Udayaditya Ras

Reference: Ayurveda Sar Sangrah

Ayurveda is a very ancient science which has hidden many secrets at the core of its heart. The texts related to Ayurveda describe various methods for preparation of formulations. Due to various preparatory methods, generally the action of the herb enhances or changes. One of the best examples of such preparation is herbo mineral preparation. These are basically a formulation which is prepared using both minerals and herbs. Generally the liquid extract of herbs is being mixed with the mixture of minerals and this method has been used for thousands of years, from the time of Acharya Sushruta. The herbo mineral Ayurvedic formulations are highly effective and their use for health benefits is increasing nowadays. Here in this article, we are going to discuss udayaditya ras, its indications, ingredients, method of preparation and medicinal properties.

Introduction

Udayaditya ras is a herbo mineral formulation which is well explained in rasashastra and bhaishjya kalpana. Its main use is done in skin disorders and it holds a very great importance for this purpose. The formulation is well explained in Ayurveda sar sangrah along with its preparation, uses, mode of administration and indications. The formulation can be used in maximum types of skin disorders. Udayaditya ras as mentioned before is a herbo mineral preparation which means it has herbs as well as minerals as its constituents. The main constituents of Udayaditya ras are shuddh parad, which is purified mercury and shuddha gandhak, which is purified sulphur.

Classical Indication

Kushtha

Ingredients

Key Ingredients

1. Shuddha Parad (Purified Mercury)
2. Shuddha Gandhak (Purified Sulphur)
3. Gwarpatha (Aloe Vera)

Bhavana Dravya

1. Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica)
2. Triphala (Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, Emblica officinalis)
3. Amaltas (Cassia fistula)
4. Vayavidanga (Embelia ribes)
5. Bakuchi seeds (Psoralea corylifolia seeds)

Description Of The Ingredients

1. Shuddha Parad (Purified Mercury) – Parad has real importance in rasa shastra. Without mercury it is impossible to make any rasa aushad. Parad has an appearance like liquified silver and has an agile nature which means it moves quickly and easily. It is heavier than water and has anonymous medicinal properties. It has body cell rejuvenating properties which makes it potent enough to be used as a mineral of choice in many conditions which generally include oja kshaya. Adding it to this formulation makes the formulation potent enough to deal with conditions like vitiligo.
2. Shuddha Gandhak (Purified Sulphur) – Gandhak is known as sulphur in English and is a rich source of amino acids like cystine. It is very well known as the blood purification agent, aids healthy digestion and also helps in prevention of toxic buildup. Sulphur has primary action like anti bacterial, anti microbial, antiviral and anti inflammatory. If we talk about secondary action then it has anthelmintic, mild digestion stimulation effects, antioxidant, antipyretic and analgesic properties. Usually gandhak has a very good effect in skin ailments, respiratory disorders like Upper respiratory tract infections, conditions related to oral cavity like gum inflammation and also show wonderful results in male infertility. Purified gandhak also bears rasayan properties which means it helps in cell rejuvenation. It is also very effective in all kinds of skin disorders alone. Mostly its use with bakuchi oil gives really effective results in all skin conditions.  
3. Gwarpatha (Aloe Vera) – Gwarpatha is commonly known by the name kumari or ghritakumari. It belongs to the liliaceae family and rasona kula. Predominantly it is found in hot areas but can also be grown in almost all the areas. The herb has a lot of  medicinal properties and has its importance in various skin disorders. It has inherent properties like unctuous and dense consistency. In addition, it has a bitter and sweet taste and pungent post digestive effect. It has behaniya prabhava and can be used for pacification of all three doshas. In large doses it also works as a krimighna which means it shows anthelmintic properties. 
4. Chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica) – The chitrak belongs to chitrak kula and has leadwart as its English name. If discussed about its chemical composition then it is pungent, having a yellow and irritant principal called plumbagin 91%. As it has hot and sharp properties it is a very good vata and kapha shamak but generally aggravates pitta dosha. Externally it is irritant, hot and can cause blisters. The use of this is generally used in skin conditions like vitiligo as blisters caused by it are responsible for causing discoloration. Chitrak is also helpful in oedema and is also very useful in proctitis. Generally a dose of 0.5gm to 1gm can cause burning and intoxication.
5. Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) – Haritaki is defined under the rasayan varga and belongs to triphala gana. It has a combretaceae family and is also known by the names like abhaya and harad. Basically the role of haritaki is being mentioned in many disorders like in open wounds, eyes, digestion related problems and some texts call it sarva roga nashak. Which means it is potent enough to deal with almost all diseases. In classical texts the haritaki or abhaya is called as kushta ghana, meaning it is effective in skin disorders too.
6. Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica) – Bibhitaki belongs to jwarhar and virechnopag gana. It has the combretaceae family and is known by various names like karsh phala, aksh, kali drum, bheda and many more. If discussed about the properties of bibhitaki then it has inherent properties like dry and light along with astringent taste, sweet post digestive taste and hot potency. The herb is generally potent for pacification of all three doshas. Basically the oil of bibhitaki is used in skin disorders.
7. Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) – Amalaki is said to have the vaya sthapana effect and it also belongs to the same gana. The herb has inherent properties like guru (heavy), ruksha (dry) and sheeta (cold), beras five rasa (taste) madhur (sweet), amla (sour), katu (pungent), tikta (bitter) and kshaya (astringent). In addition, it also has madhur vipak (sweet post digestion taste) along with sheeta veerya (cold potency). It pacifies all three doshas as due to its amla taste it pacifies vata, due to madhur and sheeta guna it pacifies pitta and due to kashaya and ruksha gun it pacifies kapha dosha.
8. Amaltas (Cassia fistula) – Amaltas is also very well known by the name aragvadha and belongs to kushta ghana, kandungan, virechana, tiktaskanda gana according to Acharya charak. In English it is called a drumstick. It has inherent properties like snigdha and guru which means it is unctuous and heavy in nature and also has sweet (madhur) and tikta (bitter) taste (rasa). The herb is believed to show analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects on the entire nervous system and also if used externally. The paste of amaltas leaves is very effective in all kinds of skin disorders. It acts as a vata shamak by madhur and snigdha properties and pittashamak by sheeta veerya.
9. Vayavidanga (Embelia ribes) – Vaya vidanga also called as vidanga belongs to vidanga kula and also has sanskrit names chitra tandul, jantunashan, vatari, jantughna and many more. The vidang has inherent properties like katu (pungent) and ushna veerya (hot potency). Due to its hot potency the herb has kapha and vata pacification effects. If used externally it is bactericidal, kushtaghna and shiro virechana. It is very helpful in dental caries and toothache. The herb is called a nervine tonic as when it is administered with hot milk and garlic then it has a very good effect in brain related disorders. In the digestive system vidang has deepan, pachan and anuloman.
10. Bakuchi seeds (Psoralea corylifolia seeds) – Bakuchi is a very brilliant herb whose oil as mentioned above is mostly used with gandhak in many skin disorders. Generally local application is done. The inherent properties of bakuchi herbs are laghu (light) and ruksha (dry). The herb has katu (pungent) and tikta (astringent) taste, katu (pungent) vipak (post digestion effect) and ushna veerya (hot potency). Due to its hot potency it pacifies kapha and vata dosha. If discussed about its karma then in classical texts it is clearly mentioned that the herb is having kushta ghana effect which means it i having really great effect in skin disorders if applied externally, jantu ghna means bears anthelmintic properties, varna shodhan (disinfectant for wounds) and is keshya (good for hairs). Generally only the seeds of this herb are used in preparation of various formulations.

Method Of Preparation

• Purified mercury (500gm) and shuddha gandhak or purified sulphur (50gm) are taken.
• These two ingredients in the above mentioned amounts are mixed well in mortar. This mixture of sulphur and mercury is called kajli in rasa shastra.
• Then this kajli is mixed well with Aloe vera juice and a medium sized ball of the paste is made.
• This ball is then placed inside a mud pot.
• Inside the mud pot the ball of mixture is then covered with a bowl of shuddha tamra (Purified Copper). The border of the potare then sealed with multani mud.
• The copper bowl should weigh double the weight of  mercury.
• Rest of the empty mud pot must be filled with ashes of palash (Butea monosperma).
• Start heating the mud pot and also start adding cow dung extract according to need in small amounts. The heating must be done by 2 pehar (2 afternoons) .
• Then the mud pot is removed from the stove or from the source of heat and is kept to cool down.
• When it cools down, the ashes of the palash are removed and the mixture ball is taken out along with the tamra bowl.
• This ball is then crushed well in a mortar until it is in a form of fine powder.
• Then finally, one by one bhavna is given of various dravyas, starting from chitrak ((Plumbago zeylanica), triphala (Terminalia chebula, Terminalia billerica, Emblica officinalis), amaltas (Cassia fistula) , vayavidanga (Embelia ribes)  and bakuchi seeds (Psoralea corylifolia seeds).
• The bhavna is given with each ingredient for one day.
• Then the mixture is dried and is kept in an airtight glass jar.

Medicinal Properties

The medicinal properties of Udayaditya ras are as following:

• In kushta, the formulation has very good results. When it is consumed for 3-7 days then the affected area develops superficial lesions. The lesion site is applied with paste of neel panchang, gunja, kasees, datura, hanspadika, hulhul and amlaparni. All of these are taken in equal quantities and then their paste is formed.
• This is the most effective formulation which has a very good impact in treating shweta kushta (vitiligo). But its impact is ugra.
• Due to this ugra prabhava it is able to produce lesions on the affected area. These lesions are filled with water and this water is basically the dushya and dosha. The lesions generally have burning sensation and itching as their key symptoms. The use of this formulation should be done only for 3-7days. The administration should be done once a day.

Indications

Can be given in all types of skin-related disorders. It is commonly given in leucoderma and psoriasis, eczema and even in diseases like scleroderma.

Dosage

1. 1-2 tablets must be taken along with kheer kwath with equal amounts of bakuchi powder or as guided by a physician.
2. It can also be taken along with arka dugdha or triphala kwath.

Contraindications

• The use of this formulation is to be avoided in pregnant women, lactating females and children.
• The dosage must be taken under an expert physician.
• Keep it in a dry and cold place.

Conclusion

Udayaditya ras as mentioned above can be used in various kinds of skin ailments due to its ugra properties. Mercury and sulphur in purified form are easy to consume and do not cause any kind of side effects on the body but in turn builds its strength and immunity. In various texts it has been mentioned along with its medicinal properties. It plays a key role in many skin related disorders and also has its effect as a blood detoxifier.