Shodhit Gandhak

[Guest guest]

I have a question about the bhasmas, especially

Shodhit Gandhak as posted. It was noted that it is an

extremely hot substance. From my limited knowledge,

it seems like most bhasmas are made of either mercury

or sulphur as a base. I can understand mercury

possibly causing some problems. Why would sulphur?

Is not sulphur used in a limited quantity? Many foods

naturally contain sulphur, notably the cabbage family

and beans. Are there other minerals that make it so

"hot" or is it the combination of metals or is more

sulphur used than the body normally uses? Is this the

case for most bhasmas that do not contain mercury. As

I understand it, sulphur is a "sun" mineral and

mercury a "moon" metal. Is this right?

 

Thank you

GB Khalsa

[Guest guest]

To study medicine it is essential to be able understand some basic

facts of science - whether it is ancient science or modern science.

As this poster noted he has very limited knowledge of bhasmas. It is

absolutely incorrect to assume that most bhasmas have mercury or

sulfur as their base.

 

Shodhit Gandhak is not a bhasma - it is a purified form of elemental

sulfur. It is used in its purified form in gross (non-homeopathic)

forms. It is not a metal (like mercury). It is wrong to compare the

organic sulfur naturally contained in fruits and vegetables with

Shodhit Gandhak. Shodhit Gandhak is not an organic substance - it is

elemental sulfur that has been purified so that the excess toxic

substances will be reduced - making it less harmful - but in no way

is it harmless. No person can take sulfur without expert guidance. As

I mentioned in my other post there is no compelling reason to use

sulfur in theraputics - my observation is that anything that can

theoretically be achieved with sulfur can be achieved in other ways

without the dangers of complications that sulfur presents. Many great

Vaidyas have practiced their whole life without reference to any

Bhasmas and purified elemental minerals and other such altered

toxins.

 

A further observation is that in theraputic doses sulfur has side

effects - also these cases (like difficult to resolve infections)

often do not hold even if there is a temporary relief. If one thinks

about the concept behind Shodhit Gandhak it is closely related to the

Allopathic idea of flooding the body with toxic substances that have

the ability effect some process or another (like interfere with

replication of pathogens). This concept is not valid as we all know

that most of these substances (like antibiotics) in no way cure the

underlying disease it is just trying to control the pathogens (the

bacteria, etc.)that are proliferating in the pathological condition.

 

Therfore it is not correct to say that we have 'cured' anything by

attacking these pathogens - indeed we have probably made the case

worse by poisoning our own tissues with these substances - it does

not make sense to me in the allopathic system and it does not make

sense to me in Ayurveda. Let us use the basic concepts of Ayurveda to

rebalance the doshas therby removing the pathological conditions

which allow these pathogens to attack us in the first place.

 

Throughout history sulfur has been synonymous with hell-fire-burning-

brimstone-etc. Samuel Hahnemann equates sulfur to the basic disease

of humanity (he calls this disease Psora) - and says it is the nature

of our 'seperation' from God. Scriptures - poetry - myths have often

refered to sulfur and it's relationship to suffering-terror- rage -

projection - violence - alienation.

 

Since sulfur is one of the basic acid and acidifying substances -

indeed it is a symbol for this type of process - it is easy to see

why sulfur ranks as a substance that all humanity should be careful

of. Sulfur is essential to life but since the majority of we humans

are of Pitta prakriti we do not need 'hot' medicines. Sattvic people

are trying to achieve a slightly base blood PH - sulfur is not the

primary substance for humanity it is the opposite of what we are

trying to achieve - potassium-magnesium-sodium-etc. are the proper

minerals for us to emphasize so as to achieve the goals of good

health. Mild acids are necessary and should be in every meal (we also

manufacture plenty of acids as a part of our metabolic processes).

But excess of 'heating'-'stimulating'-'irritating'-etc. substances is

the very cause of many modern disease processes.

 

My advise is to avoid inorganic acids as much as possible since

sulfur has been implicated in the dangers of 'acid rain' and other

environmental dangers it is not likely that we need more inorganic

sulfur in our bodies.

 

ayurveda, Guru Khalsa <greatyoga>

wrote:

> I have a question about the bhasmas, especially

> Shodhit Gandhak as posted. It was noted that it is an

> extremely hot substance. From my limited knowledge,

> it seems like most bhasmas are made of either mercury

> or sulphur as a base. I can understand mercury

> possibly causing some problems. Why would sulphur?

> Is not sulphur used in a limited quantity? Many foods

> naturally contain sulphur, notably the cabbage family

> and beans. Are there other minerals that make it so

> "hot" or is it the combination of metals or is more

> sulphur used than the body normally uses? Is this the

> case for most bhasmas that do not contain mercury. As

> I understand it, sulphur is a "sun" mineral and

> mercury a "moon" metal. Is this right?

>

> Thank you

> GB Khalsa