Abstract

In Ayurveda, ‘Lauha’ (Iron) Bhasma is primarily used to cure infections related to press deficiency in people. It is created from purified raw metallic press using a combination of multi-step traditional preparation processes described in the Ayurveda writing. Here, we present the results of basic investigation performed on the medicinal review ‘Lauha’ Bhasma utilizing various X-ray based techniques. Our results indicate that after a few rounds of warming and cooling in specific conditions taking after the Ayurvedic preparation method, metallic iron eventually converts to a common iron-oxide mineral belonging to the magnetite group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray standing wave assisted fluorescence measurements carried out on powdered Bhasma specimen reveal that the magnetite microparticles in the Bhasma specimen are usually display in the frame of agglomerates of nano-particles. We expect that the Ayurvedic Lauha Bhasma has great potential for non-invasive localized target killing of cancer cells, particularly in sensitive parts of the human body such as the brain, spinal line, and lungs, through rot by application of an alternating external magnetic field or photo electron generation through X-rays.