Abstract

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF BHAISHJYARATNAVALI WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MANAHSHILA (ARSENIC DISULPHIDE) AND SOMALA (ARSENIC OXIDE)

Madhvi Sharma*, B. J. Patgiri and Prashant Bedarkar

Abstract

Three arsenic compounds i.e. Manashila (Realgar-Arsenic disulphide) and Somala (Arsenic oxide), are considered as the deadly poisonous compounds in Ayurveda, but these compounds after proper processing (Shodhana) have miraculous medicinal effects on human body. Special indication of these three compound in the form of certain formulation for the managent of different critical diseases are mentioned in various texts of Rasasastra (alchemy) in Ayurveda, Siddha system as in Bhaisajyaratnavali also. Single handed information regarding these two (Manashila and Somala) arsenic compounds containing formulation of Bhajajyaratnavali is not available. Hence, in this review an attempt has been made to collect various indications of different formulations containing Manashila and Somala from the text Bhaisajyaratnavali. In this review, Bhaishjyaratnavali was critically reviewed on three well known arseneous compound i.e. Manahshila (Realgar-Arsenic disulphide) and Somala (Arsenic oxide), used as content/ ingredients in different formulations with their dose, Anupana, ingredients with respect to different disease conditions. Present review of Bhaisajyaratnavali reveals that total 208 formulations contain, Manahshila and Soamala as an ingredient. Among these 127 formulations Manahshila is in 119 formulations, Somala is in 4 formulations, whereas Somala and Manahshila is in 4 formulations.

Keywords: Manashila, Somala, Arsenous, Bhaishjyaratnavali.