Classification of Medicines by Ayurveda Acharyas

Different Acharyas (great teachers) of Ayurveda have classified Ayurvedic medicines differently. According to Charaka, there are 50 groups of medicines, Sushruta classified medicines into 37 categories and Vagbhata classified Ayurvedic medicines into 31 groups.

Here is a list of classification of types of Ayurveda medicines by Acharya Sushrutha.

1. Jeevaneeyam (promoting life)
2. Brimhaneeyam (promoting growth)
3. Lekhaniyam (reducing growth)
4. Bhedaneeyam (promoting evacuation)
5. Sandhaaneeyam (promoting virility and efficiency to produce offsprings)
6. Deepaneeyam (promoting appetite)
7. Balyam (promoting bodily strength)
8. Varnyam (promoting complexion)
9. Kantyam (promoting voice)
10. Hridyam (creating pleasant feeling)
11. Triptighnam (reducing satisfaction)
12. Arsoghnam (treating piles)
13. Kustaghnam (treating skin diseases)
14. Kandughnam (treating itching)
15. Krimighnam (destroying parasites and intestinal worms)
16. Vishaghnam (eliminating toxin of poison effects)
17. Sthanyajananam (inducing lactation)
18. Sthanysodhanam (purifying breast milk)
19. Sukrajananam (promoting sperm production)
20. Sukrasodhanam (purifying sperm)
21. Snehopagam (promoting lubrication by oil secretion)
22. Swedopagam (promoting sweating)
23. Vamanopagam (promoting vomiting)
24. Virechanopagam (promoting purgation)
25. Aasthaapanopagam (non-oily enemata)
26. Anuvaasanopagam (Oily Enemata)
27. Sirovirechaniyam (evicting diseases that affect head)
28. Chardinigrahanam (control vomiting)
29. Trishnaanigrahanam (capable of controlling thirst)
30. Hiccanigrahanam (treating hiccough)
31. Purisha Sangrahaneeyam (reducing faecal matter)
32. Purisha Virajaneeyam (purifying faecal matter)
33. Mutra Sangrahaneeyam (reducing urine secretion)
34. Mutra Virajaneeyam (purifying urine)
35. Mutra virechaneeyam (increasing urine)
36. Kaasa Hara (destroying cough)
37. Swasahara (destroying dyspepsia)
38. Swayathuhara (destroying swelling)
39. Jwaraharam (destroying fever)
40. Sramaharam (relieving exhaustion)
41. Daahaprasamanam (relieving unnatural sensation of thirst)
42. Seethaprasamanam (relieving cold)
43. Udardaprasamanam (relieving rashes)
44. Angamardaprasamanam (relieving pain in body parts)
45. Sulaprasamanam (relieving colic)
46. Sonitaasthaapanam (restoring blood)
47. vedanaasthaapana (relieving pain)
48. Prajaasthaapana (restoring consciousness)
49. Prajaasthaapana (pregnancy care)
50. Vayasthapana (arresting aging)

These 50 are the types of Ayurvedic medicines according to Sushruta Acharya.