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Iron Bhasma

Iron ash
Lauha Bhasma (Ayurveda)
Lcags Thal (Tibetan)

Minerological name:
Ferrum

Parts used:
Because of the difficulty in reduction, Iron more than other metals is often recommended to have more putums (firings). It is most potent after having 100 putums (firings)
1. Lauha Bhasma: Bhasma prepared from several putums (firings).
2. Shatputi Lauha Bhasma: Bhasma prepared from 100 putums (firings)

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Bitter, Sweet
Iron Bhasma principally settles Kapha (Phlegm) and Pitta (Bile)

Classification:

Uses:
1. Benefits Liver, Nourishes Blood:
–Anemia
–promotes Complexion
–general debility
–enhances Strength, Virility and Intellect

2. Opens Obstructions:
–Liver and Spleen diseases from obstruction (Ayurveda, Tibet)
–Jaundice

3. Clears Heat, Resolves Phlegm:
–bronchial Asthma, chronic Bronchitis
–Obesity
–Fever due to poisoning (Tibet)

4. Strengthens Kidneys:
–Edema
–Nephritis
–Leukorrhea
–Diabetes

5. Kills Worms:
–used for Worms and Parasites

Dose:
125–250mg, twice daily with Honey and Ghee
Shatputi (100 firings) Bhasma: 60–125mg

Vehicles for use with Iron Bhasma:
-Iron Bhasma is taken with Asafetida (which has been fried in Ghee) and Honey for Colic.
-taken with Long Pepper in Chronic Fever
-with Ghee and Garlic juice in Rheumatism and Paralysis
-with Honey and Trikatu in Asthma
-with Triphala and Sugar Candy in Spermatorrhea
-with Tumeric, Long Pepper and Honey for 20 kinds of Spermatorrhea, including Gonorrhea.
-with Triphala in senility and old age
-with Honey and Ginger juice for excess of the 3 Dosas
-with Ghee in Fever due to Vata/Wind
-with Honey in Fever due to excess Pitta/Bile
-with Ginger juice in diseases due to excess Pitta/Bile and Kapha/Phlegm
-with Ginger powder for Vata/Wind diseases
-with Sugar in Pitta/Bile diseases
-with Long Pepper in Kapha/Phlegm disease
-with Triphala and Sugar to increase strength
-with Triphala and Honey in all sorts of diseases

Comment:
Bhasma prepared from Iron Rust (Mandura) is generally considered superior.

Purification:
1. Iron may first be Purified as the general method for preparation of Metals (see under Gold Bhasma).
2. Powdered Iron is heated over a fire, then dipped into the decoction of Triphala (the 3 Myrobalans: Emblic, Beleric, and Chebulic), 7 times consecutively.

Preparation:
1. PURIFICATION and BHASMA of IRON.
A complete preparation of Iron has 5 stages, beginning with:
i) Purification: Powdered Iron is heated over a fire, then dipped into the decoction of Triphala (the 3 Myrobalans: Emblic, Beleric, and Chebulic), 7 times consecutively.
ii) Solar Heating: the Purified Iron is washed well, then kept in a Mortar along with Triphala decoction, and dried in the Sun. This is repeated 7 times.
iii) Vessel Heating: the above Iron is washed, then put in an earthen vessel containing decoction of Triphala, and heated until dehydrated.
iv) Closed Heating: the Vessel-heated Iron is rubbed with herb juices, then heated in Gaja Puta 100 or 1000 times consecutively. Each time, it becomes more potent. This has formed a crude Iron Bhasma
v) De-reviving: Iron Bhasma, Cow’s Ghee and Sulphur are rubbed together with the juice of Aloe, then subjected to Gataputa. This makes the Iron unable to revive (ie. unable to be formed into metallic Iron).
2. Finely powdered Steel is triturated with a Decoction of Triphala, along with a little powdered Rice or Wheat, then formed into small cakes which are dried, then heated in Putam. This is performed 5 times to create a red ash of Iron.
3. Purified Iron is rubbed with Cow’s Urine, then formed into dry cakes which are burnt in Putam from 10 to 100 times to turn to Ash. The Decoction of Triphala may be used instead.
4. Iron filings are mixed with sufficient amounts of Saltpeter, Sulphur, and Terminalia chebula; the powdered mixture is put into a strong container which is covered, and put over a fire until ashed

TO STOP IRON BEING ABLE TO BE REVIVED TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION:
After the creation of Iron Bhasma, Iron can generally still be reverted to its original metallic state. In order to prevent this from occurring, the Bhasma is subjected to further processing such as either of the following:
i) The Bhasma is roasted with Honey, Ghee, Borax, Abrus precatorius and Guggulu (Indian Bdellium).
ii) Iron Bhasma, Cow’s Ghee and Sulphur are rubbed together with the juice of Aloe, then subjected to Gataputa. This makes the Iron unable to revive (ie. unable to be formed into metallic Iron).

IRON RUST BHASMA.
(Madura Bhasma) (Ayurveda)
Purified Iron Rust is triturated with a decoction of Triphala. From this paste, cakes are formed, and dried in the sun. These are sealed between 2 clay pans, dried and cooked in Gaja Puta. This is repeated 30 times.
This is Cold, stimulating to digestion and Metabolism, alleviating Pitta/Heat. It is ‘exceedingly useful’ in Anemia, Jaundice, Edema, disorders of the Liver and Spleen, and is more effective than the Bhasma of Iron.
Dose: 1 gram, twice daily in Honey. It can cure various other diseases depending on the vehicles it is taken with.