Yakrit Plihari Loha
by Sheela Rani Chunkath
When I started writing this column many years ago I would only write about those formulations which were completely herbal based. I would carefully avoid any medication which had even a whiff of a metal. A mindset that pampered the English-speaking elite who without any knowledge of our medical systems condemned metal-based medicines. I am convinced today that it is a strategy drawn up by western pharma where millions are invested to prevent us from popularising our rasa or metal-based drugs which are superbly effective.
Ayurveda has been around for thousands of years and we have stalwarts like Agnivesha and Nagarjuna who have plumbed the depths of the human systems and given prescriptions based on both herbal and metallic preparations. With their emphasis on proper diet and digestion it is highly unlikely, nay impossible for them to suggest medications that would harm the kidney, liver or other vital organs. The other day a friend and I were laughingly discussing how to memorise the various causes of disease and decided that in the examination paper we would first write improper ahara (food) as being the cause of any disease. And it is true. There is an obsession in Ayurveda about food and digestion and the maintenance of proper *agni*.
The liver plays an important part in the digestion of foods and do you think it possible that our Vaidyars who are working on an unbroken tradition of thousands of years would prescribe something for the liver that would harm it? So we have what is called the Yakrit plihari loha. And you guessed right, it is not herbal based and it is used for the treatment of liver and spleen disorders.
Many things Indian have been completely appropriated by the West with even claims to chicken tikka being a British dish. Lately many universities are producing colloidal forms of silver and gold and claiming great medical benefit from it. Our vaidyars have done this and more centuries earlier. It is being prepared quite safely by large companies and senior experienced vaidyars who have been prescribing them with great effect.
Yakrit plihari loha is one such medication. It is used in the treatment of liver and spleen disorders in particular ascites, jaundice, fever, indigestion etc. it is a medication which balances the three doshas - vata, pitta and kapha. It contains purified mercury purified sulphur, iron (loha) bhasma, abraka bhasma prepared form purified and processed mica, tamara bhasma - which undergoes rigorous purification process, Manashila which is purified and processed arsenic disulphide and shilajit or asphalt. It also has a number of herbal ingredients. Arsenic disulphide is a terrible poison and it is scary to be asked to take it. Now let us look at what western pharma is doing Arsenic trioxide is used to treat acute leukemia. And it is given to patients whose cancers have recurred. Arsenic trioxide is an anti-neoplastic drug that works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells. Now Yakrit plihari loha contains arsenic and is being prescribed by senior Vaidyars for liver cancer and other serious liver ailments along with Hembagarbha potteli which contains gold bhasma.
My grievance with the much of the English press and the western elite is that they brainwash the common man into not accessing medications which could help them in serious medical conditions and which are relatively cheap. 40 tablets produced by the well known established pharma company Baidyanath costs only Rs. 116.10 (tax included). The usual course for simple ailments is two tablets a day for a month. There is a conspiracy to prevent Indians from making cheap drugs for serious conditions by spreading false information and we should be aware of this. A caveat - please buy drugs from reputed companies based on prescriptions from qualified and experienced *Vaidyars*.
--- 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/