Loha (Iron): Types, Shodhana, Marana, Qualities, Dosage

Iron is not just taken as a dietary supplement in Ayurveda; it is also used in various forms, such as herbal preparations and minerals, to treat a range of conditions, including liver and spleen disorders, diabetes, abdominal colicky pain, and anemia. Loha or Iron is a metallic chemical element with the symbol Fe (Latin: Ferrum) and atomic number 26.
Fresh iron surfaces are lustrous and silvery- grey in color, but oxidize in air to from a red or down coating of ferric oxide or rust. Iorn is essencial to nearly all known orgaisms. In cells, iron is generally stored in the centre of metalloponents) can catalyse production of toxic free radicals. Iron deficiency can lead to deficiency anemia.
Its relative density is 7.7 , melting point is 1600 degree C.
Table of Contents
Synonyms
Availability
Ores of Iron
Types of Loha
Suitable characteristics of Loha
Qualities
Adverse effect of improper use of Loha
Shodana

• Samanya Shodhana - General purification
• Vishesha Shodhana - Special purification

Samanya Shodhana - General purification
Vishesha Shodhana - Special purification
Marana of Loha
Dosage
Medicines of iron
Trividha Loha Paka

• Bhanupaka
• Sthalipaka
• Putapaka

Bhanupaka
Sthalipaka
Putapaka
Loha Bhasma Amrutikarana
Synonyms
Loha, Ayasa, Shastrala, Teekshnaka, Kaalaayasa, Aayasa.
Availability
It is available in many nations in variable quantities. In India , it available in abundancy in Bihar, Odisha, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh etc
Ores of Iron
Iron ores are rockes and minerals from which metallic Iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in Iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple to rusty red. The Iron itself is usually found in the form of magnetite (Fe3O4), Hematite(Fe2O3), goethic (FeO(OH)), Limonite (FeO(OH).n (H2O)) or siderite (FeCO3)
Types of Loha

Munda Loha - (cast Iron or Pig Iron)

Teekshna Loha (Wrught Iron)

Kanta Loha ( Magnetic Iron ore or Magnetite)

Munda Loha - (cast Iron or Pig Iron)
Teekshna Loha (Wrught Iron)
Kanta Loha ( Magnetic Iron ore or Magnetite)
Munda Loha is of 3 types -

Mrudu Munda

Kunta Munda

Kadara munda

<strong>Teekshna (piercing) Loha is of 6 types
1. Khara Teekshna (piercing)
2. Saara teekshna
3. Hrunnala Teekshna (piercing)
4. Taravatta Teekshna (piercing)
5. Vaajira Teekshna (piercing)
6. Kaalaloha Teekshna (piercing)
Kantaloha is 5 types.
1. Bhraamaka Kantaloha
2. Chumbaka Kantaloha
3. Karshaka Kantaloha
4. Draavaka Kantaloha
5. Romakanta Kantaloha

Mrudu Munda
Kunta Munda
Kadara munda

Teekshna (piercing) Loha is of 6 types
1. Khara Teekshna (piercing)
2. Saara teekshna
3. Hrunnala Teekshna (piercing)
4. Taravatta Teekshna (piercing)
5. Vaajira Teekshna (piercing)
6. Kaalaloha Teekshna (piercing)
Kantaloha is 5 types.
1. Bhraamaka Kantaloha
2. Chumbaka Kantaloha
3. Karshaka Kantaloha
4. Draavaka Kantaloha
5. Romakanta Kantaloha
Suitable characteristics of Loha
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mundacchatadhikam tiksnam tiksnatkantam satadhikam |
mundattiksnam tatah kantam jneyam tu gunavattaram |
ausadharthe tato yojyam tiksnam va kantamuttamam|| (rasamrta 3/131)
Of all the types of Loha Bhasma - Bhasma prepared from Iron is the best. Teekshna (piercing) Loha is of medium qualities and Munda Loha is of inferior qualities. Teekshna (piercing) loha is 100 times betters than Munda loha and kanta loha is 100 times better than Teekshna (piercing) loha. Hence , for therapeutic purposes, Kantaloha is to be used.
Read more about Loha Bhasma here
Qualities
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ayuspradata balaviryakarta rogapraharta madanasya karta|
ayahsamanam na hi kincidanyadrasayanam srestatamam hi janto || (ra.ra.sa. 5/149)
Loha is potent rejuvenative. It improves life expextancy, unctuous, calms tridosas, useful in the treatment of Prameha, Shoola, Gulma, Pleeha - useful in spleen disorders, yakrut, Pandu, Udara diseases, and useful in many disease with suitable Anupanas.
Adverse effect of improper use of Loha
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sandavakustamayamrtyudam bhaveda hrdrogasulau kurute'smarim ca |
nanarujanam ca tatha prakopam karoti hrllasamasuddhaloham || ( a.pra. 3/224)
Decreases age, causes impotency, skin disorders, heart diseases, Shoola etc.

Shodana
Samanya Shodhana - General purification
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taile takre gavam mutre hyaranale kulatthaje|
kramannisecayettamam drave drave tu saptadha ||
svarnadiloha patranam suddhiresam prasasyate | (ra. ra sa 5/13)
General method of purification for all Lohas including Swarna
The Lohas are made into thin sheets, heated in fire till red hot and dipped in Taila - Sesame oil - Sesamum indicum - 768 ml (gingelly oil), Takra ( buttermilk), Gomutra - Cow urine, Kanji - Fermented gruel and Kulattha Kwatha (decoction of horsegram) for 7 times each.
Vishesha Shodhana - Special purification
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kvathyamastagune toye triphalasodasam palam |
tatkvatho padasese tu lohasya palapancakam ||
krtva patrani taptani saptavaram nisecayet |
evam praliyate dhaturgirijo lohasambhava: || (ra ra. sa 5/102-103)
Loha powder is heated and dipped in Triphala Kwatha for seven times.
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sasaksatajasamlitpam trivaram paritapitam |
mundadisakalam loham sarvadosanvimuncati ||(ra.ra.sa 5/102)
Loha powder is heated and dipped in Rabbit's blood for three times
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samudralavanopetam taptam nirvapitam khalu |
triphalakvathite nunam giridosamayastyajeta ||(ra.ra.sa 5/204)
Loha is smeared with Sea salt and heated and dipped in Triphala decoction for seven times.\
Marana of Loha
Incineration of Iron:
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atha purvoditam tiksnam vasubhallakavasayo: |
putitam patratoyena trimsadvarani yatnatah ||
sonitam jayate bhasma krtasinduravibhramam |(ra.ra. sa 5/116)

yadva tiksnadalodbhutam rajasca triphalajalai: |
pistva dattvaudanam kinciccakrikam pravidhaya ca ||
sosayitva'tiyatnena prapacetpancabhih putai : |
raktavarnam hi tadbhasma yojaniyam yathatatham ||(ra.ra.sa 5/117-118)

samagandhamayascurnam kumarivaribhavitam |
putikrtam kiyatkalamavasyam mriyate hyayah ||(ra.ra.sa. 5/ 126)

atha purvoditam tiksnam vasubhallakavasayo: |
putitam patratoyena trimsadvarani yatnatah ||
sonitam jayate bhasma krtasinduravibhramam |(ra.ra. sa 5/116)
yadva tiksnadalodbhutam rajasca triphalajalai: |
pistva dattvaudanam kinciccakrikam pravidhaya ca ||
sosayitva'tiyatnena prapacetpancabhih putai : |
raktavarnam hi tadbhasma yojaniyam yathatatham ||(ra.ra.sa 5/117-118)
samagandhamayascurnam kumarivaribhavitam |
putikrtam kiyatkalamavasyam mriyate hyayah ||(ra.ra.sa. 5/ 126)
Marana Incineration
Loha powder is added with 1 1/2 parts of Hingula, given Bhavana with Kumai swarasa and cakes are prepared, subjected to seven Gajaputas of heat to get Loha Bhasma
Loha powder is given Bhavana with Punarnava - Spreading Hogweed - Boerhaavia diffusa swarasa and vasapatraswarasa and subjected to 30 Gajaputas of heat to get Lohabhasma
Loha choorna is subjected to Bhavaba with Triphala decoction and 1/4th part rice is added chakrikas are prepared. This is subjected to 10 putas of heat to get good quality Loha Bhasma.
To Loha choorna equal quantity of sulphur is added and triturated with Kumari - Aloe vera Swarasa and Subjected to 10 Puta.
Read related: Loha Bhasma: Benefits, Dosage, Ingredients, Side Effects
Dosage
1/4 - 2 Ratti (31.25 mg to 250 mg) in divided doses per day
Medicines of iron
Loha Parpati
Saptamruta Loha
Navayasa Loha Bhasma
Dhatri Loha
Trividha Loha Paka
Apart from the regular marana procedure of Lohas, 3 special methods of Paka is mentioned to obtain Lohsbhasma. The bhasma made with these techniques will be of very high quality. Triphala kwatha is used in all the three methods. But nowadays this practice is very rarely seen.
Procedure of preparation of Loha bhasma is called Trividha Lohapaka. As the name suggests, it is prepared in 3 stages.
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prathamam bhanupakena sthalipakattatah param |
putapakena pakvanca lauham sumrtimapnuyat ||(ra.ta. 20/20)

Loha Bhanupaka

Loha Sthalipaka

Loha Putapaka

Loha Bhanupaka
Loha Sthalipaka
Loha Putapaka
Bhanupaka
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varakvathayutam lauham bhanoh prakharabhanubhi: |
susyan vicyate yasmad bha?nupakastatah smrtah || (ra.ta. 20/21)
Bhanupaka- Purified Loha powder is mixed with Triphala kwatha and kept under sun light. Once the kwatha dries of due to heat, again it is added to the powder and heated in sun light. Such a method of making Lohabhasma is called as Bhanupaka. For this purpose, Triphala is taken in 3 parts to that of Loha, added with 2 times water and reduced to 1/4 th .
Sthalipaka
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triphakvathitopetam loham sthalyam kharagnina |
susyan vipacyate yatnat sthalipa?kastatah srtah || (ra. ta. 20/25)
Sthalipaka - The Loha , that has undergone Bhanupaka is taken in a wide mouthed iron vessel, added with Triphala Kwatha and subjected to Treervragni. When the Kwatha is completely evaporated , fresh Kwatha is again added. For this purpose, Triphala is taken three times to the quantity of Loha, added with 16 parts of water and reduced to 1/8th . such a decoction is used. Shatavari, Bhrungaraja, Haridra (turmeric - Curcuma longa) are also used in place of Triphala.
Putapaka
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rasadibhirbhesajanam khalve lauham vimarditam |
putastham pacyate yasmat putapakastatah smrtah ||(ra.ta. 20/31)
Putapaka- It is done after Sthalipaka. The Loha powder is triturated with suitable decoctions, cakes are prepared, dried, placed inside a samputa and subjected to putapaka.
Read more about Puta Prakarana of Rasashastra here
Abhraka and Loha are two such substances, wherein the quality of Bhasma increases with the number of Putas.
The Loha subjected to 1 Puta is useful in Rasakarma. [metal and Parada related procedures]
The Loha subjected to 100 Putas with Kshara has therapeutic benefits.
The Loha subjected to 100 - 1000 Putas is useful for rejuvenative purposes.
The Loha subjected to 10-500 Putas is useful for aphrodisiac purposes.
Loha Bhasma Amrutikarana
Loha Bhasma is added with Triphala Kwatha and subjected to Paka. By this ,the remnant Doshas in Loha Bhasma will be nullified. For this purpose, Triphala is taken twice to that of Loha Bhasma, added with 4 times water and reduced to 1/4th.



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