The document discusses the philosophy and practice of Ayurveda alchemy (Rasashastra) in India. It notes that Ayurveda incorporates substances from minerals, plants, and animals for medicinal purposes. Mercury and metals were traditionally used internally according to classical Ayurvedic texts. However, improper preparation methods have led to toxicity in some modern Ayurvedic preparations. Proper purification techniques can reportedly remove toxicity, but quality control remains an issue given the tradition of using heavy metals and minerals. The document outlines the historical use of alchemy in Ayurveda and provides photos of traditional preparation methods.

1. Ayurveda Alchemy
Rasa Shastra
Dr. Atul Rakshe
Shree Niramaya Ayurveda Kendra, Pune
(INDIA). www.cozwecare.org
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2. Philosophy of Ayurveda
• The term Ayurveda means “knowledge
(veda) of longevity (ayus).
• Ayurveda was evolved through intuitive,
experimental & perceptual methodology
in India.
• The philosophy of Ayurveda is aimed at
putting people in touch with themselves
on a deeper spiritual level.
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3. Rasashastra (Indian alchemy)
• Mercury Synonym of Rasa
• Glorious Science of Golden era
• Moderate to Severely Toxic in Raw Form
• Substances of Mineral, Plant & Animal
Origin
• Tedious Method of Preparation
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4. God of Indian Alchemy

5. Metals as medicine
• The presence of toxic heavy metals in Ayurvedic
preparations is not surprising.
• There is a long tradition in Ayurveda, as well as
in tantric and Siddha alchemy, for ingesting
mercury and gold for medicinal purposes.
• Charaka and Susurta Samhitas permit the use of
mercury, but for external use only.
• Vagbhatta (6th-7th century A.D.) recommends
internal uses of mercury for therapeutic ends.
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6. Acquaintance with Rasashastra
• The Italian traveller Marco Polo (13th century)
reportedly met "ciugi" (yogis) who apparently
lived long and healthy lives because they
consumed a drink made of mercury and sulphur.
• The French traveller Francois Bernier (17th
century) has left behind a record of Hindu
holymen who knew how to make gold and
prepare mercury for health purposes.
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7. Principle of Rasashatra
• Ayurveda considers all substances, whether they
come from animals, vegetables, or the earth
(that is, minerals) as medicines, provided they
are applied in a proper way and for specific
purposes.
• Mercury and gold were considered elixirs of life
which could confer immortality.
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8. • The ancient doctors recommend the use of the
following in medical concoctions: bile, fat,
marrow, blood, flesh, excreta, urine, skin,
semen, bones, tendons, horns, nails, hoofs, hair,
bristles and pigments obtained from a variety of
animals.
• This follows as a logical consequence of the
Ayurvedic philosophy that like-nourishes-the-like:
flesh is nourished by flesh, blood by blood, fat by
fat, bones by cartilage, marrow by marrow,
semen by semen, foetus by eggs... and so on.
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9. Alchemy in Classical texts
• Charaka Samhita recommends the use of gold,
along with five other metals (silver, copper, lead,
tin and iron) and minerals like arsenic, antimony,
sand, lime and red chalk.
• Charaka and Susurta Samhitas permit the use of
mercury, but for external use only.
• Vagbhatta (6th-7th century A.D.) recommends
internal uses of mercury for therapeutic ends.
• Tantric alchemy equates gold with immortality.
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10. Metals used
Gold
Silver
Copper
Iron
Tin
Lead
Zinc
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12. Organ metallic medicines
• Kajjali is a powder of mercury and sulphur
• Rasmanikya is tri-sulphide of arsenic.
• Nag Bhasama is a bhasam of lead
• Rasasindoor is a bhasam containing mercury
and sulphur.
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13. Indications of Alchemy
medicines
• Basantkusumkar Ras, Arogyavardhini Vati,
Mahayograj Guggul and Mahalaxmi Vilas Ras
are some medicines which contain mixtures of
all common bhasams.
• These are extensively used for
o diabetes,
o liver disease,
o arthritis
o and respiratory diseases.
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14. Shodhana and Marana
• Complex processes of making bhasams through which
mercury, gold, arsenic, lead and precious stones are first
purified by repeatedly heating and cooling them in herbal
extracts is called sodhana.
• Grinding this with herbs and heating them in closed earthen
crucibles by burning cowdung cakes is called bhasmikaran.
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15. Cowrie shells in Crucible
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16. Purified Sulphur
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17. Salt Water Pearls
(Cultivated Pearls)
kindly supplied by Ryukyu Shinju Co., Ltd.
Ishigaki City, Okinawa Japan
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18. Purified Amber
being ground into a fine powder
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19. Rasa Maanikya
being heated between Mica sheets
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20. Mercury extraction from
Cinnabar
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21. Crucibles in kiln
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22. Pure Parada (Mercury)
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23. Swetha Parpati Preparation
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24. Filtration of Shilajit
(Himalayan Bitumen)
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25. Unrefined Ambergris
(by-product of Sperm Whale)
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26. Conches
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27. End Product Medicines
• VARITAR-floating on water
• REKHAPURITA-fine powder
• APUNARBHAVA-irreversible
• UNAM-able to float with food grains
• TASTE, ODOURLESS
• NON TOXIC & THERAPEUTIC
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28. Adulterants Affecting the
Quality and Safety
• Toxic metals
– 64% of samples collected in India contained
significant amounts of lead, mercury and arsenic
due to improper methods of preparation
(Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2002 57:891-6)
• Other
– Microorganisms, Microbial toxins
– environmental pollution
– unsatisfactory agricultural practices
– Pesticides, Fumigation agents
– Drugs
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29. GMP
• The traditional process since 5000 years,
of turning heavy metals into bhasams
"detoxifies" them and makes them
harmless.
• If the manufacturers faithfully followed the
instructions in the classic Ayurvedic texts,
there would be no problem of toxicity.
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30. Ayurveda in India
• Due to countrywide presence
• easy availability
• affordability
• safety
up to 80% of the Indian
population use Ayurvedic
medicine. (Gogtay et al., 2002).
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31. Ayurveda in West
• In UK, about 28% of the population use CAM and
up to 49% cancer patients and 46% of patients
with atopic dermatitis use traditional medicines
(Simpson and Roman, 2001; Johnston et al., 2003; Thomas et al., 2003).
• Ayurveda is recognized as an official healthcare
system in Hungary.
• In USA, up to 59% of the population use
CAM.(Eisenberg et al., 1998;Graham et al., 2005; Saydah and Eberhardt, 2006, Source : Los
Angeles Times * Economic times dated 25th July 2003 )
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32. Ayurveda as Global medicine
• WHO at Alma Ata in 1978 have
recognized that the role of
traditional medicine is important in
the health care scenario of both the
developing and the developed
world.
• Hence in view of the potential of
Ayurveda, it has been realized that
Ayurveda can contribute
substantially to the success of the
present health care delivery system.
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34. Dr. Atul Rakshe
Shree Niramaya Ayurveda Kendra
Opp. Dnyanaprabodhini,
Sadashiv Peth,Pune
+91 94220 34506
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Dr.Vikas Chothe
Empire Estate, M-2, 001
Chinchwad, Pune
+91 9922916025
vchothe@gmail.com
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35. Thank you
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