Rasa (Parada) Formulations: Preparations of Mercury

Parada is the most important among Rasa substances. But Parada is not therapeutically used in its natural form. Rasa formulations are prepared from Shuddha Parada, Samskarita Parada or Hingulottha Parada (Parada extracted from Hingula). To add the therapeutic qualities to Parada, it is processed with different substances. Based on procedures, processing of Parada is of four types.

1.  Khaaleeya formulations – prepared by triturating in a Khalwa
2.  Parpati formulations
3.  Kupipakwa formulations
4.  Bhasma formulations.

Among these four procedures, the Kharaleeya procedure is the basic one.

Kharaleeya Yogas

Here all the processing of Parada is done with the help of Khalwa Yantra. It is the basic procedure to other processing techniques.  Here, Shuddha Parada or Parada Bhasma is triturated with herbs / Rasa substances.

Eg: Kajjali, Mugdha rasa,
Arogyavardhini Vati – Used in the treatment of liver disorders, fever and skin diseases
Ramabana Rasa – Used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, viral fever, asthma etc.

Kajjali

Parada is triturated with Gandhaka without adding any liquids till the time the mass gains the texture of collyrium – soft, without any luxture. This product is called Kajjali.

According to Rasatarangini –

अर्धसमानद्विगुणमिताद्या गन्धकचूर्णात् पारदकस्य ।
मर्दनजन्या मसृणकाया कज्जलरूपा कज्जलिका सा ॥ (र.त.६/१०)
ardhasamānadviguṇamitādyā gandhakacūrṇāt pāradakasya |
mardanajanyā masṛṇakāyā kajjalarūpā kajjalikā sā || (ra.ta.6/10)

Triturating purified mercury with half, equal or double quantity of sulphur becomes soft and black like collyrium. This is known as kajjali and this is used as a base in the preparation of different mercurial formulations.

Parpati

Kajjali is melted and poured over a leaf of Banana or Palasha, kept over cow dung cake and pressed with another plate to get a thin cake like formulation, called Parpati.
Parpati is also prepared with many other ingredients and used for different health complaints.

Eg: Rasaparpati – Used in the treatment of IBS, malabsorption syndrome, diarrhea etc.
Bolaparpati – Used in the treatment of menorrhagea, metrorrhagea and other bleeding disorders.
Panchamruta parpati – Used in the treatment of hemorrhoids, malabsorption syndrome, anorexia etc.

Pottali

Kajjali and other substances are triturated with Kumari Swarasa to get a bolus. It is given the shape of a betel nut, wrapped with silk cloth. And 1 Tola Shuddha Gandhaka.  This mass is taken in a pot and subjected to intense heat to get Pottali.

Eg: Rasagarbha Pottali
Hemagarbha Pottali Ras – Used in the treatment of chronic bronchitis, asthma, IBS etc.
Ratna Garbha Pottali Ras – Tuberculosis, cough, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome etc.