Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 2: Minerals (uparasa)
by Bhudeb Mookerjee | 1938 | 28,803 words | ISBN-10: 8170305829 | ISBN-13: 9788170305828
This second volume of the Rasa-jala-nidhi deals with the purification, incineration and medicinal uses of various minerals (uparasa), as well as preventing faults due to misuse. It is continued in the third volume which deals with the various metals. The Rasa-jala-nidhi (“the ocean of Iatrochemistry, or, chemical medicine) is a compendium of Sansk...
Part 1 - Characteristics of Kasisa (sulphate of iron)
Kasisam is of four different kinds, viz, white, yellow, green, and black. The white is also called baluka-kasisa; the yellow variety is known by the names of puspa-kasisa and padma-kasisa. The black variety is called dhatu-kasisa and mukta-kasisa. The green variety can easily be prepared and is found in abundance. Kasisa is a product of iron and sulphur. It is a kshara, sour in taste, and is of various colours. It cures poison, eye diseases, and leucoderma, and is a dyer of hair. It also cures an excess of pitta and hysteria.
Of all the different varieties, the puspa-kasisa is the best. It is astringent and sour in taste and is efficacious in eye diseases. It also cures poison, an excess of vayu and phlegm, boils, leucoderma, and consumption. It is a good dyer of hair.
Conclusion:
This concludes ‘Characteristics of Kasisa (sulphate of iron)’ included in Bhudeb Mookerjee Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 2: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory. The text includes treatments, recipes and remedies and is categorised as Rasa Shastra: an important branch of Ayurveda that specialises in medicinal/ herbal chemistry, alchemy and mineralogy, for the purpose of prolonging and preserving life.