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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 PREFACE INTRODUCTION Superiority of Mineral Drugs (2), Distinctive 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 II. PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTS Starting of Cosmic Evolution (20), Evolution of Matter (21), Evolution of Mahabhutas (23), Molecular and Atomic Motions (25), Heat and Its Manifestation (25), Application of Force (27), Philosophical Background (28)". SII. RASA AND RASAS'ALA Definition (33), Classification (34), Rasasala (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-HastaVaidya (39). ... ... ... (x) (xi) 110

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Alchemy and Metallic Medicines in 2yurveda ... 4048:

IV. PARADA (MERCURY) Synonyms (40), Source (41), Mercury Ores (41), Extraction of Mercury from Cinnabar (41), Dosas or Defects in Mercury (42), Naisargika Dosas (43), Aupadhika or Sapta Kaficuka Dosas (44), Purpose of Sodhana (45). V. SAMSKARAS OF MERCURY 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 (Fomentation) (49), Effects of Svedana Samskara (52), Mardana Samskara (Hot Trituration) (53), Murchana Samskara (Fainting) (54), Uttbapana Samskara (Revival of the Natural Physico-Chemical Properties) (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 Samskara (Revival of Potency) (62), Niyamana Samskara (Regulation of Physical Properties) (63), DIpana Samskara (64), Annuvasana Samskara (64), Eight Samskaras ( 65 ), Grasa Mana Samskara (65), Bija (66), Carana Samskara (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), Abhiseka of Abhraka Sattva (70), Garbha Druti (Internal Digestion) (71), Bida (71),

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Cont ents Bahya Druti (Digestion-External) (72), Jarana Samskara (Assimilation)' (73), Khota (74), Ranjana Samskara (Colouration) (75), Ranjana Taila (75), Sarana Samskara (Potentisation) (77), Preparation of Sarana Taila (77), Rakta JVarga (78), Dvandva Melapana Varga (78) .Preparation 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 (Purgation) Therapy (87), Correction of Residual Dosas (87), Correction of Excessive Salts (87), Correction of Excessive Alkalies (88), Correction of Excessive Acids (88), Removal of Parasites (88), Correction of Residual Dosas (88), Revival of Strength (89), Administration of Mercury (89). VI POPULARLY USED MERCURIAL PREPARATIONS Preparations of Mercury (90), Collection of Mercury from Cinnabar (92), Simpler Methods for Processing Mercury (92), Murchana (92), Bahirdhuma. and Antardhuma Methods (93), Kajjali (93), Rasa Parpati (Scale Preparation) (94), Dosage (96), Other forms of Parpati (96), Anupana or Vehicle (96), Diet (97), Other Regimens (97), Indications (97), Rasa Sindura (97), Dosage (99), Anupana or

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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 ... 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 Realgar) (142), Godanti (Gypsum) (143), Badara Pasana (Silicate of Lime) (144), Tankana (Borax) (14^), Sphatika (Alum)

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Contents VIII. GEMS AND JEWELS 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 Mukta (Pearl) (161), Pravala (Coral) (162) Sankha (Conch-Shell) (163), Varatika (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 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). APPENDIXI PARIBHASA OR GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS APPENDIXII EQUIPMENTS AND IMPLEMENTS USED IN RASA SASTRA BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX ...

ix 148160

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189220

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221223 224247