Bhasma and Churna

Bhasma and Churna

Content

•       Definition of bhasma and churna

•       Method of preparation of Bhasma and churna

•       Characteristics of bhasma and churna

Objective

At the end of this lecture, student will be able to

•       Define bhasma and churna

•       Explain the method of preparation of Bhasma and churna

Bhasma

Bhasma is a powder of the substance obtained by calcination

Ø   Metal, mineral and animal products are calcinied in closed crucibles in pits with cow dung cakes by special process

Method of Preparation:

                                                                      Sodhana

                                                                        Marana

Sodhana:

Ø   Sodhana is a purification process, it is a medicinal purification

Ø  Chemical purification eliminates only foreign matter, but Sodhana aims

        - To eliminate harmful matter from the drug

        - To modify undesirable physical characters of the drug

         - To enhance the therapeutic activity of the drug

Types of Sodhana:

Samanya sodhana : Heating of thin sheets of metals by immersing in   

                                     taila / gomutra

Visesa sodhana : Four types

Ø  Bhavana – Grinding with special decoctions

Ø  Svedana – Convert drug into a poultice

Ø  Nirvapana – Incinerating to red hot and dipping into taila

Ø  Mardana – Triturating /rubbing with some dravyas

Marana

Ø  Purified drug obtained from sodhana is placed in kalva

Ø  Ground with specified quantities of kasaya/swarasa

Ø  Resultant material is made into small cakes

Ø  Size and thickness of the cakes – Heaviness of the drug

Ø   Heavier the drug thinner are the cakes and vice versa

Ø  Cakes are dried and placed in a shallow earthen plate and closed with another

Ø  Edges are sealed with a clay smeared cloth in seven consecutive layers and again dried

Ø  A pit is dug in an open space

Ø  Half of the pit is filled with cow dung cakes

Ø  Earthen plates holding the cakes of metal/mineral is placed on cow dung cakes

Ø  Pit is then completely filled with cow dung cakes

Ø  Cow dung cakes are set fire all the four sides and also in the middle of the pit

Ø  After burning allowed to cool

Ø  Earthen plates are removed and seal is opened

Ø  Contents are ground again in kalva into a fine powder

Characters: Bhasma should comply the following

Ø  No metallic luster

Ø  Float on cold water

Ø  Not revert to original state

Ø  Very fine, so that it get easily to the finger lines when taken between index finger and thumb

Ø  No characteristic taste

Storage:

Ø  Should be stored in airtight glass/earthen containers

Ø  Retain its potency indefinitely

Examples:

Example	Use
Svarna bhasma	Hrudroga
Rajata bhasma	Jvara, Buddhimandya

 

 

Churna

Churna is a fine powder of drug or drugs

Method of preparation:

Ø  Drugs are cleaned and dried properly

Ø  Finely powdered and sieved

Conditions:

Ø  When more than one drug, each drug is weighed separately according to the formula, powdered and sieved

Ø  As some drugs contain more fibrous matter, separate powdering, sieving and mixing is preferred

Ø  Certain drugs like  camphor, salt and sugar are to be powdered separately and mixed at the end

Ø  Drugs like asafoetida are roasted, powdered and mixed at the end

Ø  Drugs which are to be taken in the fresh conditions like satavari, guduchi etc are made in to paste, dried and then added to the rest

Characters:

Ø  Should be a very fine powder of at least 80# sieve

Ø   Should not be sticky

Storage:

Ø  Should be stored in airtight containers

Examples:

Example	Use
Jataphaladya churna	Atisara
Karpuradi churna	Svasa, ksaya

Summary

Ø  Bhasma – calcination process

Ø  Metal, mineral drugs

Ø  Sodhana and marana

Ø  Sodhana – medicinal purification, Bhavana, svedhana, nirvapana and mardana

Ø  Kalva, cakes, sealed with clay smeared cloth

Ø  Pit, cow dung cakes, fire, cool, grind into a fine powder

Ø  Churna – fine powder of drug/s, dried, sieved and finely powdered

Ø  Conditions for preparing churna