PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF YASHAD IN VIEW OF THREE DIFFERENT SHODHANA METHODS

Abstract

The metals available in nature are in various forms and in combination with undesired other elements, or in improper and non-consumable form. These forms are unwelcome by the internal milieu of the human body. All modifications and development in Rasashastra are for the purpose of making these foreign and wild elements, body friendly and tamed to provide maximum benefit. The basic processes adopted for the same as found throughout the texts are of Shodhan aand Marana. Shodhana (Purification) is the essential step to be performed on substances especially related to Rasashastra. The Shodhana treatment is not only a method which takes away the physical & chemical impurities from the mineral but also it potentiates the mineral by adding useful ingredient into it. The Puti-Lohas, which have now been accepted, are the Naga (Lead), Vanga (Tin) and Yashad (Zinc).Yashad, being not known clearly to the world till the fourteenth century. The present papergives the details of analytical study of different Shodhana procedures with special reference to Yashad.