Vanga in ayurveda - a literary review

Summary of article contents:

Regarding the use of metals ( Dhatu ), history observation reveals that India was the first country to start the use of Vanga for various industrial, alchemical and therapeutic purposes. The word Trapu is mentioned regarding Vanga in Veda and Samhita. In Brihatrayi , external and internal use of Vanga is found with reference to ‘Suvarna Samala Pancha Loha ’, ‘ Bhouma Dravyas ’ etc. In Rasa classics, Vanga and its therapeutic properties have been widely described under PutiLoha the metal which emit obnoxious smell, while they are melting. Rasa scholars mentioned its synonyms like Vanga, Picchata, Shukraloha etc which denotes its distribution, physical and therapeutic properties. One of the properties of Vanga is Drutdravam i.e. melt at low heat which proves by its low melting point (232 0 C). On observing various literature, it is seen that in Samhita , only therapeutic use of mentioned. But in Rasashastra , its types, Pharmaceutical process like Shodhana , Jarana, Marana and use in alchemical and therapeutic purposes are described widely. Much importance has been given to its efficacy and told that ‘as lion destroy the group of elephants, like wise Vanga destroy all types of MehaRoga’ . The author of AyurvedaPrakash has indicated that for PramehaRoga (diabetes), VangaBhasma is a drug of choice which is also evaluate by various research works on VangaBhasma. Keywords: Diabetes, MehaRoga , Obnoxious, PutiLoha , Vanga