INTRODUCTION:

Ayurveda is a science of life and is known to mankind since a long time. Traditional physicians have been used different type of herbal drugs for the treatment of different diseases in earlier due to their easy availability and easy processing. The use of metals and minerals came still later for the treatment. The number of metals found in nature throughout the world is innumerable. But only a few of them have been recognized to possess medicinal values in Ayurveda. Metals are highly important for our day to life as well as for our health. From the therapeutic point of view metals are used for the maintenance of health and curing of diseases¹. But according to Ayurvedic concept they need sodhana (purification) and marana or bhasmikarana (incineration) to use them internally. If metals are used internally without subjecting to the above processes for therapeutic purposes they are likely to produce harmful or toxic effects in the body².

Rasashastra is a branch of Ayurveda which deals with mainly metals and minerals, their Identification, purification, incineration and therapeutic uses³. Many new pharmaceutical processing techniques along with different equipment and drugs has been developed according to time to time in Ayurvedic pharmaceutics. By this pharmaceutical technology metals could be converted to such a form which is considered most suitable for their internal use in the body I.e. least toxic, highly absorbable and therapeutically very effective. This suitable form of metal is known as bhasma.For the preparation of bhasma most important procedures are shodhana (purification), jarana, marana (incineration). and amritikarana etc.

Classification of Metals:⁴

According to ancient Rasa literature metals have been classified under the following groups:-

1. Sudha Loha: Swarna (Gold), Rajata (Silver),Tamra (Cupper), Loha (Iron)

2. Puti Loha: Naga (Lead), Vanga (Tin), Zasada (Zinc)

3. Misra Loha: Kamsya (Bell Metal), Pittala (Brass),Varta louha (An alloy made of five metal)

METAL PROCESSING PROCEDURE:^5-7

Metals which are used for therapeutic purpose must be subjected to sodhana (Purification), and marana (incineration) process. Without sodhana and marana process if the metals used internally, it may produced toxic or undesirable effects in the body. Therefore to make these least or non toxic and having highly therapeutic effect their metal processing technique like sodhana (Purification), Jarana, Marana (incineration) , amritikarana are considered as essential.

Shodhana (Purification) Procedure:

Sodhan is the process which help to remove toxic effects and undesirable effects of the metal, convert metals and minerals to become more brittle and soft, help to induce therapeutic properties and make it into suitable form which may further be treated with Marana process. In the purification process metals like silver, iron, cupper are subjected to heating and Quenching into Taila (Sesamum oil), Takra (butter milk), Gomutra (Cow’ urine, Aranala (fermented acidic liquids), Kulutha kwatha (Horse gram decoction) for seven times. The metal having low melting point like Naga (Lead), Vanga (Tin), Zasada (Zinc) are first melted and then poured into the specified liquid for seven time in each liquid. These molten metal and powder metal are collected for the further process. For the purification of gold, apply pest of specified powder on gold sheets and apply heat to make into ash form. Then this powder further be treated for Marana process. These procedures are either helps to reduce their particle size, and to oxidize these partially or to bring these to powder form.

JARANA PROCEDURE:⁸

This is another metal processing technique which is done before marana process in case of low melting point metals like Naga (Lead), Vanga (Tin), Zasada (Zinc) to convert these into powder form by heating and rubbing with kshariya (Alkaline) herbs like Apamarga and Ashwattha panchanga. till their burning and molted metal to convert into black powder form in an open atmosphere. On self cooling the prepared powder is taken for marana (Bhasmikarana) process.

MARANA (INCINERATION) PROCEDURE:

Marana (incineration) is a process by which metals and minerals are lose their self characteristics, converted into such a light and fine state of subdivisions that when used internally they become easily digestible absorbable and assimilable and exhibits their therapeutic effects. This process also known as Bhasmi Karana. After completion of purification process, these metals are taken for marana process. The Marana process consists of two main stages:

1. Bhavana: Trituration with some liquid for a specified time.

2. Putapaka: Roasting (heating at different) temperature (with different putas.

1. Bhavana (Trituration):

Bhavanna is the process by which the purified metal powder are to be mixed with specified water, herbal juice, decoction etc, and triturated (ground) well for a specified period till the added liquid became dried. The object of bhavana process is to make the particles finer and induce the new properties into the main drugs through the various liquids used during this process.

2. Putapaka

After trituration process the whole mass is made into small pieces like flat and thin pellets known as Cakrikas and allowed to dry. Then these dried Chakrika are kept in a ‘Saravasamputa’ (crucible), sealed it with seven layer of mud cloth and subjected to heating at different degrees of temperature. This process is known as putapaka process. Puta means quantity of heat required for the incineration of processed metal and a number of such putas are required to complete the Marana process. The substance which is hard, heavy, rough and bulky is converted into a soft, light, smooth and fine powder at the completion of Marana. Object of this process is to remove unwanted materials and to obtain desired therapeutic efficacy.

AMRITIKARANA PROCEDURE:⁹

Amritikarana is an another important technical procedure which is employed in Bhasmas to destroy their remaining Dosas (bad effects present even after Marana treatment is over) and to make Bhasmas for good as Amrita (Nectar) in properties. Though it has been advised for all the metallic and mineral bhasmas for enhancing their properties and destroying their undesired effects, however in case of Tamra bhasma and Absraka bhasma it is considered essential. For this, prepared bhasma is mixed with ‘Panchamrita (mixture of milk, curd, cow ghee, honey and jageery) materials and triturated well. Then pellets are made and closed in Sarava Samputa (crucible) and subjected to heating.

BHASMA AND STANDARDISATION:¹⁰

In ancient time prepared bhasma are tested by examining in various way to know the bhasmas of metals and minerals made up to the standard or not? To know this some texts have prescribed some test like Varitaratwa (floatable over water) Rekhapurnatwa (enterable in the furrows of fingers), Anjana sadrisa suksmatwa (fine like collyriums), Niscandratwa (without shining or lusture) laghutwa (lightness), mrudutwa (softness) Slaksnatwa (smoothness), Nirdhumatwa (smokelessness), Varna (Colour),

1. Varitaratwa:

(Floatable on water surface) –The meaning of this term is to float over the surface of water. If the bhasma floats over the surface of the water, it indicates lightness of particle and same may be considered upto the standard and may be recommended for internal use. For this examination put a pinch of bhasma in a glass of water and observe whether all the particles of the bhasma are floating over water surface or some of them sink into the water and settle at the bottom. If all the particles flot over the water surface, then the bhasma is considered to be of the best quality, otherwise (when some particles go down) some more putas are to be given to make the bhasma upto the standard.

2. Rekhapurnatwa:

(Penetrable in the fine furrows of the fingers) This is another test, which indicates the fineness of a bhasma. Here the bhasma powder is rubbed in between the thumb and the fingers and the test is known as Rekhapurnatwa. If the particles of the bhasma attain such a state that they could enter the furrows of the fingers, it may be considered as standard,.

3. Anjanasadrsa Suksmatwa:

This also indicated the fineness size of a bhasma particle than other two tests in which some portion of a bhasma is used in the eyes as anjana (collarium). If applied to the eye lids these should not produce any irritation to the mucus membrane of eyes and it is most confirmatory test to determine the size of the particles of a bhasma.

4. Niscandratwa (lack of lusterlessness):

In this test bhasmas like ‘gold, Abhraka etc are tested for this test a portion of the bhasma rubbed on the palm and examined in sun’s rays. If any shining particle is seen then the bhasma cannot be Niscandra and should be subjected to further putas to make it completely lusterless without shining.

5. Mrdutwa and slaksnatwa (Softness):

A bhasma should be soft to the touch; the softness and smoothness of a bhasma is also due to it fineness.

6. Nirdhoomatwa (Smokeless):

In this test some portion of a bhasma is put on the fire, any fume is coming out from bhasma then it is considered as marana is not complete and some more putas are needed to complete the process.

7. Colour of the bhasma:

In Rasa shastra classics the colour of different metallic bhasmas are mentioned as follow: Gold bhasma-red colour, Silver bhasma-black colour, Copper bhasma-black colour, Iron bhasma-(Violet colour), Naga bhasma –whitish black, Naga bhasma-White colour and Yasada bhasma –Yellowish colour. These colour are due to the formation of respective chemical compounds in the bhasmas.

8. Aswadu:

Bhasmas should be free of any kind of taste.

9. Niruttha:

Irreversible to metal form if heated even with ‘Mitra Panchaka’ drugs.

10. Should not produce any undesired side effects in the body on internal use.

THERAPEUTIC USES OF BHASMA:^3,8

1. Svarna (Gold) bhasma :

Grahani (Malabsorption Syndrome); Amlapitta (Hyperacidity); Hikka (Hiccup); Pandu (Anaemia); Jvara (Fever); Dhatuksaya (Tissue Wasting); Raja yaksma (Tuberculosis); Buddhiksaya (Impaired Intelligence); Apasmara (Epilepsy); Hrdroga (Heart Disease); Sanyu Daurbalya (Neural Deficit) Phiranga Roga (Syphilis).

2. Rajata (Silver) Bhasma:

Sosa (Cachexia); Dhatuksaya (Tissue Wasting); Prameha (Increased Frequency and Turbidity of Urine); Madatyaya (Alcoholism); Visa (Poison); Jvara (Fever); Pliha Roga (Splenic Disease); Pittaroga (Diseases due to Pittadosa); Buddhimandya (Low Intelligence); Garbhasaya Dosa (disease of uterus); Apasmara (Epilepsy).

3. Tamara(Copper) Bhasma:

Udara Roga (diseases of abdomen); Jalodara (ascites); Sthaulya (obesity); Sotha (inflammation); Pandu (Anaemia); Vata Roga (diseases due to vata dosa); Kapha- Pitta Roga (diseases due to kapa and pitta dosa); Visa (Poison); Rajayaksma (Tuberculosis); Kasa (Cough); Jvara (Fever); Swasa (Asthma); Netra Roga (disease of eyes); Kustha (disease of skin).

4. Loha (Iron) Bhasma:

Atisara (diarrhoea); Sula (pain/colic); Amlapitta (Hyperacidity); Udara Roga (diseases of abdomen); Kamala (jaundice); Pandu (Anaemia); Krimi (helminthiasis/worm infestation); Medo Dosa (obesity); Sveta Pradara (leucorrhoea); Prameha (Increased Frequency and Turbidity of Urine); Pradara (excessive vaginal discharge).

5. Naga (Lead) Bhasma:

Atisara (diarrhoea); Grahani (Malabsorption Syndrome); Gulma (abdominal lump); Arsa (piles); Prameha (Increased Frequency and Turbidity of Urine).

6 Vanga (Tin) Bhasma:

Kasa (Cough); Jvara (Fever) ,Swasa (Asthma); Kapha Roga (disease due to Kapha dosa); Medo Dosa (obesity); Pandu (Anaemia); Krimi (helminthiasis/worm infestation); Prameha (Increased Frequency and Turbidity of Urine); Sveta Pradara (leucorrhoea); Pradara (excessive vaginal discharge).

7 Yasada (Zinc) Bhasma :

Grahani (Malabsorption Syndrome); Raja Yaksma (Tuberculosis); Prameha (Increased Frequency and Turbidity of Urine); Svitra (leucoderma/vitiligo).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:

After development of Rasasastra it was made possible for the metals and minerals to pass through with various procedures like boiling, grinding, heating etc, so as to convert these into a form or compound, which may suit to the human body and could be absorbed and assimilated easily into the system without exhibiting any toxic system. If a metal is properly processed as per text, it cannot be produced harmful effect in the body after internal administration. So that different type of metallic bhasma has been used in either single form or compound form for the treatment of various diseases since long period. Ancient alchemists also mentioned detailed characteristics of standard bhasmas, their therapeutic effects and sub standard bhasma with harmful effects in the body. Much attention should be necessary to develop equipment for preparation of bhasma which having therapeutic efficacy, time consuming and cost effective.

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Received on 07.08.2015 Modified on 22.08.2015

Res. J. Pharmacology &P’dynamics. 7(3): July-Sept., 2015; Page 143-146

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5836.2015.00027.0