rasashastra

1. MRUDDARASRINGA

4. Introduction
 It is one of the sadharanarasas.
 In modernpoint of view it is considered as Litharge(PbO), the
yellow coloured natural mineral form of lead oxide.
 In Ayurvedic practice this is used as such for external application
only
 The Siddha system of medicine advocates its internal usage along
with certain sublimate-compounds.
 Traditional bone setters make unguentum with litharge&apply
bandage on the fractures.It iis toxic if swallowed or inhaled and
causes irritation to skin, eyes and respiratory tract.

5. History
 No discription till 8th cen.A.D
 Clear description from 13th cen A.D onwards.
 But its therapeutic use is very less.
Occurence

6. Vernacular Names
 San:-mruddarasrnga
 Hin:-mudrasankha
 Telug:-mudarusingu
 Tamil:-mudaru-sirungi
 Eng:-litharge
 Latin:-Plumbum oxide/lead oxide(PbO)

7. Synonyms
o Mrddharasrnga vodaarasringakam
o Mudrasrnga Mudrasankha
o Sisa sattva Sisa garbha
मृद्दरश्रृङ्ग्कञ्चैव मतं वोदारश्रृङ्गगकम्।
मुदााशङ्गखं तथा मुद्रशङ्गखकञ्च निगद्यते॥
(र.त.२१/१६५)

8. Varieties
 According to source
1.natural/ khanija
2.artificial/krithrima
 According to colour ( Ayurveda prakasha)
1.pita(grahya)
2.pandura

9. • According to form
1.sadala(with layers)-pita-khanija
2.nirdala(without layers)-pandura-krithrima

10. बोदारश्रृङ्गगकं प्रोक्तं द्ववववधं पीतपाण्डुरम्।
सदलं निदालं तस्य जनिगुजारमण्डले॥
अबुादाख्यगगरे: पार्श्वे सीससत्वं स्मृतं परम्। (अ.प्र.२/३४३-३४४)
मृद्दरश्रृङ्गगं पीताभं सदलं निदालं तथा।
सीसागभं खरस्पशं गुरुचैव प्रकीनतातम्॥
( र.त.२१/१६६)

11. Svarupa
मृद्दरश्रृङ्गगं पीताभं सदलं निदालं तथा।
सीसागभं खरस्पशं गुरुचैव प्रकीनतातम्॥
( र.त.२१/१६६)
yellow in colour
crystalline/massive
with/without layers
rough on touch
heavy in weight

12. Sodhana
Samanya sodhana
 Bhavana in madulunga rasa/ardraka rasa for 3 times
Visesha sodhana( R.T)
Includes following steps
 Pound well&stony part is discarded
 Made into fine powder
 Sieved
 Groubd with water for 15 days
 Dried

13. मृद्दरश्रृङ्गगमािीय कु ट्टयेत ् खल्वमध्यगम्।
प्रस्तरांशं पररत्यज्य पेषयेदनतयत्ित:॥
वस्रपूतं तत: कृ त्वा पुि: सुववमलाम्भसा।
पेषयेत्पक्षमेकं तु ततो घमे ववशोषयेत ्॥
मृद्दारश्रृङ्गगकं काममेतद्ववगधववशोगधतम्।
क्षतेऽवचूण्िााद्यथं युञ्जीत भभषजां वर:॥
(र.त २१/१६७-१६९)

14. Satva patana
 Common procedure is followed
Mixed with ¼ part tankana
Triturate with lemon juice
Made into ballus&heated will yield its satva(lead)

15. Properties
 “सीससत्त्वंगुरुर्श्लेष्मशमिंपुंगदापहम्।
रसबन्धिमुत्कृ ष्टंके शरञ्जिमुत्तमम्।।
sita virya
kapha-vatapaha R.T.
bhagnasandhanajanana
tvakdoshasamana

16. मृद्दारश्रृङ्गगं भशभशरं परं वातकफापहम्।
फफरङ्गगवृणहृत ् के र्श्यं वृणरोपण्मुत्तमं॥
भ्िसन्धािजििं पामाकण्डूनतकाददिुत ्।
सङ्गकोचकं ववशेषेण त्वक्दोषशमिं मतम्॥
र.त.(२१/१७०-१७१)

17.  Dose—not mentioned
Important yogas
 Mruddharasrngadyamalahara
 Mruddharasrnga curna
Amayika prayoga
1pala mruddharasrnga+1tola tamkanamla—for
avachurnana in phiranga vruna

18. Litharge
 Yellow oxide of lead found in 2 varieties in nature —
1.yellow powder known as messicot
2.buff coloured crystalline variety known as
litharge(which means silver stone)
 Messicot converts into litharge when it is heated,it
melts&molten mass on cooling solidify giving the
lemon coloured crystalline variety called litharge.
 Infact,litharge is available as a lustrous,reddish
yellow coloured mass.
 Yellow clour becomes more shining if it is heated
with NH4Cl

19. Mineralogical identification
Nature- Amorphous
Colour- Yellow - red.
Habit- Crystallized in
fine scales.
Odour- Odourless
M.P- 888*c
B.P- 1470c
Sp.Gravity- 9.53

20. Solubility-Insoluble in water
& alcohol but soluble in acetic
acid & nitric acid.
pH-Strong base.

21. TOXIC EFFECTS
 This results from fixation of lead in certain
tissues such as brain(lead
encephalopathy)&peripheral nervous system.
 Lead may obtain access to the body by
inhalation,ingestion,or absorption through skin
or mucous membranes.
 Litharge is one of the principal salt of lead
which produce toxic effects.
 Acute poisoning is rare.usually occurs
accidentally

22. Contd…
 It may occur in children from eating paint on
cribs, beds,toys etc.
 Subacute or chronic lead poisoning may be
caused by the contamination of food/drink
 Apart from industrial poisoning,accidental
chronic poisoning has occurred from the use
of lead monoxide as a remedy for sphilis by
quacks.
 The primary effect of the lead is to cause
spasm of the cappilaries&arterioles