BHASMA – Ancient Ayurvedic Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology refers broadly to a field of applied science and technology whose unifying concept is the control of matter on the molecular level in range smaller than 1 micrometre, often 1 to 100 nanometres.

Nanotechnology is becoming a critical driving force behind innovation in medicine and healthcare, with a wide selection of advances including nanoscale therapeutics, biosensors, implantable devices, drug delivery systems, and imaging technologies. In medicine, it guarantees to revolutionize targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, diagnostics, and lots of areas of research, development and clinical application.

But Ayurveda, which is hundreds of yr old science, has a field called as “Rasashastra”, wherein quite a few pharmaceutical methods are developed by which metals and minerals are turned into quite tremendous, absorbable, therapeutically best and least or non-toxic type of medicines often known as Bhasmas.

Use of metals and minerals in therapeutics has been found since Vedic period, which became a crucial a part of Ayurvedic therapeutics on account of their additional benefits like smaller doses, quick motion etc. Animal’s derivative equivalent to horns, shells, feathers, metallic, non-metallic and herbals are normally administered as Bhasma.

Prof. AK Tyagi of the Babha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), said thatbhasmas’ utilized in Ayurveda for treatment of varied diseases for the past several centuries, is the oldest type of nanotechnology.

Bhasmas are very tremendous ayurvedic medicinal powders prepared by the means of calcination of metals, gems or minerals. Calcinationis the heating of solids to a hot temperature for the aim of removing volatile substances, and converting them into oxides. Calcination, subsequently, is typically considered a means of purification.

Bhasma are manufactured with a series of preparation methods which incorporates detoxing of raw materials, crushing them with herbal juices, making small pieces, drying and heating. The end product of those long run preparation methods are residues of metals and minerals.

Bhasmas mostly contain various metals like Gold, Silver, Copper, Zinc having end products like Swarna bhasma, Rajat Bhasma, Tamra bhasma and Yashad Bhasma respectively. Bhasmas mostly prepared by use of Mardan (grinding) and Maran (Incineration) of metals and Ayurvedic drugs herbal juices with some necessary Ayurvedic drugs for the processes.

It is these bhasmas, which might be considered the earliest form on nanomedicine. Concept of reduction in particle size of metals is prevailing since Charaka Samhita (1500 BC). Bhasma, is a particular Ayurvedic mixture containing herbs, minerals and metals, which are frequently 5–50 nm in dimensions.

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The nature of mineral/metal based drugs is that they function best when modified from their original state to its oxide state. The means of making may be very organized and complex, called “Bhasmikarana” which converts the metal to a form with higher oxidation state. This eliminates the toxic nature of metal and imparts high medicinal value to it.

During Bhasmikaranametals/minerals are treated to different processes of purification and incineration which goals to cut back the particle size. This process helps in converting them into biocompatible, biodigestible, absorbable and an appropriate form for the human body. Bhasma nanoparticles are organometallic or organomineral compounds having improved stability, performance, absorption, assimilation, bioavailability, biocompatibility, effectiveness and targeted delivery of the element.

All Bhasma have some familiar features equivalent to Rasayana (immunomodulation and anti-ageing property), Yogavahi (goal drug delivery), Alpamatra (given in minimal doses), Rasibhava (readily absorbable, digestible and nontoxic), Shigravyapi (spreads quickly and fast acting) and Agnideepana (increases metabolism at cellular level and acts as a catalyst).

For e.g. gold in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine as Swarna Bhasma (gold ash) has been characterised as globular particles of gold (average size, 56-57 nm). The therapeutic value of Suvarna (gold) metal was known to ancient acharyas. It is widely described in Upanishads, Puranas and Smrities.

When we listen concerning the use of bhasmas, there may be a widespread belief of its toxic effects in humans. There have been consumers who’ve suffered from toxicity of long run use of talc based powders. But in all of the cases, the minerals utilized in these firms were definitely impure or un-purified. This is precisely like taking a untested and low quality allopathic medicine.

Bhasmas safety has been evident with practice since precedent days, scientifically proven through toxicity studies & clinical safety. Bhasma of Rajat, Iron, Tamra, Yashada, Naga and Vanga etc. have proven to be protected in various studies.

The alleviation of a disease depends upon the standard of Bhasma prepared through standard procedures. The standardization of Bhasma is utmost vital to substantiate its identity and to find out its quality, purity safety, effectiveness, and acceptability of the product.

Commonly practiced metallic preparations are i.e., loha bhasma, abhraka bhasma, swarna bhasma, tamra bhasma etc. The Bhasma preparation steps are as follows:

1. Shodhana (Purification): raw metals for the bhasma are obtained from ores, which generally contain unwanted impurities. The impurities are removed by the means of shodhana. The resultant product might be subjected to undergo the means of bhasmikarana .i.e., Marana.
2. Bhasmikarana (Marana): is the method to eliminate the toxicity or undesired effect of the precise material. This process develops the biocompatible qualities in substance following the purification processes. The substance develops the specified physical and medical properties i.e., palatability, bioavailability, microscopic particle size etc.
3. Maran (Powdering): is the method which transforms the metals into an appropriate and desired biocompatible form for assimilation of phytochemicals in next phase.
4. Chalana (Stirring): is the means of heating the powdered metal and stirring.
5. Dhavana (Washing): the shodhana or marana phase co-agents are removed by the means of dhawana by water. These residuals can impact the standard of ultimate products.
6. Galana (Filtering): the fabric is sieved through a tremendous sized mesh sieves or cloth. The galena process helps to separate the residual material particles of larger size.
7. Puta (Heating): the pure product of bhasmiakarna is heated on hot temperature to incinerate in means of puta. These are the overall steps utilized in preparation of a bhasma. The standard procedures and co-agents might be different for a particular substance to supply bhasma.

Bhasmas are said to neutralize and breakdown the harmful heavy metals and radicals in body; assist in kidney, liver & gut issues; assist in improving bone density; manage insomnia & depression etc. They are also utilized in respiratory disorders, arthritis, anaemia, fibroids, hypertension, hyperacidity, hormone optimization, cardiovascular health etc.

Best part is that, bhasmas are extremely potent in small doses, are virtually tasteless, are very fast acting due their nano size, have high bioavailability, and are quite stable as in comparison with other forms.

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There are a variety of scientific instruments used to evaluate the standard and various properties of bhasmas:

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