Morphology Description (Habit):

Abhrak Bhasma is prepared by purifying (Shodhana), processing (Jaarana) and calcinating (Maarana) biotite mica.

FEG-SEM studies showed that the grains in Abhraka Bhasma were heterogenous and in aggregates of particle size between 19 nm and 88 nm. The grains were found to be irregular in shape ranging from spherical to oblong.1

Chemical and structural modifications in mica occur during mica-based drug preparation in traditional medicine. Purification steps particularly influence the structural distortion while heating and quenching can form nano-size particles. Carboxylic acids and other organic molecules present in quenching media serve as chemical modifiers of mica. At the same time the toxic elements are leached out from mica to the quenching media through an ion exchange process. Mica ash has been successfully used for treating liver, kidney and skin related ailments in traditional medicine, and mica ash alone or its herbo-metallic formulations have different applications.2

Chemistry:

In an analytical evaluation, Abhrak Bhasma proved to be brick red in colour, lusterless, fine, had floating character, tasteless, without alloy, smooth and tangible. The modern analytical method EDXRF revealed the presence of Fe (22%) as a major element and Ca, K and Si in low concentrations, their concentration being 11%, 8% and 13% respectively. Mg (4%), Al (2%) and Ti (1%) were present as minor elements while Sodium, Chlorine, and Phosphorous were present in traces (<1%).1

As per Ayurveda:

           Rasa (Taste)                 : Tasteless

           Guna (Property)           : Light, dry

           Veerya (Potency)         : Cold

           Vipaka (End Result)      : ---

Pharmacological Actions:

Recent analytical data reveals that major and minor elements in mica ash are within the limits of pharmacopoeial standards for Ayurvedic formulations. Further, recent studies show that mica ash has hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, anthelminthic and antimicrobial properties.2

Abhrak Bhasma is useful in Raktapitta and Vataja disorders. It is an alterative that strengthens the system. The primary pharmacological actions of Abhrak Bhasma are summarized as under:

Respiratory System:

i. Useful in the management of chronic lung disorders, such as Asthma.

Digestive System:

i. Abhrak Bhasma has been observed to possess dose dependent curative effects against CCl4 intoxicated liver and kidneys functions.3

Indications:

Diarrhea, Anemia

Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma

Hepatitis

Chronic Dysentery

Impaired immunity

General weakness

References:

1. Bhatia B, Kale PG. Analytical evaluation of an Ayurvedic Formulation ? Abhraka Bhasma. Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res. 2013; 23(1): 17-23.

2. Wijenayake A, Pitawala A, Bandara R, Abayasekara C. The role of herbometallic preparations in traditional medicine - A review on mica drug processing and pharmaceutical applications. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014 Jun 30. pii: S0378-8741(14)00499-1.

3. Parashuram B Teli, Priti B Chougule Jaywant T Jadhav and Aruna A Kanase. Curative effect of abhrak bhasma on liver and kidney functions in carbon tetrachloride intoxicated albino rats. International Journal of Bioassays. 2014; 3(1).

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