Padmashree Vaidya Balendu Prakash
Ayurveda (the science of life) has emerged with the evolution of life and the creation of living beings and as such, it is not possible to trace its beginning. Likewise, it is also impossible to predict its end, as it would continue with the creation. Charaka, therefore, rightly said that Ayurveda is sashvat (traditionally eternal) as it has no beginning (anadi). The same idea was expressed when the origin of Ayurveda was traced from Brahma (the Creator) but even then it was clarified that origin does not mean ‘emergence or existence’ but it only implies that it was not known and revealed. Sushruta even went further and stated that Ayurveda was revealed by the Creator even before the creation. All this point to the fact that Ayurveda goes back to the pre-history up to a point which is difficult to trace. When the living being emerged they were conscious about their health and maintenance of life and thus came Ayurveda.
Evidence is found that the people used drugs all the 3 resources-vegetable, animal and mineral as they have been found in the remains. Among the animal products, staghorn and cuttlefish bones are found in the excavation of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Most probably, they were used as remedies at that time, Shringa-bhasma (ash of staghorn) is the efficacious and popular drug for cardiac pain and respiratory disorders while samudraphena (cuttle fishbone) is useful in the diseases of the ear. Presumably, conch shell (sankha) was also used as drug after preliminary processing.
Among inorganic substances, Shilajatu has been found in the remains which indicates that it might have been the drug of choice for the people of Indus Valley Civilization. Shilajatu has been popular as an effective drug for promotion of strength and as a remedy for a number of disorders for the last thousands of years. A number of other minerals were also used by Indus Valley people in a variety of useful products e.g. Cerussite (the carbonate ore of lead) and cinnabar (lead sulphide) in cosmetics and medicinal preparations. Galena (lead sulphide) for making eye-paints, white lead (lead carbonate) Steatite was used for plasters, hair washers, etc.
Gold, silver, copper and bronze are mentioned in the Rigveda. Gold was used in ornaments whereas utilitarian objects were made from the others. Rigveda also mentioned a metal-Ayasa which is recognised as iron by most of the scholars. Charaka and Sushruta knew about the tonic value of a number of minerals. They described a method of roasting iron, to get its soluble salts which are used as a tonic. Sushruta mentions arsenic oxide and sulphide and recognizes them as poisons.
Archaeological findings of Taxsila, which lies in the North-West of India (now in Pakistan) represent life and achievements. During this period, Ayurveda occupied an honoured position as a rational assemblage of methodical concepts and systematic therapeutic practices. Even though the celebrated texts of Ayurveda, viz the Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas, which have come down to us, took their present form after reductions, probably in the7th Century B.C., The thoughts and practices enshrined in them were undoubtedly in vogue much before this period. Excavations at Taxsila reveal extensive use of metals like iron, silver, gold and zinc. The practice of making steel, glass, and various alloys were also prevalent. In this period, Iatro-chemistry (Rasa Shastra) came into being. Mercury and many other metals and minerals were incorporated into the pharmacopoeia of Ayurveda. Nagarjuna is considered to be the father of Iatro-chemistry. He endeavoured to make the entire universe free from miseries by the use of processed mercury.
In Iatro-chemistry, properties and methods of processing metals, minerals, gems and jewels are described. In this era, the two phases of alchemical practice, the metallurgical and the physico-religious were used in the transmutation of base metals into noble ones as well as for prophylactic and therapeutic uses, for purifying the body, rejuvenating it and taking it to an imperishable and immortal state. Medicines were derived in the classical period chiefly from the plants. Yet there were a few ingredients originating from animals. Metals and minerals were also used in the synthesis of medicines. Preparation of medicines involved, collection of the above ingredients, their purification, extracting essences, compounding by various processes like grinding, pasting/maceration etc. Chemical processes like dissolution, distillation, sublimation, precipitation, combustion, dilution, decoction, etc. were carried out in these preparations. Distillation of Cinnabar to mercury in its pure form was carried out as seen Rasaratnasamuchchaya. Juices of a number of plants were used for purifying mercury. It was solidified using plant juices, metals and sulphur. Gold was also used in a number of drugs. Mercuric sulphide, known as Rasa sindura or Makaradhwaja was made by subliming a mixture of mercury, gold and sulphur in a covered crucible. Crystals of reddish-brown mercury were thus obtained. In this way, through pharmaceutics, the medieval Indian Alchemists discovered a number of chemical metallurgical processes, as well as inorganic compounds.
Owing to its heavyweight, silvery-white and shiny appearance and fluidity and also its property of readily combining with other substances, mercury was regarded as the most potent of all substances and of possessing divine properties. This fact is evident from various names given to mercury such as Maharasa- chief of all rasas (substances or chemicals) – Indra (King) of the rasas. Mercury was included in the text such as Dhanvantari Nighantu or Rajanighanthu. Rasayana, in the sense of ‘medicines derived from mercury’ appeared in the medieval period during which a large number of alchemical texts were written. It is believed that the mercury an element sacred to Lord Shiva, is deemed to be an essential component of all Rasayana medicines. Conceivably, this element functions as a ‘catalyst’ and ‘delivery system’ for the other minerals because of their necessary uptake by metabolism.
We find extensive use of plants and plant products in the synthesis of medicines in earlier Ayurvedic treatises such as Charaka Samhita. Metals like gold, silver, lead, copper, iron and tin were also used in medicinal preparations. Minerals like iron pyrite, copper pyrite, bitumen, salts such as common salt, alkaline salt, black salt, fossil salt, etc were known to have medicinal properties. Certain compounds like orpiment, realgar, iron and copper sulphates, antimony sulphide etc were usually used in external applications. A combination of metals, such as Sarvaloha (which includes tin, lead, iron, copper and silver), as a finely divided powder in Myrobalan juice, was known as a tonic. Sulphur was used in medicines, applied externally for skin diseases and also for internal administration in the form of a suspension in plant juices, for asthma, cough and chronic skin diseases. Bronze was used in making apparatus. Various salts, earth, alum, sulphur, quartz etc. had internal as well as external applications.
The main concept of Rasa Shastra is to transform base lower metals into noble higher metals, to strengthen the body tissues and to maintain them in a fresh and healthy state so as to remove property, senility, diseases and death from the world. Thus Rasa Shastra was developed to achieve Lohavedha (transformation of Metals) and Dehavedha (transformation of the body for the prevention of ageing and diseases and maintenance of positive health). Further, to achieve Dehavedha, Rasa-shastra stressed the ways and means by which one can achieve the best quality of Rasadi dhatus which in turn provide positive health to the body and prevent diseases and ageing and thus sustain our body always in a healthy and youthful state. Historically, Rasa-shastra developed the concept of Rasayana. Thus, from 8th century AD, a number of metallic and mineral preparations were evolved and recognized to possess Rasayana property, which on continuous internal use would maintain the body health, prevent ageing and the onset of diseases. If required, these may also be used for curing diseases. It must also be mentioned that in Rasa Shastra the metals and the minerals are also termed as ‘Dhatus’ and ‘Updhatus’ because of their specific role in biological systems i.e., they can sustain body tissues by supplementing some of the essential elements to the tissues, whose deficiency causes many undesired problems in the body.
In the Rasa Shastra while the use of mineral drugs especially that of mercury and the sulphur was mentioned, it was also recognized that these drugs were toxic. In order to reduce or remove their toxicity, a number of shodhana measures were developed. These include grinding of such drugs with vegetable extracts and with other acidic or alkaline liquids, their heating and dipping in various liquids or their boiling, fusion, sublimation etc. measures which in turn remove washable, soluble and volatile impurities of the drugs of mineral origin. Sometimes some organic/inorganic materials are added either in traces or in large amounts to these substances which helped either in traces in their detoxification or in their potentiation. By maran process, the drugs of mineral origins are converted to a fine ash form, suitable for systematic absorption. To achieve this, the drugs of mineral origin are first subjected to bhavana (grinding with some vegetable extracts and acidic liquids) and then to putapaka (heating through the scheduled heating system) several times.
In Rasa text seven Dhatus named gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead and zinc are described as essential elements of the body. These Dhatus are present in our body in different concentration and combination. The perfect health is attributed to the state of equilibrium of these Dhatus in body tissues. Any imbalance – excess or deficiency leads to disturbing body metabolism. It is described that these Dhatus are present at the following sites inside the body, and help the respective body tissues to perform normal activities.
Name of Dhatu (Metal) Presence in Human Body
Gold Present in trace amounts in blood, semen, eyes upper layer of skin and intestines. Imbalances affect vision, causes a general weakness in the body, dullness of intellect, loss of imagination power, voice and general disposition of an individual.
Silver Present in bone marrow, the upper layer of bones, gall bladder, pancreas, the inner layer of the skin, lungs, flesh, blood vessels, meninges (a membrane which surrounds the brain), audio receptive glands and septum of the nose, Imbalance affects mind and disposition, neurological disturbances, problems related to teeth, cataract, sores, and absorption from the gut.
Copper Present in the upper and inner layer of skin, mucosa of soft tissue, large glands, pupil, hair, pleura and pericardium. Imbalance causes defects in the cardiovascular, central nervous and skeletal system. Deficiency affects the production of red blood cells and hair keratinization. Imbalance causes defects in the cardiovascular, central nervous and skeletal system. Deficiency affects the production of red blood cells and hair keratinization. Imbalance causes chronic inflammatory disorders in soft tissues.
Iron Major constituent of blood, present in the villi of the intestine, pupil, hair and in small quantity in all tissues of the body. Has a special effect on elderly people. Imbalance causes arteriolosclerosis, anaemia and general debility.
Tin Present in every tissue, however more in abdominal muscles, blood and blood vessels, synovial membrane, the outer layer of the uterus. Imbalance causes malformation in bones, diseases of the reproductive tract, affects the formation of urine, polyurea, increased perspiration.
Lead Present in blood and lymphatic tissue. Imbalance causes anaemia, disturbance in the gastrointestinal tract due to poor secretion of digestive juices, haemolytic anaemia and ascites.
Zinc Present in blood, brain, sensory tissues and flesh. Imbalance causes problems related to the nervous system like despondency, anxiety, dullness of intellect, extreme forgetfulness, irritable temperament, somniloquism.
It has been observed that the metal-based formulations are especially effective in the prevention and cure of diseases related to the organ where they are naturally found.
The practice of Ayurveda was highly appreciated and practised during the golden era of Indian history i.e. up to Buddha period. During the medieval period, India was exposed to the frequent foreign invasion which greatly damaged the system of medicines especially the practice of Rasayana. There was very little time for people to think of science. Books on Ayurveda written during this period are mostly compilations from different sources. During the foreign invasion and internal friction, many original works were destroyed. However, this important ancient heritage was conserved by great Indian sages and saints who traditionally passed it on to their disciples. In this chain, practical knowledge of preparation and application of some metal-based Ayurvedic formulations were transferred from his Guru Maharaj (an ascetic) to late Vaidya Chandra Prakash and was passed on later to the author.
The regeneration of Rasayana and shastra and the fact, ones revered science is otherwise threatened with extinction, raises issues of the crucial importance of its revival to find a cure for many deadly diseases. The shortcomings of western drugs already provide sufficient impetus to look for alternative medical solutions to cure ailments related to disturbed body metabolism when the direct cause of the disease is not visible as happens in Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and AIDS etc. The limitation of western medicines in improving the body resistance and curing metabolic disorders strongly advocates reviewing our ancient wisdom and knowledge to find out preventive and curative measures to combat the growing incidences of deadly diseases of the present world. The preliminary studies conducted by the author establish the therapeutic effect of metallic formulations in the control of certain types of malignancies, chronic inflammatory and immunological disorders.
The analysis carried out on the formulations used for treatment shows that the raw metals used for their preparation lose their metallic characteristics and turn into mineral complexes after processing. In their raw form, the metals like mercury, copper, sulphur and lead etc. would be highly toxic if not lethal. However, according to the ancient text of Ayurveda, the traditional manufacturing process over a period of 2 or 3 years, whereby the medicines are repeatedly ground and fired in furnaces at temperatures between 6000° to 12000°C are believed to remove the toxicity and impart remarkable therapeutic value to the compound. Some compounds, for instance, have ground and heating cycles repeated hundred times with each cycle lasting 4-7 days.
In order to prove the effect of processing in the elimination of toxicity of metal-based formulations various toxicological studies were carried out in our institute on raw, partially processed and processed Amar – a compound of Copper, Mercury and Sulphur (used against certain types of cancer and inflammatory disorders). The parameters studied included various liver function tests, haematological and histopathological studies. Based on the results obtained it can be inferred that processing indeed has a profound influence in the elimination of toxicity as maximum deviation from normal values of various studies was found in rats treated with raw Amar followed by partially processed and processed Amar.
Similarly, no toxicity was associated with finished Prak-20 which comprises of mandoor bhasma (iron ore) and a mixture of 9 herbs. Prak 20 shows strong hepato-protective, anti-fibrotic, anti-viral and detoxifying properties in liver disorders in various experimental and clinical studies.
The successful result of the preliminary finding of the pilot project entitled “effect of metal-based Ayurvedic formulations in the treatment of Acute Pro-myelocytic Leukaemia” sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, further justifies the role of metallic formulations in the human body.
Ayurveda is the first system of medicines which recognizes the importance of metallic micro-nutrients in our body. It suggests that any imbalance of any of the metallic micronutrients result in the manifestation of a disease. This concept is important in a present-day world which faces major ecological disturbances and consequently newer diseases. A study published in British Journal of Medicine (April 1997) indicated that the incidence of death due to cancer is on the rise by
6% per year in a country like the U.S.A. The study emphasized to find out new ways to prevent cancer rather than finding a cure.
In this context, the teaching of Ayurveda becomes more relevant as Ayurveda lays more emphasis on the prevention and treatment of diseases by keeping a balance between diet and lifestyle of an individual depending upon the environment he lives in. Intensive and in-depth research is required to establish the necessity of metallic micro-nutrients for perfect health.
In olden days, when the comfort of modern sciences and civilization were not available, natural resources were available in abundance. These metallic micro-nutrients were freely available in soil and water enriching plant and animal kingdom. Nowadays we are deprived of these elements as our soil, water has become deficient of these. On the contrary, the environment is badly polluted by raw metals as the by-products of industrialization. Comprehensive and in-depth research is required to re-validate the importance of these metallic micro-nutrients to develop a perfect health system for living beings.
The author is Director, V.C.P. Cancer Research Foundation, Dehradun and formerly Hon. Physician to President of India.
