SHODHANA OF GANDHAKA BY PUTA METHOD AND ITS BENEFITS OVER OTHER PROCESSES.

PRESENTED BY- Dr. SOMIL DUBEY PG SCHOLAR, SV AYURVEDA COLLEGE TIRUPATI

CONCEPT OF SHODHANA

Minerals basically are impure i.e., not fit for internal administration in crude form. They contain many impurities, toxins which may cause many untoward side effects in the body.

• In order to neutralize these toxins, the minerals are subjected to many purification measures in which physical & chemical impurities are removed and the drug is made safe for furtherprocessing to make it therapeutically fit.

TYPES OF SHODHANA

SAMANYA SHODHAN- the process is common for group of drugs, like shodhana of all shadharana rasa by trituration with zambiri swarasa or aadraka swarasa for three days.

VISHESHA SHODHANA - method is specific for a drug, like purification of vanga by Dhalana in churnodaka.

VARIOUS METHODS INCORPORATED IN SHODHANA

BhavanaNirvapaSwedanaDhanlanaPrakshalanaMardanaPruthakkaranaNimajjanaGalanaVilayananirjalikarana

OBJECTIVES OF SHODHANA

Removal of impurities

Facilitates for further processes

Sukshmikarana of drug

Augments the potency of the drug

Used therapeutically after shodhana

CONT...

Shodhana is a prerequisite for all Rasa dravyas. It is not only to remove the Physical or chemical impurities but also to imbibe the properties of herbal drugs used in the process thereby increasing the potency of the drug and by the process of trituration, the drug turns finer thus helping in the absorption and assimilation in the body. It also helps in the further processing of the drug i.e., marana.

INTRODUCTION TO GANDHAKA

Gandhaka is included in uparasas varga in rasa text. Stands next to Mercury in importance and its importance is revealed in various procedures like jarana etc.

In nature native Sulphur is available in very small quanttity. It is generally found in mineral form compounded with Iron, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Silver and other metals. It is also found in following animal and vegetable products. A) Eggs, Blood, Milk, Bile etc B) mustard, carrot, garlic

PHYSICO- CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF GANDHAKA

Latin name- SulphidumSymbol- SAtomic number-16Atomic weight-32Hardness-1.5-2.5Melting point-119°CBoiling point-444.8°CSpecific gravity-1.9-2.1

VARIETIES OF GANDHAKA

According to Rasendrachudamani

1- Rakta- sukatunda (parrot’s beak)- used for Alchemy2- Pita- sukapicha- (parrot’s tail) – used for Rasayana purpose3- Sweta- khatika- used for lauh marana4- Krishna- black – alleviates old age and death

Other classification ( called by these names in market)

Amalasara gandhaka- crystal sulphurNenua gandhaka- roll sulphur

GRAHAYA LAKSHANAS OF GANDHAKA

Gandhaka which is yellow coloured like of Parrot’s tail (green yellow), lusturous as butter, smooth, hard and oily, is considered best for processing into medicines.

IMPURITES OF SULPHUR

Two types of impurities are seen in Gandhaka- 1) Stones (due to contact with earth) 2) Poison (due to contact with other metals and minerals

present in nature).

Hence the purification of gandhaka is must before being administered into the body.

CONSEQUENCES OF USING IMPURE GANDHAKA

If impure gandhaka is taken it causes skin ailments, burning sensation, giddiness and pitta diseases.

It also harms the appearance, strength and potency of body. Therefore it is purified before being used for therapeutic purpose.

PURIFICATION OF GANDHAKA

Various methods of gandhaka purification are mentioned in classics.

Present presentation concentrates on method mentioned in major text of rasashastra like Rasaratnasamuchaya, Rasatarangani, Rasendrasarasangraha.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

250 gm of Impure Gandhaka 4 litres of cow milk One earthen vessel One sarava Cotton cloth Multani mitti for sandhibandhana Uplas

A small pit is dig first according to the size of the pot

Earthen pot is taken and filled with milk. Amount of milk taken should be upto the neck of the pot.

A vessel having more height is more suitable because it facilitates enough time for melted gandhaka to travel down the pot and get cooled down.

Approx 4 litre of cow milk was taken for this method.

A double layered cotton cloth is tied at the mouth of pot

and is fastened at neck.

Gandhaka is powdered in Siktaakruti and is spread over the cloth.

Gandhaka must be spread in heap like form around the mid portion of cloth. Otherwise if spread around the periphery melted gandhaka may ooze out through the corners leading to wastage.

A sarava is kept carefully over the pot.

Joint of sarava and pot is sealed with Mud- smeared cloth and kept for drying.

Thick mud smearing is good as it gets dried up quickly.

Whole apparatus is transferred to the pit in such a way that the sarava is exposed.

DECIDING THE NO. OF UPLAS

In this practical 250 gm. of gandhaka was taken. In Rasaratnasamuchaya specific no. of count for uplas

are not mentioned. In Rasendra sara sangraha laghu puta is mentioned for

this process. The process was subjected to 5 times to estimate the

actual count of uplas required. By number of repetitions it was concluded that 8 no. of

uplas are sufficient for this particular practical.

Uplas were broken in small fragments and arranged properly over the sarava.

Uplas were burned completely and than subjected to self- cooling.

After self cooling ash collected over the sarava is cleaned.

Appratus is taken out from pit carefully

Sandhi bandhana is removed, carefully remove the cloth tied over the mouth of the vessel.

Milk is removed and gandhaka from the bottom of the vessel is collected.

It is cleaned with hot water until it gets completely free from milk.

PRECAUTIONS DURING THE PRCOCESS

Main factor in this method is time duration, if lot of time is taken in this process their is every possible chance of milk getting converted into curd.

Appropriate calculation of no. of uplas is must because practically it was seen that excess of uplas led to burning of gandhaka, and lesser amount leads to incomplete melting of gandhaka.

Utmost care must be taken to remove apparatus and milk from pot to avoid any damage to body by heat.

Proper cleaning of gandhaka is to be done to make it free from milk else it may lead to fungus growth.

ADVANTAGE OF THE PROCESS OVER OTHER PROCESSES.

Large amount of gandhaka can be purified by this method one at a time.

Once process is started it can continue by self, their is no need of any other manoeuvre as in other process involving manual melting and pouring of gandhaka in vessel.

Gandhaka is purified in one time no need to repeat this process no. of times as mentioned in other process.

MODIFICATION OF PROCESS

Although classics have mentioned to perform this method by digging a pit, it can also be performed by taking a large iron vessel (kadai) filled with sand and keeping the pot carefully in centre of iron vessel and rest of the process is performed as mentioned.