Description
Subject:- Herbal Drug Technology
Semester:- Sem :- 6
Course:- Pharmacy, Bachelor of pharmacy
Course Code: BP603T
Course Title: Herbal Drug Technology
Content
Bhasma and Churna
• Definition of bhasma and churna
• Method of preparation of Bhasma and churna
• Characteristics of bhasma and churna
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Bhasma and Churna
At the end of this lecture, student will be able to
• Define bhasma and churna
• Explain the method of preparation of Bhasma and churna
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Bhasma
Bhasma is a powder of the substance obtained by calcination
➢ Metal, mineral and animal products are calcinied in closed crucibles
in pits with cow dung cakes by special process
Sodhana
Method of Preparation:
Marana
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Bhasma
Sodhana:
➢ Sodhana is a purification process, it is a medicinal purification
➢ Chemical purification eliminates only foreign matter, but Sodhana
aims
– To eliminate harmful matter from the drug
– To modify undesirable physical characters of the drug
– To enhance the therapeutic activity of the drug
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Bhasma
Types of Sodhana:
Samanya sodhana : Heating of thin sheets of metals by immersing in
taila / gomutra
Visesa sodhana : Four types
➢ Bhavana – Grinding with special decoctions
➢ Svedana – Convert drug into a poultice
➢ Nirvapana – Incinerating to red hot and dipping into taila
➢ Mardana – Triturating /rubbing with some dravyas
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Bhasma
Marana
➢ Purified drug obtained from sodhana is placed in kalva
➢ Ground with specified quantities of kasaya/swarasa
➢ Resultant material is made into small cakes
➢ Size and thickness of the cakes – Heaviness of the drug
➢ Heavier the drug thinner are the cakes and vice versa
➢ Cakes are dried and placed in a shallow earthen plate and closed
with another
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Bhasma
Marana
➢ Edges are sealed with a clay smeared cloth in seven consecutive
layers and again dried
➢ A pit is dug in an open space
➢ Half of the pit is filled with cow dung cakes
➢ Earthen plates holding the cakes of metal/mineral is placed on cow
dung cakes
➢ Pit is then completely filled with cow dung cakes
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Bhasma
Marana
➢ Cow dung cakes are set fire all the four sides and also in the
middle of the pit
➢ After burning allowed to cool
➢ Earthen plates are removed and seal is opened
➢ Contents are ground again in kalva into a fine powder
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Bhasma
Characters: Bhasma should comply the following
➢ No metallic luster
➢ Float on cold water
➢ Not revert to original state
➢ Very fine, so that it get easily to the finger lines when taken
between index finger and thumb
➢ No characteristic taste
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Bhasma
Storage:
➢ Should be stored in airtight glass/earthen containers
➢ Retain its potency indefinitely
Examples:
Example Use
Svarna bhasma Hrudroga
Rajata bhasma Jvara, Buddhimandya
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Churna
Churna is a fine powder of drug or drugs
Method of preparation:
➢ Drugs are cleaned and dried properly
➢ Finely powdered and sieved
Conditions:
➢ When more than one drug, each drug is weighed separately
according to the formula, powdered and sieved
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Churna
➢ As some drugs contain more fibrous matter, separate powdering,
sieving and mixing is preferred
➢ Certain drugs like camphor, salt and sugar are to be powdered
separately and mixed at the end
➢ Drugs like asafoetida are roasted, powdered and mixed at the end
Characters:
➢ Should be a very fine powder of at least 80# sieve
➢ Should not be sticky
Storage:
➢ Should be stored in airtight containers
Examples:
Example Use
Jataphaladya churna Atisara
Karpuradi churna Svasa, ksaya
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Summary
➢ Bhasma – calcination process
➢ Metal, mineral drugs
➢ Sodhana and marana
➢ Sodhana – medicinal purification, Bhavana, svedhana, nirvapana and
mardana
➢ Kalva, cakes, sealed with clay smeared cloth
➢ Pit, cow dung cakes, fire, cool, grind into a fine powder
➢ Churna – fine powder of drug/s, dried, sieved and finely powdered
➢ Conditions for preparing churna
Thank You
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