Traditional Minerals in Ayurveda: Makshika, Vimal, and More

Makshika (Pyrite)

Makshika is also known by several synonyms, including Tapiz, Tapya, Dhatu makshik, Madhu dhatu, Ropya makshik, Suvarn makshik, and Hem makshik. The use of makshika in an aushdha (medicinal) form was first mentioned in the Charaka Samhita.  

There are three types of makshika ores:

• Swaran makshika (Chalcopyrite, Cu_{2}Fe_{2}S_{3})
• Rajat makshik
• Kansya makshik (Iron pyrite, Fe_{2}S_{3})

Physical Properties of Makshika

• Color: Brass yellow to golden yellow
• Transparency: Opaque
• Lustre: Metallic
• Hardness: 3-4
• Specific Gravity: 4.1-4.3
• Fracture: Uneven
• Tenacity: Brittle

Makshika is found in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Darjeeling, and Tamil Nadu in India, as well as globally in America, Russia, Nepal, and China.

Shodhana (Purification) of Makshika

• Swedana (vaporization) of swaran makshika with equal quantities of erand taila and matulung swarasa using a dolayantra for 3 hours.
• Alternatively, the same process can be done with kadli kand swarasa for 2 hours.
• Heating makshika until it is red hot and then quenching it in triphala kwatha 21 times.
• The same process can be repeated with nimbu swarasa 21 times.

Marana (Incineration) of Makshika

• A mixture of equal quantities of Swaran makshik churna and gandhak churna is triturated with nimbu swarasa.
• The mixture is formed into a disk (chakrika), dried, and subjected to sravsamput and sandhibandhan.
• This is then heated with vraha puta 10 times.
• A red-colored bhasma, similar to the color of a lotus, is obtained.

Bhasma (Ash) of Makshika

• The bhasma is useful for Tridosha hara, Vrishya, Vridha avstha janya raga, Pandu, Prameha, and kushtha roga.
• The dosage (bhasma matra) is half to two ratti.
• It is taken with Triphala, trikatu, ghrita, and madhu.

Satvapatan (Extraction of Essence) of Makshika

• Shudha swaran makshika is triturated with one-fourth part of tankana, placed in a musha, and subjected to tivragni (intense heat) to obtain the essence (satva).
• Alternatively, melt 30 grams of shudh naga and triturate it with 100 grams of shudh makshik. Add kshartraya (sarji, tankan, yava) and triturate again. The mixture is then triturated with any amal rasa to form a ball, placed in a musha, and heated with tivragni.

Makshika Formulations

• Chandra Prabha vati
• Jaymangal rasa
• Mritumjaya rasa
• Ratana Garbha pottali

 

Vimal (Iron Pyrite)

Physical Properties and Appearance of Vimal

• Chemical Name: Iron pyrite Fe_{2}S_{3}
• Hardness: 6-6.5
• Specific Gravity: 5-5.2
• Color: Dusky yellow color (malin pita varna)
• Lustre: Metallic, like silver
• It is Chatush Koniya and has 6 and 8 surfaces.
• When heated, it smells like sulfur (ghandhaka).

Vernacular Names

• Sanskrit: Vimla, tapija, tapyaja
• Hindi: Vimla
• English: Iron pyrite

History Vimala is mentioned in the Ranarva aadi granthas.

Types of Vimala

• Hema Vimala: Yellow in color (pita varna), best for gold-making (hema kriya hetu).
• Ropya Vimala: White in color (Shweta varna), best for silver-making (rajat karma hetu).
• Kansya Vimala: Red in color (rakta varna), best for medicinal purposes (ashdhi karya hetu).

Vimla Shodhana (Purification)

• Swedan vidhi (vaporization method) for 3 hours using vasa swarasa/kwatha or jambiri nimbu swarasa.

Marana (Incineration)

• A fine powder of shudh Vimala and shudh gandhaka in equal parts is triturated with lakuch swarasa bhavna.
• The mixture is formed into a disk (Chakrika), dried, and heated with Gajputa agni 10 times.
• A red-colored bhasma is obtained.

Bhasma Guna (Properties of Ash)

• It is Snigdha and guru guna.
• It acts as a Vata and pitta nashak.
• It is used for pandu prameha, shula, grahni, jwara, kamla, arsh, and bhgandar roga.
• The dosage is one-half to two ratti.

Satvapatan (Extraction of Essence)

• A mixture of equal quantities of Vimal, tankan, and meshshringi bhasama is triturated with lakuch swarasa bhavna.
• The mixture is placed in a musha and heated with tivra agni.
• Iron is obtained in the form of satva.

Vimal Formulations

• Kshaya kesri rasa
• Rasender chuda mani rasa
• Nava ratna raj mrigank rasa

 

Sasyaka (Tutha/Blue Vitriol)

Synonyms

• Tuttha, Tuthaka, Myuraka, Tamra Garbha, Amrita sang, Tuthanjana, and Mayuraka tuthaka.

History

• Charak, Susruta, and other rasagranthas have described sasyaka.
• It is also known as peacock ore.

Physical Properties and Appearance

• Chemical Name: Cooper sulphate Cu_{5}FeS_{4}.
• Color: Bluish green crystal.
• Hardness: 2.5.
• S.G.: 2.1-2.3.

Types of Sasyaka

• Swabhaja/original and kritrim/artificial.
• Based on color, there are Rakta varna and Kalika varna.
• For medicinal use, Neel varna, guru, snigdha, and shiny tutha are considered acceptable.

Shodhana (Purification)

• Three bhavnas with nimbu swrasa.
• Seven bhavnas with Rakta varga drvayas kwatha.
• Swedana for 3 hours in Gomutra, mahisha mutra, or aja mutra.

Marana (Incineration)

• Equal quantities of Shudha tutha, shu. Gandhaka, and Shu. Tankana are triturated with lakucha swarasa bhavana.
• The mixture is placed in a musha and heated with kukut puta agni 3 times.
• A bhasma is obtained.

 

Bhasma Guna (Properties of Ash)

• Rasa: Katu, Kashaya, and Madhur kshariya.
• Guna: Laghu.
• Virya: Ushna.
• Vipaka: Katu.
• Therapeutic Uses: Dipniya, ruchi karka, rechniya, Balya, Chakshushya, Twakdosha hara, Hridya roga, Shula, Amlapitta, and acts as a rasayana.

Tutha Satvapatana (Extraction of Essence)

• A mixture of tutha and one-half part of tankan is triturated with Nimbu swarsa bhavna.
• The mixture is placed inside a musha and heated with tivra agni.
• Tamra dhatu (copper metal) is obtained in the form of satva.

Tutha Formulations

• Kanaka sunder rasa
• Trilokya Chintamani rasa
• Maha mritum jaya rasa
• Jatyadi taila
• Maha jwara ankush rasa

Rasaka (Kharpara)

Vernacular and Synonyms

• Sanskrit: rasaka
• Hindi: khapariya
• English: zinc ore
• Synonyms: Yashad karna, Tamra ranjak, Raso udbhava, Rasak, kharpariyaka.

History

• In the Charaka kala, the satva of rasaka was known as riti.
• In the Rasa ratna smuchya, its ritikrit and tamra ranjak gunas are explained.
• In rasakala, it was known as kharpar satava.

Types of Rasaka

• According to Rasarnava:

• Mritika kaar (yellow zinc oxide) is considered best (shreshtha).

• Gudabh (zinc sulfide or zincite) is medium (madhyama).

• Pashanabh (zinc silicate or carbonate) is inferior (adham).

• According to R.R.S:

• Dardura (calamine dalayukta).

• Karvellaka (smith sonite dalarahita) ZnCO_{3}.

Shodhana (Purification)

• Paka of rasaka with Katutumbhi swaras or ikshvaku swarasa.
• Heating rasaka until red hot and quenching it 7 times in Ashwamutra, takra, or kanji.

Marana (Incineration)

• Shudh rasaka is ground well and heated using baluka yantra vidhi or lavan yantra vidhi with mridu, madhyam, and tivra agni.
• Alternatively, equal quantities of shu. rasaka and shu. Parda are triturated and heated for 1 day using a baluka yantra.

Rasaka Bhasma Guna (Properties of Ash)

• Rasa: Katu and Kashaya.
• Guna: Ruksha and laghu.
• Therapeutic Uses: All types of prameha, Striraga, Jwara, visham jwara, Rakta gulma, and soma roga.

Rasaka Satva (Extraction of Essence)

• Abhya, shilajitu, laksha, kenchua (earthworm), griha dhuma, and one-fourth part of tankan are triturated with rasaka.
• The mixture is placed in a musha and heated with tivra agni.
• The resulting satva is a tridosha hara.

Rasaka Formulations

• Kasturi bairva rasa
• Maha jwara ankusha rasa
• Lakshmi vilasa rasa
• Vasant malti rasa
• Pradantaka rasa

Chapala (Bismuth Ore)

Vernacular Names

• Sanskrit: chaplah
• Hindi: chapla
• English: bismuth ore

Physical Properties

• Hardness: 2-2.5
• S.G.: 9.5
• Density: 7.8
• Melting point: 267^{\circ}C
• It is described as saphatik sadrish (crystal-like), having a metallic luster, and being snigdh and bharyukta.

Types of Chapala

• Based on color:

• Gour (yellow, native bismuth)

• Shweta (white, bismuth oxide)

• Arun (reddish, lakshavat nishphala)

• Krishan (black, bismuth sulphide)

• According to Rasarnava: sita, Asita, harita, and shona rakta.
• According to Rasa padhati: Swarna chapla, Taar chapla, Tamra chapla, Naga chapla, Vanga chapla, and Tikshna chapla.

Shodhana (Purification)

• Chapal churna is given 7 bhavnas with each of jmbiri nimbu swarasa, bandya, and karkoti adrak swarasa.

Marana (Incineration)

• Shu chapal is mixed with an equal part of giri sindura, rasa sindura, or shu. Gandhaka and triturated with nirgundi swarasa bhavna.
• This is then heated using a valuka yantra to obtain a red-colored bhasma.

Chapal Satva Ptana (Extraction of Essence)

• Chapal churn is triturated with vish or up visha Dravya kwatha and dhanya amla bhavna.
• The mixture is formed into a ball shape, dried, and inserted into a musha.
• It is then heated with tivra agni to obtain the satva of chapala.

Chapala Guna (Properties)

• Rasa: Tikta.
• Virya: Usna.
• Vipaka: Madhura.
• It is a lekhniya, snigdha, and deh lohkara.
• It is a Tridosh nashak and Vrishya.

Shilajatu (Black Bitumen or Mineral Pitch)

Synonyms

• Shila niryasa, Girija, Ashma laksha, Shila sweda, Shailaya, Shilajit, Adrij, and Adrijatu.

Types of Shilajatu

• Based on shape (Akara bheda): Gomutra Gandhi shilajit (black bitumen) and Karpura Gandhi shilajit (potassium nitrate).
• According to Charaka: Swaran adrij, rajat adrij, tamra adrij, and loha adrij.
• According to Sushrut and Ashtanga hridya: Swaran adrij, rajat adrij, tamra adrij, loha adrij, nagadrij, and vangadrij.

Appearance

• Blackish brown color, mridu, semi-solid, with a smell like cow's urine (gomutr gandh).
• It is a resinous material similar to gugglu.
• The rasa is Tikta and lavan.

Shodhana (Purification)

• Washing (prakshalna) with Kashara, amla, and gomutra.
• Swedna for 3 hours with yava kshara, kanji, and guggulu.
• Dissolve in one of the following: Godugdha, triphala kwatha, or bhringraja swarasa.
• The solution is sieved, dried, and the purified shilajitu is collected.
• If dried in sunlight, it is called surya tapi shilajitu.
• If dried with heat (agni), it is called agnitapi shilajitu.

Dosage and Anupana

• The dosage is 2 to 8 ratti.
• It is taken with dugdha, takra, masrasa, yusha, jala, or gomutra depending on the condition.

Marana (Incineration) and Satva (Essence)

• Equal parts of shu.shilajit, shu.manshila, shu gandhak, and shu.hartala are triturated with maturling swarasa and heated with 8 upla agni.
• To obtain the satva, it is triturated with dravkgana and bhavna with amal drvya, placed in a musha, and heated with tivra agni.
• A loh smana satva (iron-like essence) is obtained.

Shilajatu Formulations

• Arogya Vardhani vati
• Chandar Prabha vati
• Shila jatvadi loha
• Shila jatvadi vati
• Shiva gutika

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