There are many things regarding working of rasoushadhis , one main question is whether the kashtoushadhis directs the metallics how to act, or metallic compounds carry the kashtoushadhis to the site of action “KHAVAIGUNYA “, as they are having a stronger penetrating quality.
Preparation method
Bhavana
Every rasoushadhi is prepared by processing in different swarasa, kwatha, according to the desired effect of the medicine. Bhasmas are also prepared in the same manner, for shodhana of a crude drug, such type of drug is selected which removes the waste substances, and gives a desired quality to the drug.
Take a simple example,
- Shankha bhasma is prepared by boiling it in takra or nimboorasa, shankha is a calcium compound, a strong alkali, is processed in acid like nimboorasa , reducing the alkaline character partially.
- Kasisa is processed in Bhringaraja swarasa and gajaputa is given for shodhana by which many waste materials present in the crude drug are made to burn out during Gajaput, and then again processed in kumari swarasa, triphala quatha again repeatedly giving gajaputa after every mardana process, by which kasisa bhasma is made to work in liver and spleen, in pakwashaya, and in rakta dhatu.
Likewise every crude drug is prepared according to the need.
Rasoushadhi is a compound of ready bhasmas, added with kashtoushadhis, and processed ( mardana in KHALWA YANTRA ) in swarasa for days together, then making to a tablet form.
Take an example of Aarogya vardhini rasa, it contains katuki churna as main kashtoushadhi, if we take a tablet of 125 mg, the quantity of katuki will be only 25 mg. If we want to take katuki directly, we need more than 2 grams to get the desired effect, then how is it possible , what made it possible?
Now, let me take another example of Aanandabhairava rasa, the main ingredient of this drug is trikatu. If we take 125 mg, the dhatugata amapachana is also achieved. The quantity of trikatu will be 100 mg, but if we take it directly the dhatugata amapachana cannot be achieved so easily, we need to bring the ‘aama’ to the koshta then should be removed or aamapachana is done in koshta, so here“ hingula” ,a mercuric compound, must have potentiated the TRIKATU, or trikatu has produced its quality in hingula, or both .
Mardana
The real efficacy of rasoushadha is in its MARDANA process . The total time required to prepare sahasra puti abhraka bhasma is nearly four years. The more we process the more will be the results. As we see in shatavartita ksheerabala taila, one drop of oil contains 101 times processed balamula kashaya and ksheera, so the efficacy is very much so as to act on nervous system.
By mardana process, the drugs are made to microfine powder of less than 100 nm ( 1/1000 milimeter),the bhasmas are even less than 50 nm, so penetration power is so high and it need not be digested with a lengthy process in the intestine, and readily enters into different dhatu to exhibit desired effect.
Importance of Anupaana
Anupaana is very important when using the rasoushadhi. If Vatagajankusha is taken with hot water the effect is less but if taken with ardraka swarasa or ajamodadi churna the amapachana is so quick that in amayukta gridhrasi we can see the results within few hours.
But still I do agree if we follow the deepana, pachana, shodhna, shamana, line of treatment – ‘na tesham punarudbhavaha’is achieved undoubtedly.
Author is Senior Ayurveda physician in GAD, Purappemane, Sagara.