2 ALCHEMY AND METALLIC MEDICINES IN AYURVEDA By VAIDYA BHAGWAN DASH D.A.M.S.. H.P.A.. M.A.. Ph.D. Ayurvcda Bhawan A-7J, Swasthya Vihar DELHI-110092. CONCEPT PUBLISHING COMPANY, NEW DELHI-110015i CONTENTS Page INDO-ROMANIC EQUIVALENTS OF DEVANAGARI ... (x) PREFACE ... (xi) INTRODUCTION ... 1—10 Superiority of Mineral Drugs (2), Distinc- tive Features (3), Purpose of Processing (4), Deha siddhi and Lauha siddhi (5), Concept of Health (6), Aim of Rasayana Therapy (7), Alchemical Achievements (7). 1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF RASAS'ASTRA ... 11—17 II. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND PHILO- SOPHICAL CONCEPTS ... 18—32 Starting of Cosmic Evolution (20), Evolu- tion of Matter (21), Evolution of Maha- bhutas (23), Molecular and Atomic Mo- tions (25), Heat and Its Manifestation (25), Application of Force (27), Philoso- phical Background (28)". SII. RASA AND RASAS'ALA ..I 33—39 Definition (33), Classification (34), Rasa- sala (Pharmaceutical Laboratory) (35), Construction (36), Equipments and Raw Drugs (36), Pharmacy Assistants (37), Teacher of Rasa sastra (37), Suitable Students (38), Unsuitable Students (38), Physicians for Rasasala (39), Amrta-Hasta- Vaidya (39). vi Alchemy and Metallic Medicines in 2yurveda IV. PARADA (MERCURY) ... 40—48: Synonyms (40), Source (41), Mercury Ores (41), Extraction of Mercury from Cinnabar (41), Dosas or Defects in Mer- cury (42), Naisargika Dosas (43), Aupa- dhika or Sapta Kaficuka Dosas (44), Pur- pose of Sodhana (45). V. SAMSKARAS OF MERCURY ... 48—90 Quantity of Mercury to be taken for Samskara (48), Auspicious Time (48), Accessories Needed for Sodhana (49), Preparation of Kanji or Special Type of Vinegar (49), Svedana Samskara (Fomen- tation) (49), Effects of Svedana Samskara (52), Mardana Samskara (Hot Tritura- tion) (53), Murchana Samskara (Fainting) (54), Uttbapana Samskara (Revival of the Natural Physico-Chemical Proper- ties) (56), Patana Samskara (Sublimation, Distillation, etc.) (58), Urdhva Patana (Sublimation) (58) Adhah Patana (60), Tiryak Patana (60), Earth for Sealing Joints (61), Bodbana or Rodhana Sams- kara (Revival of Potency) (62), Niyama- na Samskara (Regulation of Physical Properties) (63), DIpana Samskara (64), ; Annuvasana Samskara (64), Eight Samskaras ( 65 ), Grasa Mana Sams- kara (65), Bija (66), Carana Sams- kara (67), Ksara Varga (Group of Alkali Drugs) (67), Lavana Varga (Group of Salts) (68), Amla Varga (Group of Sour Drugs) (68), Extraction of Abhraka Sattva (69), Two Types of Carana (69), Abhi- seka of Abhraka Sattva (70), Garbha Druti (Internal Digestion) (71), Bida (71), Cont ents vis Bahya Druti (Digestion-External) (72), Jarana Samskara (Assimilation)' (73), Khota (74), Ranjana Samskara (Colour- ation) (75), Ranjana Taila (75), Sarana Samskara (Potentisation) (77), Prepara- tion of Sarana Taila (77), Rakta JVarga (78), Dvandva Melapana Varga (78) .Pre- paration of Vajra Bija (78), Prati Sarana and Anu Sarana (79), Kramana Samskara (Penetration) (81), Vedha Samskara (Transmutation) (82), Hemakrsti (82), Tarakrsti (83), Ksetri Karana (Processing the Body) (84), Pacana Therapy (85), Snehana (Oleation) Therapy (85), Svedana (Fomentation) Therapy (85), Vamana (Emetic) Therapy (86), Virecana (Pur- gation) Therapy (87), Correction of Residual Dosas (87), Correction of Excessive Salts (87), Correction of Excessive Alkalies (88), Correction of Excessive Acids (88), Removal of Para- sites (88), Correction of Residual Dosas (88), Revival of Strength (89), Admini- stration of Mercury (89). VI POPULARLY USED MERCURIAL ... 91-105 PREPARATIONS Preparations of Mercury (90), Collection of Mercury from Cinnabar (92), Simpler Methods for Processing Mercury (92), Murchana (92), Bahirdhuma. and Antar- dhuma Methods (93), Kajjali (93), Rasa Parpati (Scale Preparation) (94), Dosage (96), Other forms of Parpati (96), Anu- pana or Vehicle (96), Diet (97), Other Regimens (97), Indications (97), Rasa Sindura (97), Dosage (99), Anupana or ;> viii Alchemy and Metallic Medicines in Ayuryeda Vehicle (99), Indications (99), Talastha Rasa Sindura (99), Sadguna Bali Jarana (100), Makara Dhvaja (101), Dose (102). Indications (102), Action ,of Mercurial Preparations (102). VII PROCESSING OTHER METALS AND ... 104—107 MINERALS Hingula (Cinnabar) (104), Extraction of Mercury from Hingula (103). Gandhaka (Sulphur), Regimens (107), Svarna (Gold) (107), Use of Thin Gold-Leaves (109), Testing of Bhasmas (109), Raupya(Silver) (110), Use of Silver Leaves (112), Tamra (Copper) (1,2), Amrti Karana (113), Pittala (Brass) (115), Kamsya(Bell Metal) (116), Svarna Maksika (Copper pyrile) (117), Raupya Maksika (Iron pyrite) (119), Tuttha (Copper sulphate) (119), Vanga (Tin) (121), Naga (Lead) (122), Sindura (Red Lead) (124), Mrddara Srnga (Litharge) (125), Sauvlranjana (Lead sulphate) (126), Yasada (Zinc) (127), Puspanjana (Zinc oxide) (128), Rasaka or Kharpara (Calamine) (129), Lauha (Iron") (130), Mandura (Rust of Iron) (133), Kaslsa (Iron sulphate) (134), Gairika <Red Ochre) (135), Abhraka (Mica) (136), Dhanyabhraka (138), Amrti Karana <138), Abhraka Sattva (138), Gauri Pasana (Arsenic) (139), Haritala (Yellow Arsenic or Orpiment) (141), Rasa Manikya <141), Manalj §ila (Red Arsenic or Real- gar) (142), Godanti (Gypsum) (143), Badara Pasana (Silicate of Lime) (144), Tankana (Borax) (14^), Sphatika (Alum) •Contents ix VIII. GEMS AND JEWELS ... 148—160 Hiraka (Diamond) (148), Manikya (Ruby) (150), Tarksya (Emerald) (151), Vaidurya (Cat's Eye) (152), Nila (Sapphire) (153), Gomeda (Cinnamon Stone) (154), Vaikranta (Tourmaline) (155), Rajavarta (Lapis-Lazuli) (155), Sange Yasab (Zade) (156), Akika (Agate) (157), Sphatika (Rock-Crysta!) (157), Surya Kanta (Sun Stone) (158), Candra Kanta (Moon Stone) (159), Peroja (Torquoise) (159), Trna Kanta (Amber) (160), IX. ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND SlLAjATU ... 161—170 Mukta (Pearl) (161), Pravala (Coral) (162) Sankha (Conch-Shell) (163), Vara- tika (Cowri-Shell) (163), Sukti (Sea-Shell) (166), Samudra Phena (Cuttle-Fish Bone) (166), Mrga Srnga (Deer-Horn) (167), Sila Jatu (Mineral Pitch) (168). X. POISONOUS VEGETABLE PRODUCTS ... 171—179 Vatsanabha (Aconitum chasmanthum Staff ex Holmes) (171), Visa Tinduka (Strychnos nux vomica Linn.) (173), Jaya Pala (Croton tiglium Linn.) (174), Dhustura (Datura metel Linn.) (175), Bhanga (Cannabis sativa Linn.) (176), Bhallataka (Semecarpus anacardium \ Linn, f.) (177), Gufija (Abrus precatorius Linn.) (179). APPENDIX—I ... 180-188 PARIBHASA OR GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS APPENDIX—II ••• 189—220 EQUIPMENTS AND IMPLEMENTS USED IN RASA SASTRA BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 221—223 INDEX ... 224—247.