Hingula Bhasma – Preparation, Qualities, Uses, Side Effects

Hingula Bhasma is an Ayurvedic medicine, used in the treatment of skin diseases, fever, liver disorders, splenomegaly, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Classification, chemical name

Classification:
Sadharana Rasa (Rasa Ratna Samucchaya)
Maharasa (Rasarnava, Rasa Hrudaya Tantra, Rasa Kamadhenu)

Chemical name – HgS. Red Sulphide of Mercury

Qualities and benefits

Qualities and benefits of Hingula Bhasma:
Qualities:
Tikta – bitter
Kashaya – astringent taste,
Katu – pungent taste
Calms Kapha and Pitta.
It acts as deepana – Improves digestion strength – Deepana
Anti aging, causes cell and tissue rejuvenation – Rasayana
Useful in the treatment of
Nausea, – Hrullasa
Skin diseases – Kushta
Fever – Jwara
Jaundice, Liver diseases – Kamala
Disease of the spleen, Splenomegaly – Pleeha
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatic fever, Intermittent fever, Filariasis.

Dose, co-drinks

Dose: 60 -125 mg once or twice a day before or after food

Anupana – co drinks / co-prescription for Hingul Bhasm:
Maricha – black pepper powder
Guda – jaggery
Pippali – long pepper powder
Guduchi Swarasa – juice extract of Giloy – Tinospora cordifolia

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic/modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then, after a gap of 15 – 30 minutes, take Ayurvedic medicine or as directed by the physician.

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

With supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

Synonyms, types, characteristic features

Sanskrit Synonyms:
(ra.ta.9/1-2)
Ingula, Mleccha, Rakta, Suranga, Chitranga, Churnaparada, Rasodbhava, Rasasthana, Ranjana, Kapishirshaka, Raktakaya, Kamsapada, Darada.

Types of Hingul: Hingul Bheda:
Types:
Rasa Tarangini: Artificial and natural.
Ayurveda Prakasha –
Charmara (yellowish red) – good.
Shukatunda (Yellowish) – Better
Hamsapada – red – best.
Rasaratna Samucchaya – Shukatunda and Hamsapada.

Characteristic features of Hingula:
ra.ta.9/3
Colour is similar to hibiscus flower, turns to fine powder upon triturition, red, and shining (like fire).

History, availability, manufacturers

History:
Hingula is first mentioned in Kautilya Arthashastra, in the context of testing of Swarna (gold).

Availability:
Spain, Italy, France, Germany, China, Japan, Iran, America and Russia. Artificially it is prepared in Surat & Calcutta.

Manufacturers:
Asoka Pharmaceuticals, Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala – Both manufacture this product as HingulaBhasmam capsule.
Regular dose of HingulaBhasmam capsule is – 1 capsule 2 times a day for not more than a month period.

Shodhana, satvapatana

Necessity of Hingula Shodhana:
Ashuddha Hingula – Raw and notpurified, can cause blindness, debility, delusion, Prameha etc. Hence Shodhana is needed.

Hingula Shodhana – Purification methods:
(ra.ta.9/16 – 17)
(ra.ra.sa.3/142)

Shodhana:

1. Hingula is given Bhavana (grinding till total dryness)with Mesha ksheera (sheep milk), followed by 7 Bhavana with lemon juice extract.
2. Nimbuswarasa (lemon juice) Bhavana for 7 times, washed with water.
3. Ardrakaswarasa (ginger juice) Bhavana for 7 times
4. Lakucha swarasa Bhavana for 7 times.

Hingula Satvapatana:
Satwapatana: Shuddha Hingula is taken in patina Yantra and subjected to Adhapatana. This Parada is similar to the Ashtasamskarita Parada.

Bhasma preparation, marana procedure

Hingula bhasma preparation method:
This process is also called Hingula Marana.
Reference:Yogaratnakara.
Shuddha Hingula – Purified Hingul (Cinnabar) – 12 g
Shuddha Haratal – PurifiedHaratala (Orpiment) – 3 Ratti – 375 mg
Lavanga churna – Clove powder – 1 masha – 1 gram
Ardraka Swarasa – ginger juice – 24 ml

Procedure of Marana:
All ingredients are taken in a Sharava ( bowl).
First a fine powder of shuddha haratala is spread in sharava. Above this shuddha hingula is placed. Ardraka swarasa is then poured in such a way that the contents of sharava are completely immersed in swarasa. Lavanga churna is then sprinkled over the swarasa and is closed with another sharava and sandhibandhana is done. After complete drying, the sharava is subjected to fire in madhyamagni. To maintain the temperature, valuka yantra is used and a temperature of 2,500 C for 3 hours is maintained. After swangasheeta, sharava is removed from valuka yantra, sandhibandhana is removed and the material inside the sharava is collected. Thus bhasma is prepared.

Side effects, precautions

There are no recorded side effects with this medicine.
It should be taken under strict medical supervision. Take this medicine only if your Ayurveda doctor has prescribed it to you.
Store in a cool dry place, in an air tight container, away from direct sunlight.
Use this medicine only till the prescribed time and in the prescribed dose only.
Seek your doctor’s advice for its usage during pregnancy, lactation and in children.
Over-dosage may cause gastritis, heart burn symptoms in people with sensitive stomach.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.

Research: Physico-chemical analysis