Kamsya - Details as told in classics of ayurveda

Ayurveda described details about kamsya metal

1. KAMSYA

2. INTRODUCTION Kamsya is classified under mishra loha. According to Ayurveda classics, kamsya is an alloy of TAMRA and VANGA and it is prepared in the ratio of 4:1 Bronze become more stronger as more vanga is added but loses much of its malleability.

3. VERNACULAR NAMES English- German silver, Bronze. Hindi- Kamsya Kannada- kanchu Tamil-Venkalam Telugu- kanchu

4. SYNONYMS Vanhi trapuraja Kamsaka Gosha Gopushpa Vahni loha Deeptaloha

5. PREPARATION Shuddha Tamra(4 parts)+ shuddha vanga(1part) is melted together. Formation of kamsya.

6. TYPES कांस्यं च द्विविधं प्रोक्तं पुष्पतैलकभेदतः । पुष्पं श्वेततमं तन्त्र तैलिकं कपिशप्रभम् ॥(Α.Ρ.4/65) Kamsya is of two types: Pushpa kamsya: shreshta Tailika kamsya: Ashreshta

7. GRAHYA LAKSHANA तीक्ष्णशब्दं मृदु स्रिग्धमीषच्छ्यामलशुभ्रकम्। निर्मलं दाहेरक्तं च षोढा कांस्यं प्रशस्यते ।। (R.R.S.5/206) सुनादं भास्वरं स्रिग्ध श्वेतं मृदु च निर्मलम्। घनाग्निसहमत्यन्तं कांस्यं ग्राह्यमिहोच्यते ।। (R.T.22/24 ) Kamsya having sharp sound, soft, smooth in touch, light greyish or white colour, without impurities, turns red on heating is preferred for therapeutic purposes.

8. AGRAHYA LAKSHANA तत्पीतं दहने ताम्र खरं रुक्षं घनासहम्। मन्दनादं गतज्योतिः सप्तधा कांस्यमुत्सृजेत् ।। (R.R.S.5/207) निरुज्ज्वलं खरं रुक्षं पीतं दहनतापितम्। अताम्रम् मन्दनादञ्च कांस्यं हेयमुदीरितम्।। (R.T.22/25) Yellow colour, turns copper colour on heating, coarse, rough, can’t tolerate beating, clunk sound and dull on rubbing are of bad qualities of kamsya .

9. SAMANYA SHODHANA तैले तक्रे गवां मूत्रे ह्यारनाले कुलत्थजे | क्रमान्निषेचयेत्तप्तं द्रावे द्रावे तु सप्तधा ।। स्वर्णादिलोहपत्राणां शुद्धिरेषां प्रशस्यते । (R.R.S.5/13) Thin sheets of Ashuddha Kamsya→ Nirvapa (heating and quenching) → in Tila Taila (sesame oil), Takra (butter milk), Gomutra (cow’s urine), Arunala (fermented liquors) and Kulattha Kwatha (decoction of Kulattha) consecutively for 7 times in each liquid mediashuddha kamsya

10. VISHESHA SHODHANA तप्तं कांस्यं गवां मूत्रे वापितं परिशुध्यति। ( RRS-3/210) Samanya Shodhita Kamsya Nirvapa (heating and quenching) in Gomutra (cow's urine) for 7 times Shuddha Kamsya

11. सूक्ष्मपत्रीकृतं घोषपुष्पाह्वयं मुत्रपट्वन्वितं स्थालिकायां न्यसेत्। यामसम्पाचितं तीक्ष्णतीक्ष्णाग्निना सर्वदोषोज्जितं जायते सत्वरम्। (R.T.22/27) Samanya shodhita kamsya Put in pot which is filled with gomutra and saindhava lavana Subject to heat for 1 prahara(3hrs) Shuddha kamsya

12. MARANA METHOD 1: तनुपत्रीकृतं कांस्यं समगन्धसमन्वितम्। अर्कक्षीरेण सम्पेष्य शोषयेदातपे दृढम्॥ सम्पुटस्थं ततः कृत्वा वारणाख्ये पुटे पुटेत्। एवं पुटत्रयात्कांस्यभस्म स्यात्सुमनोहरम्।। (R.T.22/28-29)

13. Shuddha kamsya+ Shuddha gandhaka Levigate with Arka ksheera Subject to Gaja puta for 3 times KAMSYA BHASMA

14. Shuddha kamsya + Shuddha gandhaka + Shuddha haratala Levigate with nimbu swarasa Subject to gaja puta for 5 times KAMSYA BHASMA METHOD 2 : म्रीयते गन्धतालाभ्यां निरुत्थं पञ्चभिः पुटैः॥ (R.R.S.5/210)

15. CHARACTERISTICS OF KAMSYA BHASMA कज्जलप्रभ - Black colour , soft , smooth GUNA KARMA कांस्यं लघु च तिक्तोष्णं लेखनं दृक्प्रसादनम्। कृमिकुष्ठहरं वातपित्तघ्नं दीपनं हितम् । ( R.R.S.5/208) Rasa – tikta , Kashaya Guna - laghu , ruksha Veerya – ushna

16. Doshaghnata – vata –pittaghna Karma – Deepana, drikprasadanam, lekhana, krimihara ANUPANA – honey , milk or roganusara DOSE - ½ - 1 ratti YOGAS Lakshmivilasa rasa Nityananda rasa Kshaya kesari rasa Vatavidhvamsa rasa

17. Research updates Therapeutic potentials of metals in ancient India: A review through Charaka SamhitaGalib, Mayur Barve, Mayur Mashru, Chandrashekhar Jagtap, B. J. Patgiri, and P. K. Prajapati Formulations of ‘Kamsya’ are beneficial in diseases like Krimi, Kusta etc. Therapeutic doses given for ‘Kamsya Bhasma’ range from 60 mg. to 120 mg. Very few references mentioned in Charaka Samhita that hold Kamsya as one of the active components are depicted in Table

18. Modern correlation BRONZE [ BELL METAL] – alloy made of 88% Cu + 12% Sn Colour – golden brown Specific gravity - 7.4- 8.9 Melting point – 950 C Hardness – 3 on Moh’s scale Conductivity – good conductor of electricity and heat Strong durable and high tensile strength Bronze is ductile and can easily be cast, machined and shaped Bronze is resistant to corrosion

19. Types 1. Statuary Bronze – 97% copper (Cu), 2%tin(Sn) and 1% zinc (Zn)
2. Architectural Bronze – 57% copper (Cu), 40% zinc (Zn) and 3% lead ( Pb ). 3. Commercial Bronze – 90% copper(Cu) and 10% zinc (Zn)

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