GUIDELINES FOR COLLECTION OF RAW DRUGS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF COLLECTED MATERIALW.S.R. TO AYURVEDA

Medicinal plant materials should be collected from the appropriate place, and during the appropriate season or time period to ensure
the best possible quality of both source materials and finished products. It is well known that the quantitative concentration of
biologically active constituent’s i.e.veerya of a drug, varies with the stage of plant growth, its stage of development and place of its
occurrence. The best time for collection should be determined according to the quality and quantity of biologically active constituents
rather than the total vegetative yield of the targeted medicinal plant parts.
Charaka prescribes certain instructions regarding mode of collection. They include performance of auspicious rituals and practices,
taking of sacred bath, wearing sacred dress, worshipping of gods, ashwinidevata’s and the sacred cow, performance of religious fast
etc