Rasa Shastra: The Hidden Art of Medical AlchemyThe first comprehensive analysis of Asian Medical Alchemy, this book describes the use of herbo-mineral-metal based medicines as used in some of the world's oldest healing traditions. It offers a detailed exploration of Âyurvedic medicinal purification practices that seek to enhance the therapeutic potential of materials, metals and gemstones, as well as offering a concise overview of traditional and modern equipment and methods used in the manufacture of these medicines. The author's unique and fascinating account of the hidden alchemical arts also explains some of the historical background behind the on-going quest amongst Asian alchemists for immortality. |
Contents
What is Rasa Shāstra? | 35 |
Workshop Equipment Method and Apparatus | 103 |
Materials Formula and Processing | 155 |
Celestial Connections | 337 |
Miscellaneous rasa information | 479 |
Catalogue of Materials and Their Use | 492 |
About the Author | 541 |
| 542 | |
Resources | 545 |
Index | 546 |
Blank Page | 560 |
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Common terms and phrases
abdominal aconite Alchemy anaemia ancient Anti-visha Anupāna Honey Anupāna Milk asthma astringent astrological Ayanāṃśa Āyurveda Bhallātaka bhasma bitter blood body cakrika Calcinations Chemical formula cinnabar colour cooling copper cow’s urine crucible Dattura decoction dhātu diabetes digestion disorders Dosage dosha dried Dynamics Hot effects elements favoured fever Gaja Gandhaka gemstones ghee gold graha Guna Haritāla healing heart disease heated herbal herbs horoscope India ingredients iron jaggery juice Jupiter Jyotish Kajjali Kapha karma Ketu Kūkai lemon Loha material medicines mercury metal method minerals Moon Nāga Nakshatra one’s oxide Pārada pearls pisti Pitta Planetary ruler planets poisoning powder prepared Pungent purification puṭa Quality Rahu Rasa Shāstra rasāyana Ratna realgar removed rosewater sample Sanskrit Saturn seeds Shilajit Shukra signs skin diseases Sri Lanka sulphide sulphur Taste temperature therapies Tibb tissues toxic Treatment triphala triturated urinary Vāta Vedic Vedic Astrology Venus Visha yantra zinc zodiacal