by Sheela Rani Chunkath

Over the last weekend, a group of 50 Ayurveda students and professors had an amazing experience. We travelled to Bellary, Karnataka to meet an Ayurvedic practitioner, Dr. M. Gopi Krishna who was using herbo-mineral drugs to the extent of 70% of the drugs he was dispensing. He is also one of the few practitioners in India who prepares the four types of Rasa or herbo-mineral drugs namely Kharaliya Rasayana, Parpati Rasayana, Pottali Rasayana and Kupipakwa Rasayana. One would think that these four types of the preparations would be something that is common and being prepared routinely in the various Ayurvedic Institutions - apparently not. Rasa shastra text books form the largest number in our ayurvedic documentation. There are about 600 books outlining almost a thousand different rasa preparations. It is not possible for a single individual, however passionate, to document their efficacy and side effects in terms of Western requirements. When I questioned the physician in Bellary about the side effects of the drugs he had only this to say "Our herbo-mineral drugs are safe and free from side effects and our Acharyas classified them as such. They have indicated which of these preparations are safe and free from side effects and which of them need to be administered only for short periods of time." Rasayana means the science of lengthening lifespan. It also means the purification of all tissues - from rakta to shukra. Why would the Acharyas prescribe something that would damage kidneys or the liver? Many allopathic over-the-counter drugs such as paracetamol do damage the liver and kidney and yet people take them with no apprehensions. To a large extent the damage wrought to the popular appreciation of Ayurvedic preparations is because of the ignorance of Western scientists coupled with a well orchestrated campaign by western Pharma Companies to demonise Ayurvedic herbo-mineral preparations. It is also unfortunate that the preservation of an ancient medical heritage should be in the hands of a few individuals who because of their passion and belief in the efficacy of these preparations have worked hard to pass on the knowledge to the next generation.

In Bellary, a lone physician is attempting to preserve our heritage of preparing Pottalis. Apparently there are 67 such preparations. Dr M. Gopi Krishna has managed to prepare 15 of them by combining his knowledge of the shastras and the practical experience of the sadhus from Srisailam. It is indeed regrettable that our government does not do more and support our systems. The number of government Ayurveda and Siddha colleges is far smaller than the government allopathic colleges. Even our Hindu religious Gurus set up allopathic colleges rather than Ayurveda or Siddha colleges. Our field-level government health staff are all allopathy trained persons who ridicule traditional practices without any discrimination. In tribal areas and interior villages many effective traditional practices are dying out. I am glad that Dr. M. Gopi Krishna was able to document some of the preparation methods and pass it on to the next generation.

We saw how Tamra Garbha Pottali was prepared - a fascinating alchemical experience. A kalka is made with Tamra Bhasma, Swarna Bhasma, Kajjali and Sodhitha Gandhaka. It is made in the shape of a linga - 'lingakara'. This Pottali is tied in two layers of silk cloth and immersed in a doloyantra with liquid sulphur and heated. When the liquid sulphur acquires a mirror-like surface some 4 to 5 hours later, the silk bundle is removed from the liquid sulphur and declared ready for use after propitiating!

This Pottali preparation is said to help in the treatment of cancer as it is a rasayana drug which helps in increasing general immunity and the digestive ability of the patient. India should be in the forefront of the fight against cancer as in Ayurveda we have a better appreciation of the causes of disease. Western medicine has no idea of the real cause of diseases and their solutions are often limited to ameliorating the symptoms. This is no doubt useful but we need to understand that allopathic treatment is very limited in scope. Dr. M. Gopi Krishna has been treating many cancer patients with various degrees of success. What is heartening is that he has been able to better treat many of the cancer cases for which modern allopathic system had no answers.

This is one man's attempt to use rasayana drugs to fight a deadly disease. We need the power and resources of government to take this battle to the next level. During our visit to Bellary, we also visited Hampi, the UNESCO Heritage site and marvelled at the architecture of the Virupaksha temple and paid obeisance to Lord Shiva, the adhi bhishak (the first physician). Maybe his intervention is needed in our attempt to restore rasa shastra to its proper place and give it the legitimacy that is its due.

--- The writer is retired Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/