Dr. Partap Chauhan on metallic medicines

[Guest guest]

Dr. Chauhan has written nice article on metallic medicines. Please see

below:

 

Ayurvedic Metallic Medicines are NOT FATAL

By Dr.Partap Chauhan It is well documented in Ayurvedic texts that

metals are used in some Ayurvedic formulations. As in Modern Medicine

they describe the adverse effects a medicine can cause to various body

systems, similarly harmful effects of metallic medicines are also well

documented. For example in "Purva Khand of Bhava Prakash

Nighantu" (Dhatu-upadhatu Prakaran: verse 13) it is written,

"Consumption of Impure gold 'bhasm' (ashes) or pure gold 'bhasm'

consumed improperly may destroy strength, shukra dhatu (reproductive

tissue), cause diseases and even death". The antidotes of toxicity or

management of symptoms caused due to consumption of metallic medicines

are also vastly described.

 

There is a section in Ayurveda called "Rasa shastra" which describes the

use of metals, gems, minerals and poisons for manufacturing special

formulations to combat chronic and difficult diseases. Rasa Shastra can

be called "Vedic Chemistry". As the modern laboratory chemicals were not

invented in the Vedic era (3000 years ago), herbal juices were used

instead. Although the methods, of testing these metallic medicines

described in Rasa Shastra, sound outdated or unscientific, they seem be

based on some chemical principles. Because medicines declared non-toxic

through these methods do not create any harmful effects in the body. Not

only they are harmless, they work like 'steroids' used in modern

medicine and can do miracles in difficult disease conditions or even the

'incurable' diseases.

 

These Ayurvedic metallic medicines pass through extensive processing

before they are declared fit for internal use. The metals, gems and

minerals are first purified and then burnt several times and converted

to 'bhasm' (ash). Each time before burning, the metallic powders are

processed with fresh herb juices to neutralize their toxicity. Some of

the metals are burnt up to one hundred times to make sure the heaviness

or toxic effect of the metal is nullified. Once the 'bhasm' is ready it

is tested for toxicity. One of the numerous tests the "bhasm" has to

pass through is called 'varitar' which means the 'bhasm', once ready for

internal use, floats on water indicating non-existence of heavy metal in

it. The 'bhasms' are then transformed to compound formulas by mixing

herbal powders. Special herbal juices are used for processing the

compound formula. Thus these are no more toxic metals but non-toxic

herbo-metallic compounds. The modern chemical testing might still

indicate the presence of that metal in these compounds but according to

Ayurveda, these metals have been transformed to non- toxic form, which

is safe for internal use.

 

These lighter forms of metals (bhasm) contained in herbo-metallic

compounds work as carriers (yogavahi). This means they are able to carry

the herbs (mixed with them) faster to the desired site and start the

action immediately. They increase the bioavailability of the herbs to

the cell. They act as catalysts. After performing the desired action

these harmless light metals (bhasm) are eliminated out of body through

our waste excretory systems (urine and stool).

 

The multi ingredient compounds are formulated in a way that the

ingredients are capable of counter balancing any toxic effects, if any,

present in the herbs or metals (bhasm). Besides, the use of these

metallic preparations is discontinued after every 12 weeks for a couple

of weeks, so that the body can eliminate or neutralize any traces of the

metals left in the body. The period after which the use of metallic

medicines should be discontinued may differ from metal to metal. In some

metals like iron it is not even necessary to discontinue, while in more

toxic ones like Arsenic, it is advised to skip one day after every six

days. The proper dose of these metallic medicines is very important.

Such medicines therefore should always be taken under the supervision of

an expert who knows all methods to ensure zero toxicity and management

of complications, if any.

 

When purified/processed properly and used under an expert's guidance,

these metallic medicines are quite safe for internal use. If these

medicines were fatal, it would have been evident in thousands of years

of their use. Historically, Rasa Shastra an offshoot of Ayurveda

developed around the period when Buddha existed (more than 2500 years

ago). Ever since, it has been widely used by Ayurvedic doctors in India

to treat millions of patients. If the metallic preparations were not

safe, more than half of India would have died as a result of taking

these medicines in all these years and this could not have gone

unnoticed. However the findings are totally opposite. These metallic

medicines have been used as wonderful life saving drugs for thousands of

years without any adverse effects.

 

The use of metals, gems or poisons in medicines as described in

Ayurveda, should not sound scary as the use of dangerous/poisonous

ingredients is involved in all major medical systems including modern

medicine. The contents of antibiotics, steroids, painkillers,

tranquilizers and other chemical medicines are well known to everyone.

Their adverse effects are well documented exactly as of the metallic

medicines documented in ancient Ayurvedic texts. Hundreds of thousand

people die every year or suffer from complications resulting from drug

reactions and surgeries. But we have lots of benefits of modern medicine

and surgery especially during emergency and critical conditions. In

order to get these benefits, we need to take modern medicines even

though we know that they may contain ingredients that can be toxic or

create complications.

 

It has been noted that metallic Ayurvedic medicines can help patients

who have tried all other medical system and have lost all hope to

recover. That is why they are sometimes called as 'life saving' or

'miracle' medicines. But there can be complications and adverse effects

of these medicines too, especially when these metallic Ayurvedic

medicines are labeled as 'herbal medicine' or supplements and sold

through grocery stores or prescribed by spiritual gurus, yoga teachers,

energy healers and unqualified Ayurvedic practitioners. It is like a

barber performing a 'heart transplant' surgery. That could be really

dangerous as well as scary. Ayurveda is a serious medical system and has

well developed systems of diagnosis and treatments. It is the only

medical system in the world, which has apparatus to deal with complete

human being, which comprises of mind, body and soul.

 

Ayurveda considers each person to be unique and offers unique

personalized Ayurvedic treatment. Two persons suffering from same

symptoms may receive different treatment. The treatment is personalized

according to the patients physical nature (prakriti), age, immunity,

mind power, habitat etc. A customized diet, life style, exercise,

emotional support, spiritual treatments, breathing and meditations

techniques also form the part of the treatment. Ayurvedic treatments aim

to eradicate the root cause of the disease, which could be located in

the body, mind, environment, family or profession. It needs a proper

qualification and experience for someone to understand and practice

Ayurveda. The only way Ayurvedic medicines can be 'fatal' is when not

taken under the guidance of a qualified doctor. Like modern medicine,

Ayurvedic medicines should not be sold over the counter specially those

containing toxic metals.

 

To conclude, the presence of toxic metals in Ayurvedic medicines and

their effects have been well documented in various Ayurvedic texts. It

would be interesting to do a research on what do these metallic

medicines do when taken internally. Clinical studies should be done on

people taking metallic medicines by checking their liver, blood and

kidney functions on regular basis. Facts described in Ayurveda texts

like "Bhasms' are just carriers and are eliminated through excretory

systems" should confirmed by doing regular urine and stool analysis for

the person consuming metallic medicines.

If no adverse effects are found, these metallic medicines should be

declared safe and used worldwide for the benefit of millions of those

suffering from incurable diseases.

 

If medicines are found to have toxic or damaging effects, the

manufacturing processes or the consuming processes have to be checked.

According to facts documented in Ayurvedic texts these are the only two

situations when metallic medicines can cause toxic effects in the body.

It is not Ayurveda, but the manufacturing unit or the doctor/patient

(not following instructions), which is at fault. Every Ayurvedic

principle, treatment, medicine is pro-biotic- supports life and

longevity. Ayurveda is safe, effective and holistic approach to achieve

'eternal health'.

http://www.ayurvedic.org/ayurveda/events.asp?nm1=Events#not-fatal

[Guest guest]

Dear Ossi,

 

the article by Dr. Chauhan isn't convincing - its just more opinion and

speculation

 

at least some case histories would be helpful, including serum, fecal and urine

tests

to support his contention that metallic preps are totally eliminated from the

body

 

what is needed is some good toxicological studies on bhasmas and rasas, and

specifically, those that contain very toxic minerals including lead and mercury:

i

haven't been able to find a single one

 

the only studies i've seen are animal studies that look at the therapeutic

effects of

relatively harmless bhasmas like copper on hepatotoxicity (which btw look

promising)

 

since i don't have access to Indian journals and esp. those written in Hindi,

maybe

there are toxicological studies on the more potentially toxic bhasmas and rasas

- if

so, i would be indebted if they could be translated and posted on the list for

all to see

 

some of the points raised by Dr. Chauhan are quite irrelevant, including a

sweeping

statement that the widespread and ubiquitous use of bhasmas and rasas (once

again,

not differentiating between those which are very toxic and only mildly so)

would

have resulted in the death of half the Indian population

 

people can live with heavy metal toxicity, but may suffer from poor quality of

life and

a decreased life expectancy - i reserve my comments on this, because they got

me

into trouble last time i brought them up (!)

 

all the research i've seen states that metallic alchemical preps began to be

used in

India around the 12th century CE, primarily as an offshoot of alchemical

experimentations in earlier years, from mahayana buddhist practitioners like

nagarjuna, described in relatively recent texts from the medieval and modern

periods

like Sharangadhara, Rasatarangini, Bhaisajyaratnavali and Yogaratnakara

 

a book reviewed by a colleague of mine states that the siddha use of these

remedies

began only after this period (A History of the Tamil Siddha Cult [1990] by R.

Venkatraman. Dr. R.P. Das), and were brought to tamil nad by the nathasiddhas of

present day Madhya Pradesh

 

i know that the claim is that bhasmas and rasas have been around much longer,

some

people even speculating that the entire Rig Veda is actually an alchemical

treatise, but

it doesn't match with what can be objectively known about the subject

 

certainly the most ancient and hallowed of the ayurvedic texts don't spend a

great

deal of time on metallic preps - i don't have a copy of Charaka or Sushruta in

front of

me, but in a brief survey i couldn't find ANY reference to metallic bhasmas or

mercurial preps in the Ashtanga Hrdaya (the foundation of Keraliya Ayurveda)

Caldecott