Ayur World brings you the story behind Harsha 22 and the possibilities that lie ahead as Ayurveda explores new frontiers in pain management during surgical care.
For as long as surgery has existed, one principle has remained non-negotiable: the need to control pain. Whether in modern operating theatres or within the classical framework of Ayurveda’s Shalya Tantra, the ability to numb the body – locally or wholly – has shaped the safety and success of surgical procedures. For decades, this responsibility has rested largely on a handful of well-established anaesthetic agents developed by modern medicine, relied upon across systems with remarkable consistency.
But a new development may be nudging that narrative in a different direction. A polyherbal formulation named Harsha 22, developed by researchers at the Pankajakasthuri Herbal Research Foundation, is emerging as a noteworthy contender in the field of pain management. In preclinical studies conducted on animal models, the formulation has demonstrated efficacy comparable to – and in some cases exceeding – that of conventional anaesthetic options.
With a recent patent granted for the product, Harsha 22 is being seen by many within the Ayurvedic community as a significant milestone—one that signals not just innovation, but also the potential of traditional knowledge systems to contribute meaningfully to modern clinical challenges.
About the Study
A research team from the Pankajakasthuri Herbal Research Foundation conducted a study titled: Pharmacological Evaluation of the Anaesthetic and Analgesic Potential of Injection Harsha 22: A Novel Polyherbal Local Anaesthetic Formulation.
The study was carried out by Dr Shan Sasidharan, Dr Asha Nair Kaveri, Dr M S Sithara, and Dr Hareendran Nair. The study aimed to evaluate the anaesthetic and analgesic potential of a polyherbal local anaesthetic formulation intended for parenteral administration. The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Pharmacology (2023). The primary reason for carrying this study in Ayur World is because this herbal formulation (Harsha 22) received a patent recently.
The formulation used in the study contains extracts from selected medicinal plants such as Syzygium aromaticum, Myristica fragrans, Aconitum heterophyllum, Aconitum chasmanthum, and Nardostachys jatamansi. These plants have been reported in earlier studies for their anaesthetic and analgesic properties.
The study was carried out using experimental animals under controlled laboratory conditions. The researchers evaluated (a) the
anaesthetic effect using the tail-flick latency test and (b) the analgesic effect using electrical stimulation testing. A commonly used local anaesthetic agent (lignocaine 2%) was used as the standard for comparison.
Key Findings
The study reported several important observations:
§ The formulation showed anaesthetic effect up to 90 minutes after administration.
§ The duration of anaesthesia was comparable to lignocaine (2%).
§ The analgesic effect was prolonged, with a median duration of around 40 minutes.
§ No significant changes were observed in haematological and biochemical parameters, indicating safety within the study conditions.
Why This Study Matters
Pain control is described in the study as one of the most important aspects of surgical procedures. The findings are significant because they explore (a) the potential of a polyherbal local anaesthetic formulation, (b) a possible supportive option for performing procedures requiring pain control, and (c) the integration of plant-based formulations into areas where modern medicine is widely used.
A Global Perspective
Across the world, there is a growing interest in exploring plant-based approaches to pain control. Researchers have been studying individual plant-derived ingredients and combinations to understand their potential role in anaesthesia.
Some clinical studies have shown that plant-based preparations, such as those derived from clove, can provide pain relief comparable to commonly used topical anaesthetic agents in dental care. In addition, multi-ingredient herbal gels have been evaluated in controlled settings and found to produce similar pain control effects when compared with standard formulations.
At the same time, scientific reviews highlight that compounds naturally present in plants – such as those found in medicinal herbs – have properties that support anaesthetic and analgesic activity. These findings have encouraged further research into polyherbal formulations, although most of them are still in experimental or early clinical stages.
This places the present study within a wider global effort to understand how plant-based formulations can contribute to pain management.
Current Status and Future Scope
The study concludes that the formulation has demonstrated in vivo anaesthetic and analgesic potential in experimental animals. However, it also clearly states that further studies are required and clinical trials in humans are necessary. Only after these steps can it be considered for wider application.
Conclusion
This study presents a careful scientific evaluation of a polyherbal local anaesthetic formulation, highlighting its potential in controlled experimental conditions. While further validation is essential, it marks an important step in exploring Ayurvedic approaches to pain management.
Dr J Hareendran Nair, Founder and Managing Director, Pankajakasthuri Group Beyond Tradition: Ayurvedic Anaesthetic Edges Towards Market Entry Pankajakasthuri’s Ayurvedic injection awaits regulatory green signal from the Government of India In 2000, the then Department of Ayush, Government of India, permitted Ayurvedic surgeons – those trained in Shalya Tantra (Master of Surgery in Ayurveda) – to perform around 56 surgical procedures. These practitioners have since been conducting surgeries using lignocaine, a commonly used anaesthetic from modern medicine. The idea of developing an Ayurvedic anaesthetic emerged in December 2021 during an alumni meet at the Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram. At that point, I committed that our team would attempt this within two years. Remarkably, within a year, we were able to develop a herbal formulation. Our R&D team at Pankajakasthuri Medical College, comprising 18 experts across Ayurveda, biochemistry, organic chemistry, phytochemistry, and analytical chemistry,
played a crucial role in this achievement under the leadership of Dr Shan Sasidharan, who deserves full credit. We applied for a patent in 2023 and submitted all details to the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. While current regulations do not permit Ayurvedic injections, we have pursued the necessary legal pathways and have secured a patent valid for 20 years. Once the regulatory framework evolves, we will move to clinical trials and, subsequently, market introduction. Although there is an option to position this as a modern medicine injection, our intent is clear – to establish it as an Ayurvedic injectable formulation.
