Sankha Bhasma

by Sheela Rani Chunkath

Bengali brides wear bangles made of conch shell, red lac and iron. As always, I am amazed by the manner in which the medicinal products available in nature are brought to our notice. Who can forget the picture of a Bengali bride with her traditional conch bangles in white with intricate carvings, and the smooth red lac bangles. I remember many years ago when the Government of Tamil Nadu used to facilitate the sale of conches to West Bengal. Bantul in Howrah is known as Sankharipara as most of the families in this village were associated with making sankha or conch shell bangles.

Sankha or conch is used in traditional ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, The preparation of sankha bhasma is still made by traditionalists in an earthern crucible. Conch shells are broken into small pieces and soaked for a day in lime juice. The pieces are then washed in hot water to remove the dirt. The cleansed pieces are the ground with lime juice and dried. The ground product is calcined in an earthern crucible. Calcining the product is done using cow dung cakes. About 1000 cow dung cakes are required for 11.5 kg of conch pieces. The number of cow dungs is specifically mentioned as the sankha pieces have to be calcined at a particular temperature. I have seen the way in which calcining is done in Gandhigram (near Dindigul) in their ayurvedic medicinal unit. They have made an elaborate structure in the ground with bricks in which the earthern crucible is buried and on which cow dung cakes are heaped and burnt. An experienced vaidyar examines the product after calcining to ensure that the sankha bhasma is of satisfactory quality. If it is not, the process is repeated. About 100 to 200 mg of the sankha bhasma is usually prescribed by vaidyars to be taken twice or thrice daily for the treatment of gastric duodenal ulcers. It is also used as an appetizer and digestive. It relieves colic. It is also useful in the treatment of liver and spleen enlargement.

Many environmentalists are a little worried whether the conch will be fished into extinction because of its religious and medicinal importance. There is a need to use these natural products with respect and moderation. The Indian sacred conch or Turbinella pyrum is not banned under the Wild Life Protection Act 1972 of the Government of India. Usually the better specimens are sold for pooja purposes and the odd shaped and broken conches are used for medicinal purposes. All the three types of bangles worn by the Bengali bride, that made from the conch shell, from the lac resin and that made from iron have important medicinal and health benefits.

I was recently watching an abhishekam at a temple where the deity is bathed with water and other products. Almost all of the products used would nourish the human body. Milk, honey, ghee, fruits, jiggery, sugar candy, sandal paste, turmeric, tender coconut water, and lime. All these if eaten in moderation can help nourish the dhatus. Even sugar if eaten in moderation is good for you. Products considered not so good for health by ayurvedic vaidyars such as chillies and tamarind are rarely if ever used in temples for abhishekams. So what is bad for the gods must be bad for us! It teaches us that we should avoid pungent foods and too much tamarind. Recent research says that cow's milk is good for our bones and is better than any calcium supplement. Milk abhishekam is very popular in temples and we need to include more milk in our diet. Since milk is said to be of a sweet rasa, it is a good for those suffering from ulcers. When planning meals for your children include the foods used in abhishekams, of course in moderation. Ghee is a must for children and nourishes the body and in the long run prevents ulcers and other digestive problems. So I started with sankha and ended with ghee, so that you can also look at what our rituals are trying to tell us. Of course, do look at the rituals with a progressive bent of mind.

--- The writer was earlier Health Secretary, Government 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/

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