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A Review Through Charaka Samhita REVIEW ARTICLE Therapeutic potentials of metals in ancient India: A review through Charaka Samhita Galib, Mayur Barve, Mayur Mashru, Chandrashekhar Jagtap, B. J. Patgiri, P. K. Prajapati Department of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana including Drug Research, Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India ABSTRACT The Ayurvedic system of medicine has stood the test of time for four millennia or more. The ancient seers found that drugs of different origin (herbal, metal or animal) in addition to codes of conduct and dietary regulations are suitable tools to maintain health in healthy and eradicating diseases in diseased. Use of metallic preparations in healthcare is a unique feature in this system. Processed metals including Mercury, Gold, Silver, Lead, Zinc, Copper etc. were used very frequently by seers of the Indian tradition in different disease conditions with great authority. It is generally claimed, that these metals are detoxified during the highly complex manufacturing processes described in Ayurvedic, especially Rasashastra texts. Charaka Samhita, one of the scheduled books of Ayurveda also holds ample of references regarding the use of metals for different purposes, which are summarized in the current paper. Key words: Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita, lead, mercury, metals INTRODUCTION use of certain heavy metals and minerals in Ayurvedic therapeutics increased. Rasashastra, an integral part The Ayurvedic system of medicine has great antiquity, of Ayurveda, deals with the drugs of mineral origin, dating back to about 5000 years B.C. Its Materia Medica and details their varieties, characteristics, processing contain resources in the form of drugs derived from plant, techniques, properties, therapeutic uses, possibilities of animal, metal and mineral sources,[1] the use of which developing adverse effects and their management etc. have been advocated in various different pathological in a comprehensive way. Although the roots of this manifestations. These drugs have also been converted science (Rasa Shastra) exist in the ancient texts of Indian in to poly-herbal, herbo-mineral and metallic compound civilization, its development as an independent system formulations by the seers, who have documented their of therapy started around the 8th century A.D.. Ayurvedic clinical experiences and passed on the knowledge to classics written before that time, like Charaka Samhita and further generations. Sushruta Samhita etc. contain descriptions of metals and minerals, their processing techniques and their utilization During the medieval period, with the advent of Rasashastra, in therapeutics etc. Address for correspondence: Dr. Galib, Department of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana In due course of time, herbo mineral and metallic including Drug Research, Institute for Post Graduate Teaching preparations came to occupy a significant seat inAyurvedic and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, pharmacopoeia and have routinely been used in practice Gujarat – 361 008, India. E-mail: [email protected] in different parts of India for many centuries. Such Received: 20-Oct-2010 Revised: 07-Mar-2011 preparations are held to be safe, efficacious even in Accepted: 14-Mar-2011 minute doses, and, when manufactured and used following specified classical guidelines, not to lead to any significant Access this article online untoward effects.[2] The past decade, however, has Quick Response Code: Website: witnessed concerns by the western scientific community, www.jaim.in regarding the safety of Ayurvedic Herbal, Herbo-mineral and metallic preparations, which is a major concern for the age-old Ayurvedic heritage.[3] DOI: 10.4103/0975-9476.82523 This paper attempts to screen Ayurvedic classics for Journal of Ayurveda & Integrative Medicine | April-June 2011 | Vol 2 | Issue 2 55 Galib, et al.: Metals in Charaka Samhita references emphasizing the utilization of metals for days, we might expect that it would have been discussed medicinal and other purposes. Charaka Samhita was frequently, along with associated pharmaceutical scrutinized and found to contain referred frequent procedures, and its combinations. references to metals used for different purposes including 3. Chakrapani is silent and doesn't expressed an opinion on medicinal and non medicinal ones. Seer Charaka advocated the term 'Rasa' at Chikitsa 7/71, but interprets the same converting the metals in to fine powders before their term in the earlier verse (Chikitsa 7/70) as 'expressed utilization and observing great caution during the period juice', while, at Dwivraniya Chikitsa (25/116), he interprets of administration in different disease manifestations. 'Rasa' as Parada. 4. Later works like Sushruta Samhita (Chikitsa 25/39) and OBJECTIVES Astanga Hridaya (Uttara 13/36) preferred mercury as a component in topical applications. It was only later The present paper is a compilation holding references that the frequency of its internal utility increased. pertaining to metals during the period of Charaka Samhita Probably, these developments might have been noticed along with some information on the metals explained in by redactors and commentators like Dridhabala and textbooks of Rasashastra and modern science. Chakrapani, who expressed their opinions in their respective works. The references found in the classic were grouped into different categories with an intension to give an insight Swarna (Gold) about the frequency of usage of the metals. The categories Swarna, the Sara Lauha[6] is an important, noble metal are as under: known to Indians since antiquity. References can be • Utilization in therapeutics traced back to Charaka and Sushruta Samhita where the Internal administration noble metal has been attributed with a wide range of External application applications. The 'Bhasma' form of Gold is in metallic • Utilization in the preparation of equipment/instruments state. Quantitatively it is a combination of metallic Gold • Other purposes etc. (96.76%), silica (1.14%), ferric oxide (0.14%), phosphates (0.78%), potash (0.16%), salt (0.078%), and traces of Parada (Mercury) copper and magnesium.[7] Formulations containing mercury are only rarely mentioned in Charaka Samhita. The first reference pertaining to In its elemental form, Gold has been employed for Parada and its utility in therapeutics mentioned in the centuries as an anti-pruritic agent to relieve itching classic is controversial,[4] only a few scholars interpret the palms. In 1980, Robert Koch observed that gold inhibits term Rasa in the verse chikitsasthana 7/71 as Parada. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro. This led to trials on second reference is found in Dwivraniya Chikitsa, where arthritis and lupus erythematosus. Also, previous studies the term Rasa is interpreted as Parada by the commentator carried out in 1973 on gold and its compounds observed Chakrapani.[5] It is interesting to note that, both these beneficial activities at different levels. Gold compounds formulations are recommended for external application. have the ability to decrease concentrations of rheumatic [Table 1]. factors and influences the immunological responses.[53] [54] Though the term 'Rasa' has been rendered as 'Parada' by It has also been established that gold suppresses the 'Chakrapani', it is very difficult to claim that mercury was anaphylactic release of histamine more effectively than in practice during the period of Charaka for the following gluco-corticoids. Sodium aurothio malate (water soluble reasons. preparation) was introduced around 25 years ago to treat 1. The term ‘Parada’ was not used by Charaka throughout arthritis, and is administered through IM injections. Its the classic. pharmacokinetics were not established but, its effects are 2. If the metal had been known to the physicians of those probably due to its antimicrobial effects and stimulatIon of the Reticulo Endothelial system.[8] Table 1: Depicting the references of Parada Various formulations of 'Swarna' are useful: Vrishya, Balya, Reference Formulation Uses Rasayana, Medhya, Ayushya, Ojo Vardhaka, Vayah sthapaka Utilization in therapeutics: External Application etc. [9] and disease alleviators particularly in chronic Chikitsa 7/71 Lelitaka Prayoga Kushtha (Skin disorders) debilitating diseases like Raja Yakshma, Swasa, Kasa, Pandu [10] Chikitsa 25/116 Savarnikarana Lepa Savarnikarana etc. Normal dose levels given for 'Swarna Bhasma' is 15 (enhances complexion mg. to 30 mg.[11] References pertaining to Swarna in Charaka of the skin) Samhita have been depicted in Table 2. 56 Journal of Ayurveda & Integrative Medicine | April-June 2011 | Vol 2 | Issue 2 Galib, et al.: Metals in Charaka Samhita Table 2: Depicting the references of Swarna for different purposes Reference Formulation Therapeutic uses Utilization in therapeutics: Internal Administration Chikitsa 1–1/58* Brahma Rasayana – II Rasayana (Rejuvenators) Chikitsa 1–3/23 Lohadi Rasayana Chikitsa 1–3/25 Indrokta Rasayana Chikitsa 1–3/46 Triphala Rasayana Chikitsa 1–4/22 Apara Indrokta Rasayana Chikitsa 4/79 Pana Yoga Raktapitta hara (Bleeding Disorders) Chikitsa 23/239** Curna Yoga Visha hara (Anti-poisonous) Chikitsa 23/240 Curna Yoga Utilization in therapeutics: External Application Chikitsa 3/262 Sheet of the metal Pitta Jwara (Fever of Pitta origin) Chikitsa 21/131 Curna Yoga Granthi (Abscess) Preparation of Equipment / Instruments etc. Reference Description Probable translation Sutra 5/74 Jihva Nirlekhana Dravya Tongue
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