Abstract

A REVIEW ON FLAKE FORM MERCURIAL PREPRATION (PARPARTI KALPANA)

Dr. Pankaj Kumar*

ABSTRACT

Rasa Shastra is the branch of Ayurveda, which deals with the pharmacological and therapeutic use of metals & minerals. Parpati kalpanas is one among the Rasaushadhis mentioned in the Ayurvedic classics. A detail description of Parpati Kalpana is given in the 11th Century in Chakradatta written by Acharya Chakrapani. Parpati Kalpana is unique pharmaceutical preparations in flake form prepared by mercury (Parad) and sulphur (Gandhak) by heating kajjali (HgS). It is one of the 25 Rasa Bandhas which removes the Chanchalatva and Durgrahatva of Parad and make it safe for internal therapeutic use. Parad and Gandhak are the essential constituents to make Parpati as the Bandha word derived to bind the Parad particle with Gandhak. Parpati is a unique mercurial preparation involving different processes like Murchana, Sagandha/ Nirgandha (presence and absence of sulphur), Sagni (process with heat) Pota Bandha of Parad. The difference of heat provided also differ its therapeutic properties. A detailed literature review regarding Rasa Parpati is described here. The goal of this article is to explain the general concept of Parpati with method of preparation of and its detailed study. The review article emphasis at new therapeutic values of different Parpati as mentioned in different classical taxt. Parpati is mainly therapeutically used to treat Grahani because of its unique property to dissociate at the intestinal level but during the course of time, Acharyas mentioned different Parpati with differences in ingredients prepared by same method of preparation. Thus all Parpati generally manufactured by same method of preparation but the differences in ingredients make Parpati having wide range of therapeutic effects. These vast ranges of Parpati with their therapeutic values are described in this article.

Keywords: Rasa Aushadha, Parpati, Pota Bandha, Parad, Gandhak, Kajjali.