BHASMAS- PREPARATION , STANDARDS AND SAFETY

BHASMAS- PREPARATION , STANDARDS AND SAFETY : 

BHASMAS- PREPARATION , STANDARDS AND SAFETY Dr.M.Srinivas Naik P.G.department of Rasa sastra Dr.N.R.S.Govt.Ayurvedic Medical College Vijayawada-A.P

Slide 2: 

Bhasma in Ayurveda has been defined as a substance obtained by calcination. In alchemy, calcination was believed to be one of the 12 vital processes required for the transformation of a substance. Alchemists distinguished two kinds of calcination, actual and potential. Actual calcination is that brought about by actual fire, from wood, coals, or other fuel, raised to a certain temperature. Potential calcination is that brought about by potential fire, such as corrosive chemicals

Slide 3: 

Trituration is the name of several different methods of processing materials. Trituration is also the name of the process for reducing the particle size of a substance by grinding, as by grinding of powders in a mortar with a pestle. the metals, referred to as Dhatu and Updhatu, supplement several essential, disease-preventing elements in the tissues of human body. The metal-based formulations are particularly effective in curing diseases related to organs where such metals are naturally present . [Rasatarangini and Rasaratnasamuchaya]

Need to ensure safety of Bhasmas : 

Need to ensure safety of Bhasmas Nagarjuna, considered to be the father of Rasa Shastra endeavored to free the entire world from disease by using processed mercury. Metals are first purified through a process called Sodhana, during which the metal is repeatedly heated and then cooled in herbal extracts. . Hence we have dasa puta (10 cycles), shatha puta (100 cycles), Shastra puta (1000 cycles), etc. To ensure that the Bhasma is properly prepared, a set of tests are also specified.

Slide 5: 

Bhasma are known to be effective in very small doses, usually a few milligrams. Shelf-life of Bhasma is believed to be infinite. Atomic absorption spectroscopy and flame photometry studies have their limitations as they only reveal the presence of the specific metal and the quantity of the metal in a preparation. Earlier, there used to be a view that metal oxides/sulphates and other salts are formed during the process of puta. With the advent of nano-technology, the current belief is that during bhasmikaran the metal acquires nano particle size, which is responsible for its enhanced bioavailability and activity and hence the dose is small.

PUTAS AND THEIR USES : 

PUTAS AND THEIR USES Agni plays an important role in formation of any type of medicine. Rasa, uparasa,sadarana rasa,dhatu,upadhatu, ratna, uparatna, any combination of drug. The size of the pit, the number of cow dung cakes to be used to obtain a specific temperature and the duration of heating are specified in detail. This process is repeated as many times as prescribed in the classical texts for each preparation. Puta use for bhsmikarana, remove doshas and increase quality of ras guna virya vipaka and prabhava.

TYPES OF PUTAS : 

TYPES OF PUTAS CHANDRA,SURYA,AGNI PUTAS.(ACC.SOURCE) Agni putas : maha,gaja,kukkuta,varaha,laghu, bhudara ,govara,bhanda and VALUKA PUTA. MUFFLE FURNACE. (1100-1450 c) Scarcity of vanyopal and need of large quantity of drug ,companies using only electric furnace only.

Are all Ayurveda drugs 100 % safe as claimed? : 

Are all Ayurveda drugs 100 % safe as claimed? Recently, doubts have been raised on the safety of the Ayurvedic preparations using Bhasma and concern is expressed regarding the metal toxicity of traditional preparations containing Bhasmas. The classics of Ayurveda has never ever claimed that all Ayurveda drugs are 100 % non toxic. Even the poison of Snake is used as medicine in Ayurveda. Ayurveda has always prescribed the drugs with precautions, and cautions. So it is always advised to take even Ayurvedic treatment under medical supervision only. The definition of TOXICITY or Heavy metals is relative. Toxicity depends upon the body reaction, Prakriti, dose and duration of the drug administered etc. Ayurveda fraternity argues that toxicity can arise only from a metal in its free form, and that a Bhasma prepared according to the classical methods never contains a metal in free form.

Oksatmya. : 

Oksatmya. Ayurveda has termed it Oksatmya; means which is non-toxic due to practice. We have read the stories of Vishakanyas who were being given Visha. In metal-based preparations of Ayurveda, the metal is not used as it is, but after subjecting it along with herbs, to an involved series of processing steps. The output of such a process is a fine powder, called Bhasma, which is used either alone as a drug or in combination with other herbs (herbo-mineral preparations, e.g., Chandraprabha vati

Slide 10: 

Toxicity is the result of too much of the specific form of metal being ingested over time. the most important point is, in Ayurveda or Rasashashtra, any metal is never prescribed as raw or virgin metal. It has always been processed with the procedures like Shodhana, Marana, Jarana, Amritikarana, Bhasmikarana, Satvapatana, Lauhitikarana etc. most of them are used in sulphide form which is most suitable to the body. some of the manufacturers are resorting to shortcuts in the preparation of Bhasma, because of which there is a chance of the presence of free metal. To derive benefit from such preparations, it is imperative to prepare the Bhasmas as per the classical methods and subject them to toxicity testing and thereby ensuring their efficacy and safety

Easy methods to check the qualities of Bhasmas. : 

Easy methods to check the qualities of Bhasmas. Varitarattwa is that specialty in which the Bhasma of some substances floats on the surface of the water and does not sink in the water. Ideally bhasmas like Suvarna, Rajata, Tamra, Lauha, Nag or Vanga should float on the water. If it sunk in the water, then it is not properly prepared. Rekhapurnatva: This is one of the important criterions of the examination of the perfect ness of the Bhasmas. Unattwa is just an advance test of Varitarattwa and to decide comparatively more Laghuta. Nirdhumattwa is the next criterion for the assessment of the perfectness of the Bhasma If the Bhasma is not prepared completely, the Apakwa substances will remit yellow or white colored smoke. Gatarasatva: One of the criteria of assessing the perfect Bhasma has been considered to be the absence of taste in the Bhasma and that will be free from all the side effects.

Slide 12: 

Ishta Varnattwa means the attainment of an appropriate colour. In Yoga Ratnakara, the standard colors of the Bhasma have been discussed extensively. Gold- Champaka flower silver and copper- black color Naga- the pigeon neck Vanga- white color iron containing ores- red colour Abhraka Bhasma- brick red color Swarna Makshika which has about 30% iron component attains the Jamun fruit color.

Slide 13: 

Chandrika is the metallic luster and its absence is considered as a criterion for assessing the perfection of a Bhasma. Mriduttwa: Kharasparsha of metals gets lost and the Bhasmas are felt soft and smooth.

METAL ANALISERS : 

METAL ANALISERS Portable and mobile on-site metal analyzers - for fast and reliable identification (PMI), sorting and analysis of metals. Stationary metal analyzers - for all kinds of metals in the process control. ICP spectrometers - for the rapid analysis of chemical elements in a variety of matrices including aqueous, semi-conductor, petrochemical, soil, metallurgical and slurries. ICP-MS spectrometers – for the fully simultaneous measurement of the complete, inorganically relevant, mass range. XRF spectrometers - for the analysis of solids, powders and liquids. XRF handheld analyzer - for metal analysis and sorting, compliance screening, environmental testing and mining applications. SPECTRO xSORT is a compact, ergonomically designed, handheld energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for high throughput elemental testing, screening and analysis of a broad range of materials in widely varying locations, environments and conditions.

Slide 15: 

Metals of Ayurveda behave differently than their counter parts in –modern Medicine.Phenomenon of isomerism. Kajjali and Parpati have different actions o the body although both of them are black sulphide of mercury. The difference between them is them is the Sanskara (processing). The preparation of Kajjali does not involve heating while rasa- parpati is obtained after heating Kajjali. Patients allergic to modern sulpha drugs do not show allergic reaction when Gandhaka Rasayana is given (the difference is processing, Ayurvedic Sulphur compounds are purified and prepared as per Ayurvedic texts). Inorganic mercury compounds like mercurous chloride and mercuric chloride are white powders and do not generally vaporize at room temperatures like elemental mercury will. If they are inhaled, they are not expected to enter your body as easily as inhaled metallic mercury vapor. There is limited laboratory evidence suggesting that several dietary components might reduce (e.g. selenium, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids) or enhance (e.g. alcohol) mercury’s toxicity for some endpoints.

Slide 16: 

Mercury and other metals become toxic only when they exceed a tolerable safe level. Ayurvedic medicine should standard with our parameters ,not with modern parameters our tests should help us ,not for modern people. My goal is to assist them to continue deriving the maximum health benefit from ancient Ayurveda with the confidence that they can do so safely.