Lohasavam: an Ayurvedic Iron Tonic

-by Sheela Rani Chunkath

When you find you are breathless for no apparent reason, vaidyars first suspect you are anaemic. Ayurveda and Siddha have a whole range of medicines to treat this condition. It is ironic that so many Indian women and girls continue to anaemic when we have such a wide selection of inexpensive remedies with us. Anaemic mothers give birth to unhealthy preterm babies. Often it is a major cause of maternal deaths.

We have a big national programme to distribute iron and folic acid to women and adolescent girls. But it does not seem to have made a dent on the anaemic status of our women, with more than 60% continuing to be anaemic.

Ayurvedic medicines to combat anaemia would have far greater acceptance since they have fewer side effects and can be chosen to suit the nature of the patient. With a little training our health field staff can eradicate anaemia in the community. We need vision and caring. Health Department in Tamil Nadu had conducted field trials in Thiruvannamalai district where the acceptance and efficacy of Siddha and ayurvedic iron preparations were tested. It proved to the sceptics that these drugs were very effective. However, we are yet to have a national programme based on these promising results.

My mother-in-law who is 83 years old complained of breathlessness. Her medical tests showed nothing wrong — all vital organs and parameters were normal. My vaidyar prescribed Lohasava, a kind of iron tonic, even though her haemoglobin was 12 gm or so. Lohasava is described in the Sarangadhara Samhita, a summary of the most effective ayurvedic remedies of the eras gone by. The Sarangadhara Samhita was written in the 14th Century and makes fascinating reading. I tried reading it in the original Sanskrit along with a Sanskrit pandit. Made me wish that I had picked up Sanskrit when I was a kid. It was tough going as the pandit would go into details of Sanskrit grammar that I found difficult to absorb and retain. Learning ayurveda from the original texts would give our ayurvedic students the much needed confidence. In fact, Sarangadhara says that he has only listed those remedies that learned sages have found most effective and which will promote health and welfare of mankind. In my opinion, most trials of these medicines had been carried out on humans aeons ago and only those which had stood the test of time and do not cause side effects have been included in the Sarangadhara Samhita.

Lohasava is a fermented preparation made from iron filings, the three pungents (dried ginger, pepper and long pepper), triphala (consisting of Phyllanthus emblica or amla, Terminalia bellirica or bibhitaki and Terminalia chebula or haritaki), ajowan, Embelia fruits, nut grass tubers, leadwort roots and fireflame flowers. The ingredients are powdered and mixed with honey, jaggery and water. The mixture is stored in a sealed vessel for one month. After a month the mixture is filtered and is then ready for use.

Since this 'iron tonic' does not merely contain iron but a whole host of other herbs, it not only cures anaemia but also improves appetite and acts as an overall restorative. Normally 15 to 30 ml is given with equal quantity of water, twice or thrice a day after food. It is contraindicated for those who have ulcers or other stomach disorders.

Lohasavam is prescribed by vaidyars along with other ayurvedic preparations for jaundice, in cases of oedema, diarrhoea, dysentery, bronchitis and asthma. 'Cheap and best' as they would say in Chennai!

--- The writer was earlier Health Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu and is currently, Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman & Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/