Hridya- Cardio Tonic Drugs According to Charaka Samhita

The cardio tonic drugs are the drugs which increase cardiac contractile functions during heart failure. The heart failure is a pathological state in which cardiac output is inadequate to provide the minute volume needed by the body. Blood supply of the peripheral tissues is provided by the congested load of the heart. The end diastolic volume of the ventricles, so called preload, which depends on the circulating blood volume, cardiac blood return, efficiency of the atrial contraction etc. The after load depends on the pressure in aorta and pulmonary arteries, mass of the functioning cardiac muscles, sizes of the ventricular cavities. During systolic heart failure pumping function of the ventricles is markedly decreased, during systole ventricles can`t develop sufficient wall tension to pump out an appropriate volume of the blood. In this case there is a deterioration of diastolic relaxation or diastolic feeling of the ventricles. Thus, during heart failure, deterioration of three important hemo dynamic factors can be noticed viz; decrease in cardiac output , increase in after load, increase in preload According to the above mentioned pathogenic mechanisms of heart failure, the main goals of the treatment are; increase in cardiac contraction force (cardiotonic drugs), reduction of preload and afterload (vasodilators, diuretics, ACE – inhibitors), regulation of neuro-humoral system and prevention of heart remodeling (β - adrenoblockers, ACE - inhibitors). Cardiotonic drugs as per modern science are; Cardiac glycosidesStrophantine, Digoxin, Corglycon. Sympathomimetic drugs- β - adrenomimetics –Prenalterol, Xamoterol. Catecholamines and their derivatives – Dopamine, Dobutamine. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors- Bipyridine derivatives – Amrinone, Milrinon, Imidazole derivatives – Enoximone, Piroximone, Fenoximone, Benzimidazole derivatives - Pimobendane. Cardiotonic drugs with other mechanism are; Reduction of tachycardia, absence of increase in oxygen demand of myocardium, reduction of central venous pressure, absence of action on AV node, efficiency during oral rout of administration and long duration of action, cardiac glycosides are drugs of plant origin, don't contain nitrogen, increase contraction force of the myocardium, without an increase of oxygen demand. Extracardial symptoms of intoxication Dyspeptic symptoms: 1. Anorexia 2. Vomiting, nausea 3. Abdominal spastic pains, because of increase of vagus tone. Neurological symptoms include 1. Headache, fatigue 2. Deliriums, convulsions 3. Micro-macropsia, xantopsia. The present topic deals with Hridya(Cardiotonics) drugs along with their pharmacological actions. The most of the drugs are having Amla Rasa(Sour taste), Dipana(Appetizer), Laghu(Light- easily digestible), palatable. These drugs will help to sustain healthy digestion and lower the cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The most of the sour drugs have the anti oxidant properties which helps to support lipid metabolism and also healthy neurological systems.