Part 11 - Nectarization of incinerated iron

First process.

In a copper cauldron, heated by a mild fire, five palas of iron are to be roasted with an equal quantity of clarified butter and the same quantity of decoction of triphala (prepared by boiling five palas of triphala fruits with 40 palas of water, reduced by heating to 5 palas), the whole thing being turned by an iron ladle till the iron is completely roasted. It is then to be again roasted with an equal quantity of powdered haritaki.

Second process.

One pala of incinerated iron is to be mixed by heat with four palas of iron and made into pills of the size of a plum fruit. One such pill may be used in diseases with suitable accompaniments.

Third process.

Equal quantities of incinerated iron and clarified butter are to be roasted in an iron pot till the latter is dried up altogether. The iron, thus prepared, is a yoga-bahi, i.e. a thing which increases the property of any other thing with which it is mixed.

Fourth process.

Ashes of iron become especially fit for being used in medicines meant for preventing and curing senility, if they are rubbed with clarified butter, honey, gunja, and tankana.

Fifth process.

Incinerated iron is to be placed with decoction of triphala, milk, and clarified butter, in a cauldron made of iron, brass or copper, heated by a very mild fire made of wood, an iron ladle being used for turning the contents of the cauldron every now and then. This preparation may be of three kinds, viz. mild, medium, and dry. They are especially beneficial to patients having an excess of pitta, vayu, and kapha, respectively. One having an equilibrium of the doshas (vayu, pitta, and kapha) should use a preparation which is also neither mild nor dry i.e. of medium softness. Each of these three different kinds of preparations, although especially efficacious to patients of especial temperaments, is beneficial, at least to a certain extent, to patients in general, irrespective of temperaments. A mild preparation in this case means that in which the iron sticking to the ladle can be separated easily; a medium preparation is that in which the iron pasta sticking to the ladle can be separated with difficulty; a dry preparation in this case is that in which the iron paste is so dried as not to attach itself to the ladle altogether or to do it only to a slight extent. The mild and the medium are partially powdered, whereas the dry preparation of iron is in a state of sands. On the completion of the preparation of the iron the cauldron is to he got down quickly from the oven, and after a few minutes, powdered triphala, etc. may he mixed with the product. Some camphor may also he mixed with it, when the product is sufficiently cooled. The iron, thus prepared, is to he very finely powdered, and kept with a sufficient quantity of clarified hotter in an iron pot or in an earthen vessel previously used for keeping milk. In case, the clarified butter is found to he much in excess of the quantity required to keep the iron soft, a quantity of the former may he taken out and kept in a separate pot. This ghee is very useful. It may he used to soften the iron preparation in case it loses its softness. A patient having an abnormal excess of kapha should take iron mixed with this ghee, which, even if taken alone, produces a part of the effects which are produced by iron prepared in the aforesaid way.

The incinerated iron may also he roasted in the afore-said manner, after having been mixed with decoction of triphala, clarified butter, milk, and one fourth or half or an equal or double or triple or four fold or five fold its quantity of powdered black mica, duly incinerated (see vol. II). The powder, thus prepared, is soothing to the system, destroyer of all abnormal excess of pitta, and is a giver of strength and beauty. If taken in doses gradually increased to a large quantity every day, it does away with thirst and hunger altogether without impairing the strength and longevity of the latter. After making due obeisance to God, the medicine should be begun to be taken on an auspicious day, in doses of ten raktis a day (a dose which is modifiable having regard to the age and strength of the patient), which should be rubbed with honey and ghee in an iron mortar by an iron rod. The following mantra is to be uttered at the time of taking the medicine:—“Om amritendra bhakshayami nama svaha.” After taking the medicine, a little of water or milk is to be taken. A little after that, juice or decoction of nagaramusta, mixed with pure rala or exudation of a sarja tree, should be taken.