3. • Sanskrit Name : ताम्र
• English Name : Copper
• Chemical Name : Cuprum
• Chemical Formula : Cu
• Vernacular Name :
Marathi : ताांबे
Kannada : ताम्र
• Symbol : Cu
• Hardness : 2.5 to 3
• Specific Gravity : 8.95
• Melting Point : 1083.4oC
• Boiling Point : 2567oC
• Conductivity : Good conductor of heat and
electricity.
• Malleability : High malleability and very high
ductility.
• Atomic Number : 29
• Atomic Weight : 63.54
2024 TAMRA 3
TAMRA
4. 2024 presentation title 4
INTRODUCTION
Tamra (copper) is the third 'suddha loha'. Copper is a chemical element with the
symbol Cu (Latin: cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very
high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; a
freshly exposed surface has a reddish-orange color. It is used as a conductor of
heat and electricity, a building material, and a constituent of various metal alloys.
Copper is an essential trace element in plants and animals, but not some
micro-organisms. The human body contains copper at a level of about 1.4 to 2.1
mg per kg of body mass. Copper is absorbed in the gut, and then transported to
the liver bound to albumin. After processing in the liver, copper is distributed to
other tissues in a second phase.
Numerous antimicrobial efficacy studies have been conducted in the past
10years regarding copper's efficacy to destroy a wide range of bacteria, as well
as 'influenza A' virus, adenovirus and fungi.
5. HISTORY
Copper has a long history. Its
references (as coin, utensil,
ornament) can be readily traced
from literatures like Veda,
Upanishad and Purana. Its use
as medicine is seen in the field of
Ayurveda since the beginning. In
many places of 'Caraka Samhita'
we find the references of ‘Tamra'
and its ‘visa lakshana'. With the
evolution of 'Rasa-shastra', the
metal was extensively studied,
described and used for its
therapeutic values.
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6. ताम्र शुल्वां रक्तक
ां म्लेच्छवकत्रां नेपालीयां त्र्यम्बक
ां सूययलोहम् ।
त्वाष्ट्रां त्वक
ां सूययपयाययसांज्ञां द्विष्ट्ां ियष्ट्ां त्वम्बक
ां कीद्वतयतां तत ।।
उदुम्बरञ्चारद्ववन्दां सूयायङ्ग
ां लोद्वहतायसम् ।
रद्ववद्वियां भास्करां च ताम्रक
ां च िकीद्वतयतम् ।।
(R. T. 17/1-2)
Tämra, śulba, raktaka, mlecchavaktra, nepālīya, tryambaka, sūryaloha, twästra,
arka; all the synonymous words used for 'sun'; such as dwista, dwayasta, ambaka,
udumbara, aravinda, sūryānga, lohitāyasa, ravipriya, bhāskara and tāmraka; all
these words are used as synonyms of 'copper’ in classical books.
2024 TAMRA 6
SYNONYMS FOR TAMRA
7. Largest producers of copper are USA
(produces 1/7th of word's copper),
Canada (produces 1/10th of word's
copper), Australia, China, Russia,
Peru, Mexico, Chile Zaire, Zambia and
neighbouring Bhutan. In India its
mines are in Sikkim and Nellore district
of Andhra Pradesh.
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GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
11. म्लेच्छां नेपालक
ां चेद्वत तयोनेपालक
ां वरम् । नेपालादन्यखन्युत्थां म्लेच्छद्वमत्यद्वमद्वियते ।।
(R. R. S. 5/42)
नेपालां म्लेच्छकम् चेद्वत ताम्र द्विद्वविमुच्यते । नेपालां जात्यमाख्यातां म्लेच्छक
ां त्ववरां स्मृतम् ॥
(R. T. 17/7)
Two types of ‘tamra' are mentioned in classics
depending on their availability:
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TYPES
Copper types Obtained from Quality
1 Naipālī or Naipālika
tāmra
Nepal Śrestha and Grahya
(Therapeutically fit)
2 Mleccha tāmra Yavana deśa Kanistha and Agrāhya
(Therapeutically unfit)
12. सुद्विग्धां मृदुलां शोणां घनाघातक्षमां गुरु । द्वनद्ववयकारां गुणश्रेष्ठां ताम्र नेपालमुच्यते ।।
(R. R. S.
5/44)
Copper which possesses snigdha guna ; which is
smooth and soft to touch; which is reddish in colour ;
which has malleability and ductility (ghanaghāta
Isamatwa) and which is heavy (guru); is considered as
the best variety of copper (naipālī tāmra).
2024 TAMRA 12
GRAHYA SWARUPAA
13. सदलां पाण्डुरञ्चैव कद्विनां लघु भङ
् गुरम् । समलां त्वरद्ववन्दन्तु वजययेद्रसकमयद्वण ।।
(R. T. 17/5)
The copper, which comes with layers; which has whitish
body shade; which is very hard or light weighted or brittle;
which has adulterants like iron, lead etc; such a metal
should not be selected for pharmaceutical procedures.
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AGRAHYA SWARUPAA
15. Tamra-samanya Sodhana :
तैले तक्र
े गवाां मूत्रे ह्यारनाले क
ु लत्थजे । क्रमाद्विषेचयेत्तप्तां द्रावे द्रावे तु सप्तिा ।। स्वणायद्वदलोहपत्राणाां शुद्धिरेषा िशस्यते ।।
(R. R. S.
5/13)
The thin sheets (kantakavedhi patra) of 'tamra' are heated red-hot over fire and
dipped into the following liquids; 1. Tilataila 2. Takra 3. Gomūtra 4. Aranāla and 5.
Kulattha kwātha for 7 times; in total for one drug, it will be 35 times of heating and
dipping. This process will purify all the metals in general, that is why it is called as
'dhātu sāmānya śodhana' method.
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TAMRA SODHANA
16. Tamra-Vishesha Sodhana :
द्वनम्ब्वम्बुपटुद्वलप्ताद्वन ताद्वपतान्यष्ट्वारकम् । द्ववशुध्यन्त्यक
य पत्राद्वण द्वनगुय्ड्य रसमज्जनात् ।।
(R. R. S. 5/51)
The foils of 'aśuddha tāmra' are thickly applied on either side with the paste
prepared by triturating required quantities of 'saindhava lavana' and 'nimbū swarasa'
together. The foils are now held with 'sandamsa yantra', heated red- hot and dipped
in a vessel containing enough quantity of 'nirgundi patra swarasa’.
All this process is repeated for 8 times to obtain the tamra purified. Later it is
stored in suitable airtight container as 'śuddha tamra' for further pharmaceutical use.
(Note: Each time fresh 'nirgudī patra swarasa' should be taken for dipping
the red-hot copper.)
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TAMRA SODHANA
17. जम्बीररससांद्वपष्ट्रसगन्धकलेद्वपतम् । शुल्बपत्रां शरावस्थां द्वत्रपुटैयायद्वत पञ्चताम् ।।
(R. R. S.553)
One part each of 'suddha tamra patra', 'śuddha parada' and 'Suddha gatdhaka' are taken.
First, 'śuddha pārada' and 'śuddha gandhaka' are taken ina clean khalva yantra and triturated
thoroughly to obtain appropriate 'kajjali’
This kajjalī is triturated with required quantity of 'nimbū rasa'; the paste obtained is applied
over the purified copper foils and dried under sun. Later thesefoils are enclosed in 'sarāva samputa'
and subjected for one 'gajaputa’.
Like this 3 gajaputa are given by repeating the entire procedure. After gajaputa, we obtain
properly prepared 'tämra bhasma', which will be fit for amritikatana.
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TAMRA MARANA
19. Method of preparation :
Suddha parada and suddha gandhaka are taken in a clean khalva yantra and
triturated thoroughly to obtain appropriate kajjali. To this kajjalī, 'śuddha haratala'
and 'suddha manahśilā' are added and thoroughly triturated to ob tain a
homogenous mixture.
Now a clean mud pot of suitable size is selected (to use as garbha yantra). In
it, some amount of kajjali is put. Over that, one 'śuddha tamra patra' is placed Above
that, again kajjali is put to place another copper foil over it. Like this, layers of kajjali
and copper foil are put and at the end, all the remaining kajjali is heaped up to cover
all the copper foils.
Now, the pot is closed with a lid, sealed properly and subjected for intense
heat of one prahara (3 hours). When self-cool the drug inside the pot is col- lected,
triturated and stored as 'somanāthī tāmra bhasma’.
(Note:Since this method was explained by 'Acārya Somanātha', it is called as'
somanāthī tāmra bhasma'. In place of 'suddha tamra patra', the 'śuddha tamra
curņa' can also be used.)
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TAMRA BHASMA
20. Tamra bhasma amrtikaraņa- necessity:
After preparation of appropriate 'tämra bhasma' as per classical reference,
the bhasma should not be administered without 'amītīkarana samskāra'. If done so,
the bhasma causes eight toxic symptoms in the body, which are called timra asta
dosa' (explained earlier in this chapter).
Therefore, the process of 'amītīkarana' is most required to any appropriately
prepared 'tāmra bhasma'. The definition of 'amītīkarana' is provided below, which
can also be referred from the chapter 'Paribhāṣā Prakarana’;
लोहादीनाां मृतानाां वै द्वशष्ट्दोषापनुत्तये । द्वक्रयते यस्तु सांस्कार अमृतीकरणां मतम् ।।(R. T. 2/58)
अरुणभस्मनस्तु पुनरमृतीकरणेन गुणवृद्धिवयणयहाद्वनश्च भवद्वत ।(Ay. Pra. 1/135)
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TAMRA BHASMA AMRITĪKARANA
21. Tamra bhasma amritīkarana :
सम्यङ् मृतां सूययसखस्य चूणां सम्पेषयेिै स्वरसे क
ु मायायाः । द्ववशोष्य िमेऽथ शरावसांस्थां पचेद् वराहाख्यपुटेऽश्ववारम् ।। रीत्यानया
वै ह्यमृतीक
ृ तन्तु रद्ववद्वियां शीद्वलतमप्यमन्दम् ।दोषाष्ट्क
ां नैव करोद्वत नूनां ताघ्रां द्वनकामां त्वमृतोपमां स्यात् ।।
(R. T. 17/43-44)
Properly prepared 'tāmra bhasma' is taken in a clean khalva yantra. It is tritu rate
thoroughly with required quantity of 'kumārī swarasa' and later dried under sun. This
dry powder is now enclosed in 'sarāva samputa' and subjected for one 'varāhaputa’.
By repeating this entire procedure for 7 times and subjecting the drug to 7
'varahapuța', we obtain the 'tämra bhasma', which will be free from all the 'aşta doșa'
(toxicity). Later it is triturated and stored in suitable airtight container for further
therapeutic use.
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TAMRA BHASMA AMRITĪKARANA
22. To test the perfectness of 'tamra bhasma', a pinch of it
is taken in a glass jar. It is added with little quantity of curd
and left for 24 hours. If the curd exhibits bluish shade, one
should understand that the bhasma is not appropriately
done.
In such situations, the bhasma is again triturated with
'suranakanda swarasa'and subjected for 'gajaputa'. This
process may be repeated more than onceuntil the lustre free
'tāmra bhasma' is formed.
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TAMRA BHASMA-TEST FOR PERFECTNESS
23. मुद्वनव्रीद्वहां द्वसतापानां िान्यक
ां वा द्वसतासह । ताम्रदोषमशेषां वै द्वपबन्हन्याद्विनत्रयम् ।।
(Br. Rasarājasundan)
In case of any toxicity during administration of 'amrtīkīta tāmra
bhasma’;
• Dhanyaka kwātha + sugar; is administered daily for three days or until the
symptoms subside.
• Munivrihi curna + sugar; is administered daily until the
symptoms subside.
2024 TAMRA 23
Tamra Bhasma Toxicity-measures.
