Talc (Dugdhapashana) synonyms, properties, dosage

Talc is a type of white soft stone and it is a mineral composed of Magnesium silicate. It is called Dugdhapashan in Ayurveda, used extensively for therapeutic purposes.

Introduction

In Ayurveda Talc is known as Dugdhapashana. In loose form, it is commonly known as talcum powder. Its color ranges from white to gray or green and it has a distinctly greasy feel.
It’s available in Bihar, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

Chemical formula – H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2.

Synonyms of Dugdha pashana

दुग्धपाषाणको दुग्धी दुग्धपाषाणिका तथा ।
दुग्धा दुग्धशिला चैव क्षीरी क्षीरक्षवश्च सः ॥
वज्राभो दीप्तिकश्चापि सौधौ गोमेदसन्निभः ।
दुग्धोपलो दुग्धदृषद् भिषग्भिः परिकीर्तितः ॥ (र.त.११/२३० – २३१)
dugdhapāṣāṇako dugdhī dugdhapāṣāṇikā tathā |
dugdhā dugdhaśilā caiva kṣīrī kṣīrakṣavaśca saḥ ||
vajrābho dīptikaścāpi saudhau gomedasannibhaḥ |
dugdhopalo dugdhadṛṣad bhiṣagbhiḥ parikīrtitaḥ || (ra.ta.11/230 – 231)

Synonyms:
Dugdhapashana, Dugdhi, Dugdhapashanika, Dugdha, Dugdhashila, Ksheerakshava, Vajrabha, Deeptika, Saudha, Gomedasannibha, Dugdhopala, Dugdhadrushad, Shankhajaraadrutra, Shankhajeeru.

Methods of Shodhana and Marana of Dugdha pashana has not been mentioned.

Properties of Dugdhapasan

दुग्धोपलस्तु मधुरस्त्वीषदुष्णो ज्वरापहः ।
पित्तप्रशमनः कामं त्वग्दाहाध्माननाशनः ॥
हृदामयहरो रुच्यः पित्तशूलविनाशनः ।
कासश्वासहरश्चैव समाख्यातो भिषग्वरैः ॥ (र.त.११/२३२ – २३३)
dugdhopalastu madhurastvīṣaduṣṇo jvarāpahaḥ |
pittapraśamanaḥ kāmaṃ tvagdāhādhmānanāśanaḥ ||
hṛdāmayaharo rucyaḥ pittaśūlavināśanaḥ |
kāsaśvāsaharaścaiva samākhyāto bhiṣagvaraiḥ || (ra.ta.11/232 – 233)

madhura – sweet in taste,
īṣaduṣṇo – slightly hot,
jvarāpahaḥ – cures fever,
pitta praśamanaḥ – pacifies Pitta dosha,
tvak dāha ādhmāna nāśanaḥ – cures burning sensation of skin,
hṛdāmayaharo – cures heart diseases,
rucyaḥ – improves taste perception,
pittaśūla vināśanaḥ – cures Pitta type of colicky pain,
kāsa śvāsaharah – cures cough and asthma

Fine powder of dugdha pashana is applied on the cuts and wounds to stop bleeding and discharge.

Dosage of Dugdhapashana

1 to 2 masha (1 – 2 grams) in divided doses per day

Is Talc powder carcinogenic?

Pure Talc or talcum powder is not carcinogenic. Only if it contains asbestos, then it is carcinogenic.(1)