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We are in a paradoxical situation, at this point of time, with regards to situation related to Practice of Ayurveda. The system is gaining worldwide recognition as an important health care system; however, the ayurvedic drug industry is facing the problem of procuring authentic raw materials. This may have adverse impact on the quality of the products which in turn would affect ayurveda practice. To face the situation, different approaches are required to be adopted. One among such approaches is the possibility of finding out substitutes for the drugs which are not available and even if available not in sufficient quantity.

For this, there can be no better and greater source than the region specific classics like Sahasrayogam. It is a compendium of information of more than thousand formulations which range from simple to highly complex ones. Many of them are incorporated in Ayurvedic Formu lary of India which is recognized as one of the reference source book under Drugs and Cosmetic Act 1946. It is serving as a main reference book for practitioners in Kerala for centuries and adjoining parts of the neighboring states especially the coastal areas in Karnataka.

As the author has discussed in detail in his prologue it has many unique feature. It is a com pendium comprising information drawn from many important classics of Ayurveda-thus serves as a very useful reference book. Existence of many different versions with different number of for mulations possess selection problem. It provides information on a wide range of formulations for the full range of diseases by providing details on single ingredient to highly complex formulations (for example-76 ingredients are there in Kameshwari Lehya and 60 in Manasamitra vatika), In some of the versions there is ambiguity about the use of certain terms and their contextual mean ing. The author has made efforts to bring clarity by providing appropriate explanation. Another notable feature is that for most types of formulations the appropriate practical utility in different conditions has been explained which would be quite beneficial to the clinical practitioners. It is considered as one of the most dependable source of information but to expand its utility beyond traditional areas of its use, it is necessary to have an English version with detailed commentaries and explanations. this background it is a commendable effort on the part of Vd. Krishnamurthy to bring out this version which I am sure will be welcomed by Ayurveda fraternity and would meet the above mentioned requirement.