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.

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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.