The chemical role of natural substances used in Lauha Bhasma preparation process

Lauha Bhasma (LB) is a prominent Ayurveda medicine and uses as an ingredient to prepare other indigenous medicines in Ayurveda. The outcomes of this study on chemical and physical changes during the preparation process of LB become significant to explore ancient knowledge of east within the modern context. The preparation process of LB was carried out under laboratory conditions; starting from the elemental form of the Iron sample to identify the chemical and physical changes. The metallic composition of the starting material and intermediate products formed during the LB preparation process was determined using the AAS technique. The variation of the amount of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ throughout the process and formation of nanoparticles was identified using quantitative analysis. Even though the amount of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Mn) present in the starting material is low, the trace level of heavy metals in the iron sample significantly reduces during the LB preparation process. Irregular-shaped, agglomerated, blackish red (Pakvajambuphala varna) fine LB powder formed at the end of the Putapaka step. The value of ancient knowledge can be revealed using the chemical and physical changes identified throughout the study on the LB preparation process.

Pharmaceutical study of Lauha Bhasma

In the present research paper, the work done on pharmaceutical study of Lauha Bhasma conducted in the Department of Rasa Shastra under the postgraduate research programme is being presented. The pharmaceutical processing of Lauha Bhasma was performed by following samanya shodhana, vishesha shodhana and marana of Lauha. Under the process of marana, three specific pharmaceutical techniques were followed, viz. bhanupaka, sthalipaka and putapaka. During the putapaka process, an electric muffle furnace (EMF) was used. The temperature of puta was studied in two batches, viz. in Batch I, a temperature of 800°C was maintained whereas in Batch II, a temperature of 600°C was maintained. The purpose behind selecting two temperatures was to validate the process of marana of Lauha and to determine an ideal temperature for the preparation of Lauha Bhasma in EMF. It is found that after 20 puta at a temperature of 600°C, the Lauha Bhasma was prepared properly. The entire characteristic of Lauha Bhasma, like “pakwa jambu phala varna,” varitar, etc. was attained at 600°. At a temperature of 800°C, the process could not be carried out smoothly. The pellets turned very hard and brassy yellow in color. The desired color was attained only after decreasing the temperature in further puta.