Ghutika Gutikā are Ayurvedic solid herbal preparations made by mixing powders or extracts with binders for therapeutic use.
Definition of Ghutika (Gutikā)
- Ghutika refers to pills or tablets prepared from one or multiple powdered herbs bound together with a suitable adhesive (e.g., honey, jaggery, gum).
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Preparation Steps
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Powdering the Herbs:
- Each herb is dried and finely powdered (Churna form).
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Mixing:
- The powders are combined per the formula; sometimes other ingredients like bhasma (calcined metal/mineral) or guggulu (resin) are included.
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Binding:
- A binding agent (like honey, jaggery, or gum acacia) is added to make a pliable mass.
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Shaping:
- The dough-like mass is rolled into pills or small spheres.
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Drying:
- The pills are dried in shade or low-temperature dryers to retain medicinal properties.
Standardization
- Weight Variation: Each pill should meet uniform weight specifications.
- Disintegration Time: Ensures it breaks down properly in the body.
- Assay of Active Ingredients: If a known marker compound is used (like with ashwagandha-based pills), test to confirm potency.
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