Dravyaguna is a fundamental subject of the Ayurvedic curriculum. Dravyaguna is also addressed as Ayurvedic Materia Medica. Several Nighantu and books related to Dravyaguna have been written in the past and present times. As per rules and regulation of The Central Council of Indian Medicine (an apex body dealing with studies), Dravyaguna is studied at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Dravyaguna in  undergraduate syllabus
Undergraduate study in Ayurveda is governed by Minimum Standard of Education in Indian Medicine for Ayurvedacharya Course, 1989. In 2012, amendment was done and now Undergraduate study in Ayurveda is governed by Minimum Standard of Education in Indian Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2012. Here, Dravyaguna is studied in the 2nd professional examination and syllabus has been prescribed The Central Council of Indian Medicine.

Dravyaguna in  postgraduate syllabus
The PG Course, MD (Ayurved) or Ayurved Vachaspati is of three years duration divided into two Parts. Post-graduate course is available In 14 subjects including Dravyaguna. The degree awarded is abbreviated as Ayurveda-Vachapati-Dravya Guna Vigyana. The nearest terminology for this course is M.D. Ayurveda Materia Medica and Pharmacology.

Postgraduate Diploma in Dravyaguna
Central Council of India has framed syllabus for Post-graduate diploma governed by (Post-graduate Diploma Course) Regulations 2010. Diploma in Dravyaguna (Pharmacognosy and Standardization) is abberivated as D. Pharmacognosy (Ay.). The diploma is conducted under recognized department of Dravyaguna.

The PG diploma course is of two years duration leading to specialty in the concerned subject after successfully completion of the course. The syllabus and curriculum for each specialty is uniform throughout the country and is being conducted only in Ayurvedic Medical Colleges affiliated to universities and only after getting prior permission from Dept. of AYUSH, Union Govt. of India to start the course / undertake the admissions.

Ph.D. in Dravyaguna
Several universities are offering Ph.D. in Dravyaguna and it is abbreviated as Ayurveda-Varidhi-Dravya Guna Vigyana. The period of the study is 2-7 years. Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Science, Nagpur, Government Ayurved College, Bangalore, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Bharatividyapeeth University, Pune and Dr. Sarvepali Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur is few names to mention offering Ph.D. course in Dravyaguna.

M.Pharm Ayurveda- Dravyaguna
A few universities like Gujarat Ayurvedic University, Jamnagar and Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, identifying the industrial value of Dravyaguna initiated postgraduate pharmacy courses related to the subject under the department of Ayurredic Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Why industrial value of Dravyaguna needs revival?
Dravyaguna is in a transitional phase with revival of interest in Ayurveda lately.  Ayurvedic Materia Medica is a store house of several drugs which need to be explored for possible use in the medicine. Several medicinal herbs mentioned in Nighantu related to Dravyaguna like Bhavprakash Nighantu, Raj Nighantu and Dhanwantry Nighantu need to be properly identified.  

 Several colleges in India are imparting postgraduate studies in Dravyaguna. Government Ayurvedic College, Raipur, Government Ayurveda College, Trivandrum, India and Government Ayurved College Post-graduate Training & Research Institute, Kadam Kuan, Patna is a few of the government institutes dealing with postgraduate studies in the field of Dravyaguna.
An Ayurvedic professional with post graduation in the field of Dravyaguna has multiple options in career making.

M.D. degree in Dravyaguna is an essential qualification for career with Pharmacopoeial Commission of Indian Medicine, Ghaizabad.

Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani Drugs Consultative Committee (ASUCC) recommended that the essentiality of postgraduate qualification of Dravyaguna may be considered in the eligibility criteria for appointment of ASU Drug Inspectors and Drug Controllers.

One teacher in Dravyaguna (to be nominated by the Central Government) is an essential constituent of the Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani Drugs Technical Advisory Board (ASUTAB).

A person with M.D. degree in Dravyaguna can function as a technical person for the establishment and guidance for the Ayurvedic manufacturing pharmacy.

A person with M.D. degree in Dravyaguna is eligible for teaching in an Ayurvedic college.

Relationship between Dravyaguna and Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory Affairs have vital role to offer in any system of medicine. With resurgence of the Ayurvedic System of Medicine, Regulatory Affairs have critical role to play so as to meet international standards. A proper knowledge of Dravyaguna is essential for understanding subject content of Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Ayurvedic Formulary of India and Essential Drug List of Ayurveda.

Further a Dravyaguna professional need to have exposure to modern subjects like pharmacognosy, pharmacy, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology. Now days, several Ayurvedic manufacturing houses are targeting overseas market for selling. For promoting Ayurvedic products in foreign countries, a Dravyaguna professional should have proper knowledge about regulatory bodies dealing at international level. Preparing common technical dossiers, master drug files, monographs white papers and material safety data sheet are part and parcel of the procedure involved in registration of products in foreign countries.

In postgraduate syllabus of Dravyaguna designed by Central Council of Indian Medicine, topics related to Ayurvedic Regulatory Affairs have been included so as to meet the changing scenario for the Ayurvedic drugs at national and international levels. In postgraduate syllabus of M. Pharm Dravyaguna, emphasis has been given on the industrial significance of Dravyaguna. In our opinion, Ayurvedic professional pursuing specialization in Dravyaguna must acquire knowledge about postgraduate syllabus of M. Pharm Dravyaguna.

Interdisciplinary nature of Dravyaguna
Dravyaguna is basically an interdisciplinary subject. It is worthwhile to note that several Indian medicinal plants are part and parcel of American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) and British Herbal Compendium (BHC). Scenario for Dravyaguna is changing and it has become an interdisciplinary rather than conventional subject. There is a strong linkage between Dravyaguna and modern subjects like pharmacognosy, phytochemistry and pharmacology. The six taste theory of Ayurveda has significant role in formulating a drug and therapeutics. This has been linked with phytochemistry and it shall be worthwhile to address six taste theories as ‘Traditional Phytochemistry’.

In Western countries the study of medicinal plants for treating diseases is addressed to as phytotherapy or Medicinal Herbalism.   An expert medical herbalist is well conversant with traditional and modern medicine and pharmacy subjects. Ayurveda has been addressed as ‘Reverse Pharmacology’. Based on the evidence based approach, Dravyaguna is comparable to ‘Reverse Pharmacognosy’.

Dravyaguna has played a critical role in development of Ayurvedic Materia Medica as well as Herbal Materia Medica. Further, several Ayurvedic drugs are part and parcel of Unani Materia Medica. Further, the knowledge of Dravyaguna has been utilized by modern medicine for discovering life saving drugs. In this regard, Reverse Pharmacognosy approach can be coupled with Dravyaguna on lines similar to ethnopharmacology approach to drug discovery.

Role of Central Council of Indian Medicine in promoting Dravyaguna
The Central Council of Indian Medicine has issued a well-structured syllabus for Ayurvedacharya (B.A.M.S) and MD Dravyaguna courses. The syllabus has been revised from time to time, keeping in mind the growing and changing scenario of Ayurvedic Medicine. The Central Council of Indian Medicine should ensure that minimum standard requirements (MSR) are met with production of institutionally qualified Dravyaguna experts. Re-Orientation Training Programs and Faculty Development Programs in various subjects of Ayurveda is welcome step for improving education standards.

The main question is that whether Ayurvedic institutions approved Central Council of Indian Medicine for postgraduate studies in Dravyaguna are well equipped so as to meet practical requirements of the syllabus. Recent times have witnessed the mushrooming  growth of Ayurvedic institutions across India. But the questions is that are we not neutralizing the resurgence and renaissance of Ayurveda by producing postgraduates lacking practical skills and exposure to modern scientific techniques.