RASASHASTRA- A MYSTERY IN ANCIENT INDIAN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY.

Ayurveda is a holistic and supreme life science which was developed by the divine people on realization through their super intellectual and deep concentration. The Samhitha kala was known to use the herbs and animal products in abundance, identified and incorporated even some of the mineral materials for the elimination of disease and rejuvenation .Though the latter were in limited use, later in the medieval period along with the alchemical development it took a golden chariot as a specialized Science when people needed the instant and best cure and such science deserved to be called as RASASHASTRA.So one of Acharyas describes it:

“Na cha Rasashaastram Dhatuvaadaarthameva iti manthavyam│

dehavedadwara muktireva paramaprayojanaath  ││  (Sarvadarshanasangraha)

Rasashastra, a branch of ayurvedic pharmaceutics dealt with minerals,metals,precious stones,certain poisonous herbs and their processing very largely derived its colour,flavour and in fact,its nourishment from the tantric cult.In almost every country the progress of chemistry can be traced to medicine.Tantric cult came into vogue since the decline of Buddhism in India and exercised a considerable influence on the society till the middle ages,circa1300 AD .Even after the centuries of atreya and dhanvanthari sampradaya Rasashastra evolved with  a special concern and so even the true rasavaidyas were admired.

“Utthamo rasavaidasthu madhyamo moolikaadibihi│

 adhamaha shastradaahabhyaam ittham vaidyaasthridha mathaa ││

              The specialized procedures or samskaras like Shodhana Marana, satvapathana, amrutheekarana etc were developed and the result of which would be the ultimate formulations or yogas like Bhasmas, kupipakwa rasayanas, parpati, pottali etc.All these came under one roof called Rasaushadies.Due to their Small dose, quick effectiveness, tastelessness, effectiveness on dreadful diseases and long shelf life Rasaushadies occupied a superior status among ayurvedic medicine. In fact, Rasashastra is an expansion of Rasayana therapy.

               Alpa maathropayogitthvath arucheraprasanghathaha  │

             Kshipramaarogyadaayitvath aushadhebhyo adhiko rasaha││

                                                                                      ( Rasa ratna samuchchaya)

There is no material without having therapeutic property. All the materials possess properties according to their physico-chemical constitution.

                        Naasti dravyam anaushadham  │(Charaka Samhitha)

Mercury is one of them with high profile of medicinal property.The scope of Rasashatra is very vast and it encompasses the study of ancient pyrometry,various appliances,many minerals,gems and animal sources as medicine.

If one observes the prescription of an ayuvrvedic physician one notices that there are atleast one or two Rasaushadies.

                                Sarvam dravyam paanchabhouthikam │ (Ashtanga Samgraha)

                              

We very well know that matters in this world are made of five mahabhuthaas and so with the same principle the minerals and metals were experimented as drugs to give a better cure.Then according to Loka purusha Saamya vaada the human being is just like this universe. According to samanya vishesha siddhantha the vriddhi (replenishment,restore,rejuvenate,energise etc) is the result of samanya dravyas designed to assimilate in the humen body. The great Rasaacharya  Nagarjuna’s ukthi was

  Siddhe Rase Karishyaami nirdaaridryam idam jagath. │( Rasa ratna samuchchaya)

The above verse meant that the through Rasashastra the poverty and the disease can be rooted out.

Pranaishana,Dhanaishana and paralokaishana lead to the discovery of Mercury and its detailed scientific study.Loha siddhi by transmuting the lower metals into higher metals and Deha siddhi to attain longevity and vigour by using drugs containing the mercurial products were the two basic aims which gave rise to such a wonderful Science. In brief this part contained the organic,inorganic,medicinal,pharmaceutical and biochemistry intact.

Science of appliances in Rasashastra:

The Yantras or the appliances which were required to prepare the standard quality medicine were designed specifically for certain procedures. The materials used for these yantras were   of earthern origin. As time passed there might be some modifications but sustains the same technique. Some of the apparatus which are mentioned fundamentally are:

• Dola yantra –Swing apparatus
• Damaru yantra
• Sthali yantra
• Puta yantra
• Palika yantra
• Swedana yantra
• Valuka yantra-Sand apparatus
• Ghata yantra
• Vidhyadara yantra
• Pathana yantra
• Bhudhara Yantra
• Kachchapa Yantra
• Khalva Yantra- pestle and mortar
• Patala yantra
• Tula yantra-Balance
• Ulukhala yantra

During various Samskaras (processings)or while undergoing experiments,the minerals and metals are proposed for heating where some metals require intense heating. Here the utensils otherwise used cannot withstand high temperatures and so our Seers designed special Crucibles of particular shapes. These crucibles were not only sustaining heat but also would eliminate the defects or impurities .So it was defined as

Mushnathi doshaan mooshayen saa mooshethi nigadhyathe │( Rasa ratna samuchchaya)

The basic materials used to make these mooshas were ash of husks of grains (dagdha tusha),filamentous integuments of certain plants,Ash powder,horse dung,Lohakitta ( a type of Iron rust),Black soil,wood ash etc.in different proportions.

Fire places and Ancient pyrometry:

Specifically built fire places for uniform heating using selected woods of particular plants or cow dung cakes.Koshthi,angara koshthi,patala koshti,gara koshti were some of them which were mainly used for the Sattvapatana or the separation of the active principle.

         Puta (unit of heat):

 Rasaadi dravya paakaanam pramana gnapanam putam│

Neshto nyoonaadikah paakaha supakvam hithamoushadham ││

                                                            ( Rasa ratna samuchchaya)

These were the heating appliances and procedures which represented both qualitative and quantitative measures of heating ,even the amount of fuel being used are mentioned specifically which would depict the optimum heat for the perfect process to be carried out and to beget the quality end product.Mahaputa,Gajaputa,Varaha puta,Kukkuta puta,Kapotha puta,gobara puta,kumbha puta ,valuka puta are some of putas.

Some of standard procedures and its rationale:

1.Shodhana : The word developed from the verb Shuddha which means to purify. The purification of the ingredients used to formulate a drug or as a single drug. Various shodhana procedures like:

• Swedana
• Mardana
• Patana
• Dhalana
• Avapa
• Nirvapa
• Suryathapashtapana
• Pralepa
• Sosana
• Bharjana

The drugs used for shodhana process are from Snehavarga (using oil group),Amla rasa varga(plant juices having acidic property),Ksara varga(drugs alkaline in nature),kasaya rasa varga ,

Shodhana is a combination of processes which removes unwanted part from the drug or removes those effects, which enhances the properties of the drug, which makes the drug suitable for desired actions. Though the literal meaning of shodhana is purification it has its wide implications. It thus has an objective:

• To remove the physical and chemical impurities
• To make metals, minerals free from toxicity.
• Transformation of attributes
• Regulation of attributes

By impregnating and triturating with the organic materials like herbal juice(in the form of weak acids and bases) they are made homologous to the cells and thus their toxicity might get reduced and acceptability by the cells is increased.

Example:Role of Garlic in purifying mercury wherein the sulphur content in garlic not only helps in detoxifying the mercury and its stabilization but also the enhances  properties as garlic by itself is a known anti-oxidant it makes Parada (mercury) a better ingredient in further drug designing.

2.Marana:

Various metals,minerals,gems and animal products etc should be used after preparing the raw purified drugs into bhasma or pishti forms.By doing Marana/calcinations/incineration the drugs are reduced into fine particles. So that these could be absorbed easily into the system and homologue with the Rakthadi dhatus and target its action without producing any undesirable effects. Besides the natural properties are enhanced and sometimes new properties are also inducted.

3.Satvapathana :Extraction of  the essence from its original form.

This was the process to obtain the active principle of that ore which is free from all blemishes,to minimize the dose without lowering the efficacy, to involve in further procedures like calcinations etc.The drugs  used for the extraction be of usna,tiksna,dhathu dravaka and shodhana qualities. Borax (tankana), Silica (mrtthika), Sodium carbonate, Potassium carbonate (ksharas and lavanas) etc are considered as fusion materials. It also known as liquefying material. With the help of flux, the whole mixture material gets liquefied at appropriate temperature. It also helps in the separation of metal and slag. The remaining reductant and flux material goes in the composition of slag.

They also identified specific signs i.e. Shuddhavarta and Beejavarta which appear at particular temperature and indicate the melting of material and separation of metallic contents from the liquefied material. The metallic content of the material is known as satva. The slag portion is called kitta (waste).

Thus here is just a glimpse of Rasashastra which is a vast ancient Science of varied chemistry under one Roof which still requires exploration & facts using the allied Sciences to make it an evidence based medicine.