OR LEHA AND PAKA

Method of preparation of AVALEHA

• There preparations generally have (1) Kasaya or other liquids, (2) jaggery, sugar or
• sugar-candy, (3) powders or pulps of certain drugs; and (4) ghee or oil and honey. Jaggery,
• sugar or sugar-candy is dissolved in the liquid and strained to remove the foreign particles.
• This solution is boiled over a moderate fire. When the P¡ka (Ph¡¸ita) is thready (tantuvat)
• when pressed between two fingers or when it sinks in water without getting easily dissolved,
• it should be removed from the fire. Fine powders of drugs are then added in small quantities
• and stirred continuously and vigorously to form a homogenous mixture. Ghee or oil, if
• mentioned, is added while the preparation is still hot and mixed well. Honey, if mentioned is
• added when the preparation is cool and mixed well.

Characteristics of AVALEHA

• The Lehya should neither be hard nor be a thick fluid. When pulp of the drugs is
• added and ghee or oil is present in the preparation, this can be rolled between the fingers.
• Growth of fungus over it or fermentation is, among others, signs of deterioration.
• When metals are mentioned, the bhasmas of the metals are used. In the case of drugs like
• Bhallataka, purified drugs alone are included in the preparation. The colour and smell
• depend on the drugs used.
• Preservation and Storage
• The Lehya should be kept in glass or porcelain jars. It can also be kept in a metal
• container which does not react with it. Normally, Lehyas should be used within one year.