Charaka divides material objects into three classes, namely, mineral, animal and vegetable. Minerals consist of gold, silver and other metals; diamond, emerald and other gems; realgar, orpiment and other ores; and the various sorts of earths. Vegetables are divided into four classes, namely, Vanaspati, Vriksha, Virudh and Oshadhi. Those plants which produce fruits, without first showing their flowers, are called Vanaspati. Plants which produce fruits from flowers, which are known by their flowers and fruits, and which wave small branches from their trunks, are called Vriksha. Plants which during their growth are supported by other plants, are called Virudh, Pratanavatya or Valli. Lastly, those grasses, etc., which die after maturing their fruits, are called Oshadhi. Animals are divided into four classes, namely, Jarayuja or mammalia, Andaja or oviparous, Svedaja or those produced from animal excretions, as parasites, etc., and Udbhijja or those produced under ground or from vegetable matter, as for example Indragopa, a sort of red insect.

All parts of vegetables may be used in medicine, namely,

Root, as of Chitraha (Plumbago Zeylanica).

Underground stem, as of Surana (Amorphophallus campanulatus).

Leaves, as of Vάsaka (Justicia Adhatoda).

Fruits, as the three Myrobalans.

Flowers, as of Dhάtaki (Woodfordia floribunda).

Extract, as Catechu, Opium, etc.

Bark, as of Kurchi (Holarrhena antidysenterica).

Wood, as of Dάrvi (Berberis Asiatica or aristata).

Gum, as Myrrh, Assafoetida, etc. Sometimes the entire plant is used as Kantakάri (Solanum Xantho-carpum).

The skin, hair, wool, nails, horns, hoofs, milk, bile, honey, fat marrow, blood, flesh, urine, faeces, semen, bones and ne rves of animals are all used in medicine.

Susruta divides remedial agents into two classes, namely, Parthiva or material and Kάlakrita or effected by time, such as wind, sun-shine, shade, moon-light, darkness, heat, cold, rain, day and night, changes of the moon, months and se asons of the year, etc. These are all said to affect the humours of the body, and, through them, the diseases caused by their derangement. The influence of these agents, if properly regulated or availed of, sometimes cures diseases, without the aid of material remedies.

Sanskrit writers do not agree in the mode in which they classify medicines when describing their properties. Charaka divides medicines into fifty classes, according to their supposed action on the different organs of the system, or on particular symptoms of disease. These classes are as follows: -

1. Jivaniya - Medicines which prolong life.

2. Vrinhaniya - Medicines which promote nutrition and increase corpulency.

3. Lekhantya - Medicines which thin the tissues, or reduce corpulency.

4. Bhedaniya - Promote excretions.

5. Sandhaniya - Promote the union of fractured or divided parts. power.

6. Dipaniya - Increase the appetite and digestive

7. Balya - Increase strength. Tonics.

8. Varnya - Improve the complexion.

9. Kanthya - Improve the voice, or cure hoarseness.

10. Hridya - Promote cheerfulness or relish.

11. Triptighna - Kemove a supposed phlegm which causes a sense of satiety.

12. Arsoghna - Cure piles.

13. Kushthaghna - Cure skin diseases.

14. Kandughna - Cure pruritus.

15. Krimighna - Cure worms.

16. Vishaghna - Act as antidotes to poisons.

17. Stanyajanana - Promote secretion of milk.