**4. Substitution**

Substitution is a replacement of equivalent drugs in place of original drugs on the basis of similar pharmacological actions and therapeutic uses. In Ayurveda, substitution is described by the name of *Abhava Pratinidhi Dravya*. During *Samhita* Period concept of adulteration and substitution was not existed but

*Controversy, Adulteration and Substitution: Burning Problems in Ayurveda Practices DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98220*

later on this practices come in existence. But *Vagbhatta* has mentioned that the *dravya* having similar *Ras* (taste), *Guna*(characteristic), *Veerya* (potency) and *Vipaka* should be used in absence of each other. So *Abhava Pratinidhi Dravya* is a replacement of original drug basically having similar *Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipak* and mostly on *Karma*. Description of *Abahva Pratinidhi Dravyas* are mentioned in *Bhavaprakash Nighantu*, *Yogratnakar* and *Bhaishajya-Ratnawali* [16–18]. There are 47 drugs of plant origin (*Sthavar Dravya*), 2 drugs of animal origin (*Jangam Dravya*), 7 drugs Minerals- Metals origin (*Bhoumya Dravya*) and 5 food materials (*Ahara Dravya*) mentioned for *Abhava Pratinidhi Dravya* in *Bhavaprakash Nighantu* [9, 16].
