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Serpentine, Jahara Mohara
Mineral Bezoar
Jahara Mohara, Zehar Mohra, Zehr Mohra (Unani)
Jawahar Mohra (Ayurveda)
Naga pasana (Sanskrit)
Shi Men Yan (TCM)
Ophicalcite Hua Rui Shi of TCM is Serpentine mixed with Calcite.
Jahara Mohara, Zehar Mohra, Zehr Mohra (Unani)
Jawahar Mohra (Ayurveda)
Naga pasana (Sanskrit)
Shi Men Yan (TCM)
Ophicalcite Hua Rui Shi of TCM is Serpentine mixed with Calcite.
Serpentine
(Calcutta Unani College, Adam, 2019)
(Calcutta Unani College, Adam, 2019)
Mineralogical Name:
Serpentine (Soapstone variety); hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate
Serpentine is a group of hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate ((Mg, Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4) minerals. There are 20 varieties in the Serpentine group of minerals and three main polymorphs: antigorite, chrysotile and lizardite.
It is a Basic silicate of magnesium, iron, aluminum, nickel, zinc, and manganese
Serpentine (Soapstone variety); hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate
Serpentine is a group of hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate ((Mg, Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4) minerals. There are 20 varieties in the Serpentine group of minerals and three main polymorphs: antigorite, chrysotile and lizardite.
It is a Basic silicate of magnesium, iron, aluminum, nickel, zinc, and manganese
What is Serpentine?
Serpentine is not a mineral, but a group of minerals. The main members are Antigorite (solid form) and Chrysotile (fibrous form).
There are a number of related minerals based on admixtures:
1. Asbestos: fibrous form of Serpentine; should not be used
2. Bastite: psudeomorph of Serpentine
3. Bowenite: massive serpentine with dense fibers
4. Deweylite: Chrysotile Serpentine with admixture of Talc minerals
5. Ophicalcite, used in TCM, is Serpentine mixed with calcite.
6. Serpentinite: primarily Serpentine, with admixtures including calcite, dolomite, magnetite
Serpentine is not a mineral, but a group of minerals. The main members are Antigorite (solid form) and Chrysotile (fibrous form).
There are a number of related minerals based on admixtures:
1. Asbestos: fibrous form of Serpentine; should not be used
2. Bastite: psudeomorph of Serpentine
3. Bowenite: massive serpentine with dense fibers
4. Deweylite: Chrysotile Serpentine with admixture of Talc minerals
5. Ophicalcite, used in TCM, is Serpentine mixed with calcite.
6. Serpentinite: primarily Serpentine, with admixtures including calcite, dolomite, magnetite
Parts used:
Pisthi (powder levigated with Rose water)
Bhasma / Kushta (ash)
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Sweet, pungent
Properties:
Nature: crystalline
Color: black-green
Streak: colorless
Cleavage: Perfect
Fracture: Conchoidal
Luster: Greasy
Tenacity: Tough
Transparency: Translucent
Hardness: 3.5–5
Specific Gravity: 2.5–2.7
Constituents:
Hydrous magnesium iron silicate ((Mg, Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4)
Usually has traces of various minerals including calcium, aluminium, zinc, chromium, cobalt, nickel, manganese etc
Pisthi (powder levigated with Rose water)
Bhasma / Kushta (ash)
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Sweet, pungent
Properties:
Nature: crystalline
Color: black-green
Streak: colorless
Cleavage: Perfect
Fracture: Conchoidal
Luster: Greasy
Tenacity: Tough
Transparency: Translucent
Hardness: 3.5–5
Specific Gravity: 2.5–2.7
Constituents:
Hydrous magnesium iron silicate ((Mg, Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4)
Usually has traces of various minerals including calcium, aluminium, zinc, chromium, cobalt, nickel, manganese etc
Uses:
1. Strengthens the Principle Organs:
-increases Vigor and Vitality
-Rasayana; increases Essence (Ojas) (Ayurveda)
-powder levigated with Rose water, or the Bhasma/Kushta is used for Palpitation, Heart weakness, and Heart disease;
-Melancholy and to enhance Memory.
-regarded as an Exhilarant medicine, used to promote happiness. (Unani)
-added to Aphrodisiac medicines in Unani.
2. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Pitta/Bile disorders
-reduces Fever; prophylactic during infectious diseases
-clears toxin from the body.
-venomous bites of Snakes or Scorpions
3. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-excess Menstrual bleeding, Menorrhagia
-other types of Bleeding from Heat
4. Clears Stomach Heat:
-Indigestion, Vomiting, Diarrhea.
-antacid
5. Clears Heat, Settles Wind
-more recently, for high blood pressure
6. Stops Cough:
-Cough and Asthma. (Bhasma)
7. Externally:
-relieves corneal opacity
-clears skin pigmentation
-made into a paste with vinegar and applied to Warts.
-Piles. (Bhasma)
Dose:
Levigated Powder (Pishti): 250–500mg (up to 1 gram)
Bhasma: 65–250mg with Honey; Infants: 30–125mg
Comment:
Serpentine is basically the same as Ophicalcite Hua Rui Shi of TCM, the latter being Serpentine mixed with a little Calcite. Both are used to stop Bleeding, however Serpentine as used in Ayurveda has a range of other uses including being regarded as a tonic. Therefore, we have separated them into separate monographs.
Substitutes:
Serpentine and Actinolite are similar in that they are green, often fibrous minerals and both have been regarded as tonic in their respective systems. Therefore, Actinolite could potentially be a suitable substitute.
Purification of Serpentine:
1. Heat until red hot and quench in Cows Urine or Cows Milk, repeat 21 times. (Ayurveda)
2. Heat until red hot and quench in Triphala decoction, repeat 21 times. (Ayurveda)
Levigated Powder (Pishti): 250–500mg (up to 1 gram)
Bhasma: 65–250mg with Honey; Infants: 30–125mg
Comment:
Serpentine is basically the same as Ophicalcite Hua Rui Shi of TCM, the latter being Serpentine mixed with a little Calcite. Both are used to stop Bleeding, however Serpentine as used in Ayurveda has a range of other uses including being regarded as a tonic. Therefore, we have separated them into separate monographs.
Substitutes:
Serpentine and Actinolite are similar in that they are green, often fibrous minerals and both have been regarded as tonic in their respective systems. Therefore, Actinolite could potentially be a suitable substitute.
Purification of Serpentine:
1. Heat until red hot and quench in Cows Urine or Cows Milk, repeat 21 times. (Ayurveda)
2. Heat until red hot and quench in Triphala decoction, repeat 21 times. (Ayurveda)
Main Combinations:
1. Sexual debility, Impotence, Premature Ejaculation, Serpentine with Saffron, Nutmeg, Skink, burnt Cuttlefish bone, Silver Bhasma (as in Pills of Nishat)
2. Fever and Thirst, Serpentine with Tabasheer, Borage seed, Tinospora, Lesser Cardamon (as in Pills of Tabasheer of Unani)
3. Cardiac stimulant, and for Depression and Hypertension, Serpentine with Tabasheer, Silver, Oyster shell, Green Agate, Ambergris (as in Sufuf Fizzah of Unani)
4. Stomatitis Serpentine with Chebula
Cautions:
1. Some of the Serpentine group (notably Chrysotile) have a fibrous structure and are used as sources of asbestos.
2. Best avoided in Pregnancy.
Main Preparations used:
Pishti/Levigated Powder; Bhasma
1. Levigated Powder:
The stone is levigated with Rose water until extremely fine. It is quenched a number of times to facilitate powdering. In India, the levigated stone is also sometimes exposed to Moonlight.
1. Some of the Serpentine group (notably Chrysotile) have a fibrous structure and are used as sources of asbestos.
2. Best avoided in Pregnancy.
Main Preparations used:
Pishti/Levigated Powder; Bhasma
1. Levigated Powder:
The stone is levigated with Rose water until extremely fine. It is quenched a number of times to facilitate powdering. In India, the levigated stone is also sometimes exposed to Moonlight.