Abstract

AYURVEDIC BHASMA: A REVIEW ON ITS TYPES AND CHARECTERIZATION

Priyanka C. Mazumdar*, Shubhada V. Mangrulkar, Sukanya M. Korewar, Twinkle A. Charde, Dr. Dinesh R. Chaple

ABSTRACT

The roles of metals in human physiology are well established. It is also known that many metals are required in trace amounts for normal metabolism and their deficiency leads to diseases. In Ayurveda, metal-based preparations, that is, bhasmas, are indicated for the treatment of several diseases. In the Ayurvedic description, several metallic preparations called Bhasma are in clinical use since 8th century AD. The Puta system of Ayurveda describes that metals or minerals should be heated at high temperature for melting and then it quench in suitable media like herbal juices or decoction for specified times. The Bhasma (incinerated metals) is obtained by repeating these methods several times. In this process the toxic effects of the metals are not only nullified but are transformed into biologically active nanoparticles. When various Bhasmas viz. Swarna bhasma, Makshika bhasma, Abhrak bhasma, Tamra bhasma and Louha bhasma were subjected to analysis under electron microscope it was found that they were similar to nanocrystalline materials possessing similar physico-chemical properties. As per the reported data, there are so many herbo-mineral formulations available in market which is useful in anaemia, diabetes, cancer, liver diseases, skin diseases etc. This review is an attempt to emphasis on the benefits and problems associated with it.

Keywords: Herbomineral preparations, bhasmas, ayurveda, rasa-shastra.