Article: A REVIEW ON XRD (X-RAY DIFFRACTION) STUDY OF VARIOUS BHASMAS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MAHARASA, UPRASA, DHATU AND SUDDHA VARGA

Article Category: Review articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.17122

Pages: 128-133

Author: Sheenam Rani *, Anoop Chaturvedi, Aditi Sharma, Usha Sharma, Shuchi Mitra, Khem Chand Sharma 6

Abstract: Rasashastra is an intricate segment of Ayurveda that concentrates on Rasa Dravyas, which include preparations made from mercury, minerals, and metals. These substances are organized into different categories: Maharasa (primary), Uprasa (secondary), Sadharana Rasa (ordinary), Dhatus (metals), and Ratna (precious stones). The groups Maharasa, Uprasa, and Sadharana Rasa Varga each comprise eight Dravyas, while the Dhatus consist of nine. Bhasmas, or incinerated metals, are distinct Ayurvedic formulations that involve metals or minerals processed with herbal extracts or decoctions, subjected to particular heat treatments following the Puta method. They are extensively utilized for treating various health conditions. The preparation of Bhasmas includes several steps such as Shodhana (purification), Bhavana (wet grinding), Mardana (dry grinding), and Marana (incineration). These methods reduce particle sizes, eliminate unwanted qualities, and bestow new characteristics that enhance their integration with bodily tissues. Classical literature outlines several assessments for Bhasma, including Varitaratavam (Bhasma floats on the surface of stagnant water), Rekhapurnatvam (indicates the fineness of Bhasma through friction between the thumb and index finger), Nishchandratvam (lack of luster), and Apunarbhava (inability to revert to its original metallic form), although these evaluations do not solely guarantee safety and effectiveness. To confirm safety and potency, Bhasmas undergo examinations using analyses such as XRF (X-ray Fluorescence), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), and ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry). X-ray Diffraction (XRD) is a flexible, non-destructive method that delivers detailed information about chemical composition and crystalline phases, including unit cell dimensions. XRD is instrumental in identifying and characterizing minerals and metals, recognizing unique patterns for each type of Bhasma. The purpose of this article is to gather research studies related to XRD analysis of various Bhasmas.

Keyword: Bhasmas, Rasashastra, Rasa Dravyas, X-ray Diffraction