Medicine is one among the four Padas of Chikitsa Chatushpada. The consideration of the drugs during the ine of treatment for particular ailment has great importance.

WHO defines drug as “a substance or product that is used or intended to be used to modify or explore physiological system or pathological status for the benefit of the recipient”. Ayurveda was the first to give an elaborate description of various therapeutic measures not merely of radical removal of the causative factors but also at the restoration of Doshik equilibrium.

According to Charaka, “a drug, that is not understood perfectly is comparable to poison, weapons, fire and the thunderbolt; while, the perfectly understood drug is comparable to ambrosia.”

According to Ayurveda, drug or diet article that reverses or break the Samprapti is ideal. It is often the total effect of all the ingredients in the formula rather than the action of individual drugs that plays a vital role in therapeutics. Drug combinations are envisaged to serve synergistic action, combined action, toxicity neutralising action and specific action.

Triphala is also one such drug which is used widely in Shalakya Tantra.

Haritaki

• Botanical name: Terminalia chebula Rertz.
• Family: Combratraceae
• Synonyms: Abhaya, Pathya, Kayastha, Putana, Hemavati, Avytha, Chetaki, Shiva, Vyastha, Haritaki, etc
• Part used: Fruit
• Rasa: Pancha Rasa (Alavana)
• Guna: Laghu, Ruksha
• Veerya: Ushna
• Vipaka: Madhura
• Doshaghnata: Tridosha Shamaka
• Karma: Chakshushya, Kaphaghna, Rasayana, Grahi, Vedanasthapana,  Deepana, Pachana etc.
• Chemical constituents: Anthraquinone glycoside, Chebulinic acid, Chebulagic acid, Tannic acid, Terchebin etc.
• Pharmalogical actions: Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antispasmodic etc

Bibhitaki

• Botanical name: Terminalia bellirica Roxb.
•  Family: Combretaceae
• Synonyms: Aksha, Karshaphala, Kalidruma, Bhutavasa, Kaliyugalaya, Bibhitaki etc
• Part used: Fruit, Seed, Bark
•  Rasa: Kashaya
• Guna: Ruksha, Laghu
• Veerya: Ushna
• Vipaka: Madhura
• Doshaghnata: Tridosha Shamaka
• Karma: Chakshushya Grahi, Anulomana, Deepana, Rechana, Kaphaghna, Dhatu vardhaka etc.
• Chemical constituents: Chebulagic acid, Ellagic acid (bark, heart wood)
• Pharmacological. Action: Antihistaminic, Antibacterial, Hypotensive, CNS Stimulant, Antispasmodic, Antistress.

Amalaki

• Botanical name: Emblica officinalis Gaertn.
• Family: Euphorbiaceae
• Synonyms: Vayasya, Vrishya, Dhatriphala, Amalaka, Amritaphala, Tishyaphal.
• Part used: Root, Bark, Leaf, Fruit, Seed
• Rasa: Pancha Rasa (Alavana)
• Guna: Guru, Ruksha, Sheeta
• Veerya: Sheeta
• Vipaka: Madhura
• Doshaghnata: Tridosha Shamaka
• Karma: Chakshushya, Rasayana, Dahaprashamana
• Chemical constituents: Vitamin-C, Carotene, Nicotinic acid D-fructose, myoinositol, D-galacturonic acid 90
• Pharmacological actions: Immunomodulator, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant etc.

UUses of Triphala in Shalakya Tantra: Triphala is used widely in diseases of netra, karna, nasa, shiroroga and mukharoga.
  
Triphala can be used as:

• Netradhavan
• Karnaprakshalana
• Anjana
• Lekhana karma
• Aschotana
• Pindi karma
• Tarpana
• Seka karma
• Nasya
• Kaval
• Gandoosha
• Pratisarana
• Lepa etc.

Thus Triphala can be used in various ways in Shalakya Tantra.