Kasisa (Green vitriol): Synonyms, Types, Shodhana, Marana, Dosage, Qualities

Kasisa is available in natural and artificial forms. Natural form, obtained in munes, is yellowish in colour and powder in form. It is also called Valu kasisa, panshukasisa or dhatukasisa. In it, Iron, sulphur and Magnesium are found. It is usually found in the mines, where Makshika is found. It is only partially soluble in water.
Artificial kasisa is obtained by the reaction of concentrated Sulphuric acid over iron. It is greenish coloured, beed like. It is also called Heerakasisa. It is composed of Iron, Sulphur, Oxygen and Hydrogen. It gets dehydrated upon exposure to open air and gains whitish colour.

Table of Contents

Synonyms

Kasisa, Khechara, Dhatukasisa, Khaga, Pamshuka, Pushpakasisa, Ayogandhamla sambhuta.

Availablitiy

Prakruta Kasisa is found in Simhabhumi district of Bihar, in the mines where Makshika ores are found. Krutrima kasisa is made in the labs.

Types

According to Rasajalanidhi – 4 types – Shweta, Peeta, harita and Shyama
According to Rasarnava – 3 types – shukla, Krishna and peeta.
According to Ayurveda prakasha –3 types- kasisa, Dhatu kasisa and Pushpakasisa.
According to Rasaratnasamucchaya – 2 types- Dhatukasisa and Pushpa Kasisa.

Shodhana

सकृद्भृंगांबुना क्लिन्नं कासीसं निर्मलं भवेत् । (र.र.स.३/४५)
sakṛdbhṛṃgāṃbunā klinnaṃ kāsīsaṃ nirmalaṃ bhavet | (ra.ra.sa.3/45)

Kasisa gets purified by wetting it in Bhringaraja swarasa for one time.

कासीसं शुद्धिमाप्नोति पित्तैश्च रजसास्त्रियः । (र.र.स.३/४५)
kāsīsaṃ śuddhimāpnoti pittaiśca rajasāstriyaḥ | (ra.ra.sa.3/45)

Kasisa gets purified by wetting it in bile of animals or mensus fluid

कासीसं चूर्णयित्वाऽथ जंबीर द्रव भावितम् ।
दिनैकं आतपे शुष्कं सर्वकार्येषु योजयेत् ॥ (बृ.र.रा.सु)
kāsīsaṃ cūrṇayitvā’tha jaṃbīra drava bhāvitam |
dinaikaṃ ātape śuṣkaṃ sarvakāryeṣu yojayet || (bṛ.ra.rā.su)

Kasisa gets purified by bhavana with jambeeri nimbu for one day and dried in sunlight.
Read more about Shodhana procedure here

Marana

Kasisa is triturated with Nimbuswarasa and cakes are prepared, laghuputa heat is given for 4-7 times. By this, it becomes Bhasma. The Puta should be given till such time that the Bhasma loses all its acidity and it turns red.
Read more about Kasisa Bhasma here

Satwapatana

Kasisa is given Bhavana with Kshara and Kanji and a bolus is made, kept in Vanamusha and subjected to intense fire to get its Satwa.

Dosage

Shuddha Kasisa – ½ to 2 Ratti (62.5 mg to 250 mg) per day in divided doses

Bhasma – 1 to 2 Ratti (125 mg to 250 mg) per day in divided doses

Qualities

Ushna Veerya – hot in potency,
Tikta – bitter,
kashaya rasa – astringent in raste,
amla vipaka – sour-post digestion taste,
vatakaphanashaka – pacifies Vata and kapha, keshya – good for hairs,
netrya – good for the eyes, kanduhara – causes itching,
Vishanashaka – destroys the effects of poison,
Mutrakrucchra – dysurea,
ashamri – urinary calculi and
Shwitra nashaka – cures leucoderma.