Haratala (Orpiment): Synonyms, Types, Shodhana, Marana, Qualities, Dosage

Haratala or Orpiment is an inorganic compound, which is golden yellow in color. It is used in Ayurvedic treatment in very small doses after due purification procedures. It is a hard substance and its thin layers are found to form a hard mass. It has a soft surface. It is a chemical compound of Arsenic and Sulphur.

Synonyms

Haratala, Natabhushana, Chitragandha, Haritala, Tala, Shailabhushana, vamshapatra, talaka, Natamandanaka, Mallagandhaja, Vidalaka, Peetanaka, Ala, Pinjara, Kharjura, Vangari Romahata, Karchura

Availability

Italy, Iran are main sources. In India, it is manufactured in Surat and Calcutta.

Types

1. Patra tala –  has layers – best.
   2. Pinda tala – Like a hard mass – Not worth it.

Characters of suitability

Grahya Lakshana – The one which is golden yellow in colour, shining, unctuous, has layers, reddish yellow shining is the Patratala, and is the best for rasayana and therapeutic purposes.

The one, which is hard mass, lacking shining and very heavy is Pindatala and is not suitable for medicinal purposes.

Qualities

Cures Kapha, rakta, Visha and Bhoota disorders. If Haratala is taken alone, then it harms the ovulation process in females. It is unctuous, Hot, pungent, and improves digestion.

Adverse effects of unpurified Haratala

It reduces age, causes diseases of Kapha and Vata, Prameha, Daha, Sphota etc. It also causes stiffness of tendons and ligaments. Hence its purification is very necessary.

Shodhana

स्विन्नं कुष्माण्ड तोये वा तिलक्षार जलेऽपि वा ।
तोये वा चूर्णसंयुक्ते दोलायन्त्रेण शुद्धयति ॥” (र.र.स.)
svinnaṃ kuṣmāṇḍa toye vā tilakṣāra jale’pi vā |
toye vā cūrṇasaṃyukte dolāyantreṇa śuddhayati ||” (ra.ra.sa.)

Haratala is made into small pieces, tied as a mass with a cloth and given swedana in Dolayantra with lime water, kushmanda rasa, tilataila and  Triphala kwatha for three hours each.

Other than this method, one among the following measures can be adopted for Haratala shodhana –

1. Swedana in Dolayantra with Tilakshara water for three hours.
2. Swedana in Dolayantra for three hours with Shalmali Mula rasa.
3. Bhavana with Shalmali root juice.
4. Bhavana with lime water for seven times.

Marana

One among the following techniques can be adopted for Marana of  Haratala. In all these methods, only purified Haratala should only be taken.

1. Shuddha haratala is given Bhavana with Punarnavara rasa and cakes are prepared, dried. A bhasmayantra is taken, filled with fine ash of Punarnava and the cakes are kept inside the Bhasmayantra. Its mouth is closed, and madhayagni is given for five days. To get Haratala Bhasma.
2. Shuddha haratala is given 12 Bhavana with Ashwattha twak kwatha. Cakes are prepared and dried. It is taken inside a bhasma yantra, filled with Ashwattha twak bhasma and subjected to Madhyamagni for 12 hours, to get Haatala Bhasma.
3. Shuddha haratala is given Bhavana with Highly concentrated Palasha kwatha for three times, then one Bhavana is given with  mahishamutra, cakes are prepared, dried. It is subjected to heat with 10 Cow dung cakes for 12 times.
4. Shuddha haratala is given Bhavana with Kumari swarasa and cakes are prepared. Kept in Sharava samputa, and subjected to heat for 12 Yamas. (12 X 3 hours) to get Tala bhasma, useful in chronic skin diseases.
   Read more about Haratala Bhasma here

Test of purity for Haratala Bhasma

Haratala Bhasma, when subjected to fire, Should not yield fumes. This is the test of purity for Tala bhasma.

Satwapatana

1. Tala is given individual Bhavana with Kulattha kwatha, tankana drava (solution), Buffalo ghee and honey and a mass is prepared. Taken in a strong pot, covered with a lid with a hole and sealed. Hole is sealed with cow dung.Heat is given for three hours with Mrudu, Madhyama and Teevra agni. After that, the hole is opened, and watched for fumes. If fumes are whitish coloured, then heating is stopped. After self cooling, the Tala satwa collected at the bottom of the pot is taken.
2. Shuddha tala is kept dipped in Kumari swarasa for seven days. Then it is dried and taken in a Kupi kept in Valuka yantra and subjected to Mrudu and Madhyama agni for seven days and the Tala satwa collected at the neck of the kupi is collected.
   Read more about Yantras of rasashastra here

Antidote for Ashuddha Tala

Kushmanda swarasa is added with Sugar and Jeeraka powder and consumed.

Dosage

Shuddha tala – ¼- ½ Ratti (31.25 mg to 62.5 mg) per day in divided doses

Haratala bhasma – ¼- ½ Ratti (31.25 mg to 62.5 mg) per day in divided doses