Doctrine of Signatures

BY

DR. DEEPTHI. PATIL1ST YEAR P.G SCHOLOR

DEPT OF DRAVYA GUNA

KLE’S SHRI B.M.K AYURVEDA MAHAVIDYALAYA

SHAHAPUR, BELGAUM-03

INTRODUCTION In simple terms, the "Doctrine of Signatures" is the idea that God has marked everything. He created with a

sign (signature). The sign was an indication of the purpose for the creation of the item.

. The "Doctrine of Signatures" was written by Jakob Böhme (1575-1624), a master shoemaker in the small

town of Görlitz, at Germany. The Doctrine states that, by observation, one can

determine from the colour of the flowers or roots, the shape of the leaves, the place of growing, or other

signatures, what the plant's purpose was in God's plan.

In India, this concept has been in existence right from

Vedic period. The following quotation will highlights this fact“Sarvameva sachhasachha adhikruta bhootavyapara:,

thastham sankalitha buddhi aatmendriyani II”

(Rasanirvanam- Atharvaveda)Later as Ayurveda developed, this concept was carried forward. Acharya Charaka, who is an authority on Ayurveda in this text mentions Lokasamya purusha vada and Bhoota grama Vyapadesha Siddanta:“Yavantto moorthimantha bhava vishesha: thavantta eva srothamsi II”

(Charaka samhita, vimana stana 5/1)

Examples showing similarities between

structure of a plant and its application as a medicine

Sanskrit. : Karavellaka.

Kannada: Hagalakayi

English: Bitter gourd

Uses: Found to be effective

in lowering the blood

glucose level in

Diabetes mellitus.

Mormodica charantia

•Sanskrit: Shirisha

•Kannada: Bage mara

•English: Bage mara, Hombage

•Uses: It has a very good efficacy in treatment of respiratory

disorders

Albezia lebbeck

•Sanskrit: Parijata

•Kannada: Parijata

•English:Night Jasmine or Coral Jasmine.

•Uses: Parijata patra kashaya is used in Back pain.

Nyctanthes arbortistis

•Sanskrit:Astishrunkala

•Kannada: Mogaroli

•English: Edible stemmed

•Uses:The oil which is prepared out of this drug is used very effectively in cases of fractures.

Cissus quadrangularis

•Sanskrit: Shalmali kantaka

•Kannada:Boragada mara

•E.Name:Silk cotton tree

•Uses: having very good efficacy in the treatment of Acne vulgaris.

Bombex ciba

•Sanskrit: Ashwatha

•Kannada: Arale Mara

•English: Sacred fig

•Uses: Used in various Ayurvedic formulations to combat gynecological disorders

Ficus relegiousa

•Sanskrit: Ushira

•Kannada:Lavancha

•English: Khaskhas grass

•Uses: One of the best drug used in urinary

disorders.

Vetiveria zizanoides

•Sanskrit: Nishpava

•Kannada: Hurulikayi

•English: kidney beans

•Uses: Helps to maintain kidney function

Phaseolus vulgaris

•Sanskrit: Udumbara

•Kannada: Attimara

•English: Country fig

•Uses: Increase the motility of sperm and increase the numbers of sperms as well to overcome male sterility.

Ficus glomerata

•Sanskrit: Garjara

•Kannada: Gajjari

•English: Carrot

•Uses: As it contains vit A, very good for eyes.

Daucus carota

E.Name: Egg plant, Avocadoes.

•Uses: These fruits target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female – they

look just like these organs. One avocado a week, balances hormones,and

prevents cervical cancers.

Solanum malongena

•Sanskrit: Palandu

•English: Onion

•Kannada: Erulli

•Uses:Look like body cell. Today's research

shows that onion clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even

produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

Allium ciepa

•Sanskrit: Lashuna

•English: Garlic

•Kannada:Belluli

•Uses: It acts as a good appetizer and having a very good analgesic effect in stomach pain.

Allium sativum

Tomato

• A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has fourChambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart andblood food.

Orange and Other citrus fruits

•Oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammaryglands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Walnut

• A Walnut looks like a little brain, even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex, walnuts helps to develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Centella asiatica

• Sanskrit: Mandooka

parni• Kannada:Ondelaga• Uses: This plant is

effective brain tonic, good memory booster,

Phyllanthus niruri

•Sanskrit: Bhoomyamalaki

•Kannada:Nelanelli

•English:

•Uses: Plant is used in various Ayurvedic formulations to combat Jaundice.