A Review on Hartala (Orpiment) in Classical Ancient Text of Rasa Shastra

Abstract

Bhasma’s are one of the exceptional preparations therapeutically used in Ayurveda and have been used as effective drugs for centuries without any noticeable hazardous effects. Minerals, metals and poisonous herbs are used in Ayurvedic medicine after several processing. Hartala (orpiment) Bhasma (incinerated powder of Arsenic) is one such preparation containing Arsenic as a main ingredient. In present study, critical review of Ayurvedic literature regarding Hartala is described in detail. Several classical texts of Rasa Shastra are reviewed in an attempt to provide the detailed description about Hartala like its Praptisthan (Occurrence), Prayaya (Synonyms), Vargikaran (Classification), Karma (Pharmacological properties), Ashuddha Hartala Dosha, its prativisha (antidote), Shodhana (Purification), Marana (Incineration), Matra (Therapeutic dose), Chikitisiya Prayog (Therapeutic indications), Satvapatana (Extraction), artificial methods of Hartala preparation. It is used only in purified and detoxified condition for the therapeutic purposes as internal as well as external medicine.