**2. Enumeration of controversy, adulteration and substitution**

### **2.1 Controversy and controversial drugs**

Controversial drugs or *Sandigdha Dravyas* are those plants which are mentioned in Ayurveda classics but their botanical identification is not clear. The Ayurvedic and Sanskrit literature has described a herb with many synonyms, which do not precisely indicate the botanical source but many a times attribute to therapeutic utility of the plant [7]. For a single herb various synonyms are mentioned in Ayurvedic lexicons on the basis of morphology, habitat, origin, therapeutic uses etc. by using different similes which are leading causes of controversy. Quantum of information gained from Ayurvedic and other Sanskrit literature revealed various incidences where on common vernacular name is used for two or more entirely different plant species in Ayurvedic and other traditional system of medicines [7] e.g. *Amrita* is used both for *Tinospora cordifolia,* and *Terminalia chebula* which are totally different drugs. Synonyms of herbs are also given according to the local languages. India is a country having a variety of languages and population dependent on different tribal and folklore medicine. Sometimes this is also responsible for confusion in the nomenclature of different plants having similar name.

## **2.2 Causes of controversy**

### *2.2.1 Mistake done during copying of manuscripts*

In past there was no printing machine, Acharyas had written the manuscriptmanually in *Bhurja-Patra* or *Taalpatra* or other substances. During copying of

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

these manuscripts by editors or translators, mistakes might have occurred, which ultimately created controversy.

**Single synonym given for multiple plants-** In Ayurvedic lexicons single synonym is used for two or more than two herbs which are totally different in morphology which creates controversy. These types of practices come in existence mainly during *Nighantu* periods e.g. *Amrita* is used for both *Tinospora cordifolia* (willd.) Miers ex Hook & Thoms and *Terminalia chebula* Retz [8–10].

**Geographical variation-** India is a countryof multi diversity having high Himalayas to sea level area and world highest rainy area to Thar Desert. Every area has its own types of plant diversity, the plant which found in northern India mayn't found in southern part. So due to unavailability of those species another species are used for the same purpose, which ultimately creates controversy. For example *Convulvulus microphyllus* Sieb. ex Spreng is used by the name of *Sankhpushpi* in north India but due to geographical variation, it is not available in southern part and there *Clitoria ternatea* Linn. is used [8–10].


**Table 1.** *List of some controversial drugs.*

**Poor understanding of Sanskrit word in different context-** Ayurvedic classics are mainly written in Sanskrit language [8–10]. Same word in different contexts give different meaning, and due to poor understanding of this type of words by commentator further creates controversy, for example *Pippala* denotes *Bodhivriksha* when used in malegender and the same in female gender denotes long pepper.

**Substitute leading controversy-** Due to non-availability or high cost in the market, there are chances of substitution of drugs. If this practice continues for long time the original identity of a plant may become obscure and the substitute will be considered as the original, which ultimately creates controversy later on. For example-*Pashanbheda* is used as urolithiasis (*Ashmaribhedana*) as the name indicates, so drugs like *Bryophyllum pinnata* (Patharchuda), *Aerva lanata Juss* etc. are used by name of *Pashanbheda*. But originally *Bergenia ligualata* (Wall.) Engle is identified as the source of *Pashanbheda* [8–10].

**Parallel evolving knowledge system-** Identifying species and naming them with partly similar or fully similar properties, inherent qualities of accent and dialects may create controversy. For example *Brahmi* is mentioned in Ayurveda calssics as brain tonic. *Mandukparni* is another drug mentioned as *Medhya Rasayan* (braintonic) in *Charaka Samhita*. *Bacopa monnieri* [8–10].

(L.) Pennel. is source for *Brahm*i but in North India *Centella asiatica* (L) urban (*Mandookparni*) is called as Brahmi due to similarity in therapeutic effects.

**Vernacular names-** Somewhere same name is used in different languages but having different meaning and identity which is also a cause of controversy, e.g. **M***atala* in Tamil refers to *Punica granatum L*inn. Where as in Kannada it pertains to *Citrus medica* [8–10].

**Non Ayurvedic literature also creates controversy-** In poetry *Kamala, Utpala, Kumuda, Kalhara* all are referred as same plant lotus but botanically they are different species [8–10].

**Polynomial nomenclature-** Multiple names for single plant are given in Ayurvedic lexicons. This type of trends aroused during *Nighantu* Period. Different *Nighantu* written by different authors gave multiple names for a single drug especially for better understanding about the drug but they created controversy later on [8–10] (**Table 1**).
