Loha Bhasma: Benefits, Dosage, Ingredients, Side Effects, Preparation

Loha Bhasma is an Ayurvedic medicine prepared from Iron. It is used in Ayurvedic treatment of anemia, eye disorders, skin diseases etc. This medicine should only be taken strictly under medical supervision.

Uses

  • It is nourishing, sweet, sour and bitter in taste.
  • It is coolant in nature and heavy to digest.
  • It has scraping quality, hence useful in cardiovascular diseases.
  • It improves strength, immunity, skin texture, complexion, memory, intelligence, digestive power and acts as natural aphrodisiac.
  • It is useful in gastric complaints, skin diseases, eye disorders, bloating, splenomegaly, helminthiasis, obesity, diabetes, vomiting, asthma, bronchitis, herpes, abdominal colic, chronic respiratory disorders, liver disorders, piles, fistula, chronic diseases, emaciation, muscle wasting, dizziness, delusion.

Effect of Lohabhasmam on Tridosha – Balances Kapha and Pitta.
Chemical composition: Iron – Fe.

Dosage

125 – 250 mg once or twice a day before or after food or as directed by Ayurvedic doctor. It is traditionally administered along with Honey, Ghee, Trikatu Churna, Triphala Churna, Turmeric.
Dosage of Loha Bhasma (Shatputi) is 125 mg to 250 mg with honey or water twice a day. Or as directed by the physician.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic/modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then, after a gap of 15 – 30 minutes, take Ayurvedic medicine or as directed by the physician.

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this be taken by a patient with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease)?
If the patient of CKD has iron deficiency anemia, then this medicine can be administered as per doctor’s advice.

With supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

Side Effects

  • This medicine should only be taken under strict medical supervision.
  • Self medication with this medicine may prove to be dangerous.
  • Over-dosage may cause severe side effects and gastritis.
  • Take this medicine in precise dose and for limited period of time, as advised by doctor.
  • Keep out of reach and sight of children. Store in a dry cool place.

Contents

Iron Bhasma preparation, ingredients, how to make:

Loha Bhasma is prepared from purified Iron. There are many different methods of preparation. Any one method can be used. Here is one such method.

Triphala – 100 grams is added with 80o ml of cow urine, boiled and reduced to 200 ml, filtered. This decoction is used to grind purified Iron, for 21 days, disc shaped cakes are prepared, taken in a closed container and heated in the absence of air in 800 – 900 degree celsius for 4 – 5 hours. Taken out, and again ground with Triphala – cow urine decotion for one day and again heated in the basence of air. This process is repeated for 21 times to obtain Iron Bhasma.

Loha Bhasma Shataputi is prepared from Iron (Purified), but incinerated for 100 times.

Reference: Rasamrit, 3/134-136
Reference of Loha Bhasma Shatputi – Ras tarangini.

Research article

After samanya shodhana, vishesha shodhana Marana was carried out bybhanupaka, sthalipaka and putapaka. During the putapaka process, an electric muffle furnace (EMF) was used. The temperature of puta was studied in two batches, viz. in Batch I, a temperature of 800°C was maintained whereas in Batch II, a temperature of 600°C was maintained. The purpose behind selecting two temperatures was to validate the process of marana of Lauha and to determine an ideal temperature for the preparation of Lauha Bhasma in EMF. It is found that after 20 puta at a temperature of 600°C, the Lauha Bhasma was prepared properly. The entire characteristic of Lauha Bhasma, like “pakwa jambu phala varna,” varitar, etc. was attained at 600°. At a temperature of 800°C, the process could not be carried out smoothly. The pellets turned very hard and brassy yellow in color. The desired color was attained only after decreasing the temperature in further puta.

By observing two batches, it is evident that Lauha Bhasma is better prepared at a temperature of 600°C in an EMF. In Batch I, it took 22 puta for the preparation of Bhasma and was 70% varitar. Batch II took 20 puta for complete conversion of the material to the Bhasma form, and was 75% varitar. Hence, it is revealed that a temperature of 600°C in the EMF is to be maintained for 1 h for preparing proper Lauha Bhasma.

Manufacturers

Uma Ayurvedics pvt. Ltd. Dabur, Divya Pharmacy, Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd. Baidyanath.
Baidyanath also manufactures Loha Bhasma Shatputi – 2.5 g.

Ayurvedic medicines with Lauh Bhasma as ingredient: 

Kumaryasava, Lohasava, Saubhagya Shunti, Manasamitra Vatakam

Test For Purity

What are the tests for purity of Loh Basm? 
Companies such as Dhootapapeshwar, Unjha are very reliable. The powder should be very fine so much so that they enter between the creases of your finger. When dropped slowly on a cup of water, at least 50 % of the bhasma powder should float.

Diet To Follow

Foods prohibited while Iron intake:
An ancient book Rasa jala Nidhi prohibits the following foods while taking iron Bhasm. But in practical, such harsh restrictions are not put on the patients.
lakucha, ber fruit, lemon fruit, Karonda, tintiri, chicken, goose, swan, water crow, crow, crane, black gram, tubors like potato, radish, bamboo shoots, Chana, kadamba fruit, ash gourd, cucumber, kevda, banana fruit, pot herbs, pulses.

Liver, Kidney Damage

Namaste 🙂
Do Iron containing Ayurvedic medicines such as Varadi Kashayam cause kidney or liver damage? 
Dr JV Hebbar  
Misinformation that Ayurvedic medicines cause liver and kidney damage is not going to die forever. Sigh! 
Any medicine of any medical system, which is not meant to be used in a particular disease, if used;
Any medicine which is administered in a very high dose than prescribed;
Any medicine taken unnecessarily for longer periods than prescribed, can cause many health issues, including liver and kidney damage. 

If a medicine, though very strong, contains the strongest of ingredients, used judiciously, for a limited period of time, in the right disease, with the right dose will revive kidneys and livers. 
These two time-tested rules apply to all medicines of all medical systems. 

Even excessive drinking of water can cause water intoxication, leading to seizures, brain damage, coma and death. 
People get addicted to consuming / using iodex, fevicol, fevibond, sanitizers, leading to many diseases. It does not mean that iodex causes diseases. It only means that some people use iodex in the wrong way. 

In Ayurveda, Iron is usually used after thorough purification (Shodhana) and incineration process (Marana). In these procedures, it is heavily processed with Triphala.
Finally obtained iron product is called Loha Bhasma. It is not just the Iron oxide. It contains elements of different herbs in it. 
Read: Concept Of Shodhana In Rasashastra – Purification Of Metals, Minerals

Bhavaprakasha textbook enlists the side effects of using unpurified, un-processed iron – 
पाण्डुत्वकुष्ठामयमृत्युदं भवेद्धृद्रोगशूलौ कुरुतेऽश्मरीञ्च |
नानारुजानाञ्च तथा प्रकोपं करोति हृल्लासमशुद्धलोहम् ||३९||
जीवहारि मदकारि चायसं चेदशुद्धिमदसंस्कृतं ध्रुवम् |
पाटवं न तनुते शरीरके दारुणां हृदि रुजाञ्च यच्छति ||४०||

pāṇḍutvakuṣṭhāmayamṛtyudaṃ bhaveddhṛdrogaśūlau kurute’śmarīñca |
nānārujānāñca tathā prakopaṃ karoti hṛllāsamaśuddhaloham ||39||
jīvahāri madakāri cāyasaṃ cedaśuddhimadasaṃskṛtaṃ dhruvam |
pāṭavaṃ na tanute śarīrake dāruṇāṃ hṛdi rujāñca yacchati ||40||

Meaning:
ayasaṃ aśuddhim  – If Iron is used without purification
adasaṃskṛtaṃ – if Iron is not processed properly,
aśuddhaloham – such an impure iron 
kurute – does / causes 
pāṇḍutva – paleness of skin
kuṣṭhāmaya – skin diseases
mṛtyudaṃ – death
bhavet hṛdrogaśūlau  – causes cardiac pain, cardiac disorders
kurute aśmarīñca – causes kidney stones 
nānā rujānāñca tathā – also causes different types of pains 
prakopaṃ karoti hṛllāsam – causes Dosha aggravation and nausea 
jīvahāri – it can take away life
madakāri – it can cause intoxication
pāṭavaṃ na tanute śarīrake – it causes harm to health 
dāruṇāṃ hṛdi rujāñca yacchati – it causes severe cardiac disorders 

So, ancient masters clearly knew how to use iron and how not to use it.
When the world was not knowing the i of the iron, Ayurvedic scholars were busy enlisting side effects and efficacy of Loha Bhasma.  
When it is properly purified, processed and used, Acharya Bhavamishra writes in Bhavaprakasha,  
लोहं तिक्तं सरं शीतं मधुरं तुवरं गुरु |
रूक्षं वयस्यं चक्षुष्यं लेखनं वातलं जयेत् ||३७||
कफं पित्तं गरं शूलं शोथार्शः प्लीहपाण्डुताः |
मेदोमेहकृमीन् कुष्ठं तत्किट्टं तद्वदेव हि ||३८||
lohaṃ tiktaṃ saraṃ śītaṃ madhuraṃ tuvaraṃ guru |
rūkṣaṃ vayasyaṃ cakṣuṣyaṃ lekhanaṃ vātalaṃ jayet ||37||
kaphaṃ pittaṃ garaṃ śūlaṃ śothārśaḥ plīhapāṇḍutāḥ |
medomehakṛmīn kuṣṭhaṃ tatkiṭṭaṃ tadvadeva hi ||38||

lohaṃ tiktaṃ – Iron is bitter
saraṃ – promotes bowel movement
śītaṃ – coolant
madhuraṃ – sweet
tuvaraṃ – astringent
guru – heavy to digest, takes long time to undergo digestion and metabolism
rūkṣaṃ – drying
vayasyaṃ – anti-aging
cakṣuṣyaṃ – promotes eye health, hence used in many eye care medicines such as Saptamrit loha
lekhanaṃ – has a scraping effect, useful against cholesterol deposition, atherosclerosis
vātalaṃ – slightly increases Vata Dosha
jayet – it wins over / cures / useful in 
kaphaṃ pittaṃ – Kapha and Pitta disorders such as obesity, high cholesterol, blood vessel, cardiac disorders
garaṃ – useful against chronic food poisoning
śūlaṃ – abdominal colic pain
śotha – inflammatory conditions, including anemia 
ārśaḥ – hemorrhoids
plīha – splenomegaly 
pāṇḍutāḥ – anemia, early stage liver disorder
medo – lipid disorders, fatty liver, obesity
meha – urinary tract disorders with frequent urination, diabetes
kṛmīn – intestinal worm infestation, microbial infections
kuṣṭhaṃ – and skin diseases. 
There are many research studies conducted on Loha bhasma like here, here and here, to prove its safety and efficacy. 

So, the key is to use iron or any medicine for that matter, in the right dose, in the right disease, in the right patient, for the right period of time, in the right form, after due processing.

Please consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
This article is written by Dr. Janardhana V Hebbar BAMS, MD (Ayu), PGDPSM, Managing Director, Easy Ayurveda Hospital.
It is reviewed by Dr. Shilpa Ramdas BAMS, MD (Ayu), Chief Ayurvedic Physician, Easy Ayurveda Hospital

47 thoughts on “Loha Bhasma: Benefits, Dosage, Ingredients, Side Effects, Preparation”

  1. Dr Hebbar
    I heard that taking bhasma regularly as a medicine can create kidney disorder. is it true that bhasma or metals in ayurvedic medicine can cause damage to kidney ???
    please clarify.

    Reply
    • Ideally, any Ayurveda medicine, including Bhasmas should not be continued longer than the prescribed time period.
      A very high dose of a few Bhasmas over a very long period of time may cause kidney issues.
      Not all Bhasmas end up in causing kidney damage.

      Reply
      • Hi, it can be taken for a long period of time (2 – 4 months). Dose can be gradually reduced to a tablet a day after initial one or two months of use. Please consult an Ayurveda doctor in person.

        Reply
        • Dear Dr. Hebbar
          I’m 47 (f, vegetarian), vata/pitta type and I have iron deficiency. I got the loha bhasma from Dabur. Which dosage do you recommend and for how long? Thank you very much.
          Kind regards

          Reply
  2. Hello Dr Jv hebbar M lauh bhasam ko mehandi, amla ,reetha,shikakayi powder ,lemon juice or coffee power k sath mix karke balo m lagati hu mere baal ab se white hone lge h isiliye mujhe colour karne or balo ko conditioning k liye ye sab lagana parta h kya ye sab shi h ya m kuch or apply kr sakti hu white balo k liye Koi natural chiz Jo balo ko harm na kre .m dye ya hair color k sakht khilaf hu in sb m chemical hote h mujge apne baal kharab nhi karne meri age ab 22 h plz help suggest something plz Dr.

    Reply
  3. Dr sahib main roz gym jata hun spirulina v use karta hun or doodh kay sath safed musli v leta hoon they work well i want increase size of muscle

    Reply
  4. Dear Doctor
    I want to use medari syrup and tablets for weight loss , is it safe to use and does medari gives results? On the hand am known case of hypertension and on medari website it is mentioned there it can also control blood pressure as well.
    Waiting for your kind advice.
    Thanks
    Umair

    Reply
    • Hello madam, If Loha Bhasma is not prepared according to the Classical Texts, then it may lead to:
      1. Black Stools
      2. Stomach Upset
      3. Nausea
      4. Diarrhea (which is very rare)

      Reply
  5. Hello Sir, This is how it is made:
    Triphala – 100 grams is added with 80o ml of cow urine, boiled and reduced to 200 ml, filtered. This decoction is used to grind purified Iron, for 21 days, disc shaped cakes are prepared, taken in a closed container and heated in the absence of air in 800 – 900 degree celsius for 4 – 5 hours. Taken out, and again ground with Triphala – cow urine decotion for one day and again heated in the basence of air. This process is repeated for 21 times to obtain Iron Bhasma.

    And Iron is purified by using many methods such as vishesha shodhana Marana by bhanupaka, sthalipaka and putapaka etc., so that there is no side effects and it does not harm the body.

    Reply
  6. Dr, is it safe to use vata gajangusha rasa? I read that it has high metal components. Metals are not usually absorbed by the body and affect the kidneys. Please clarify.

    Reply
    • Hi, usually in any heavy metal Ayurveda product, all the ingredients are processed and purified as per traditional Ayurveda and the quantity of each ingredient is kept well below the hazardous dose. hence, they are safe for a short period of time, in a minimal possible dose, when taken under strict medical supervision.

      Reply
  7. Doctor I have severe hair loss and am taking narashima rashayanam with loha bhasmam at night after food.hair growth is good.
    But hair fall not stopped. I have sebum kind of thick little wet powdery white dandruff kind of thing in my scalp. My hair texture s v v dry and frizy.kindly suggest me suitable oil/ external medicine and shampoo to get rid of this hair secretion.

    Reply
  8. Hi Dr. JV Hebber,

    I would like to have knowledge about a couple of things. First of all i need something which should provide strength to my body muscles as at the age of 36 my body muscles have started behaving bit awkward and I can feel pains and fatigue sometimes whereas I have never felt such in my life. Also I would want some suggestion on herbs which would help me loose some weight, especially from my stomach and chin and which should make me look more younger. Thanks.

    Reply
  9. Hello Rev. Ayurvedic Dr.,
    thanks for sharing such valuable information with us,

    Kindly help to advise is it good to take Loh Bhasma with Curd empty stomach.

    Reply
  10. Hi sir, I heard that if we will take this Loha basma with amrutha balli, thriphala, and honey for obesity will reduce. Can u please tell me in Wat proportion we have to take and wen to take on daily basis.

    Reply
  11. Hi Dr
    Is lauh chasms effective in treatment of chronic mild typhoid. As I had read that lauhasav should be taken for this. Please suggest.

    Thanks
    Abhay

    Reply
  12. Where can i get a medicine with the same composition ?
    https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/rasa-jala-nidhi-volume-3/d/doc219556.html

    I have serched through catalogs after catalogs in the internet. And found that all such digestive and carminatieves have senna and castor oil and these are not good for daily use. These two ingredeinets sort of kill the intestines if used daily.

    So ,, can anyone point me to a formulation which uses the same ingredients with lemon as bhavna ??

    Reply
    • Not all digestives and carminatives, made with Loha bhasma necessarily contain senna or castor oil. For example, Sarva Jvarahar Lauh.
      Another point is, any loha medicine is not good for daily use. It is only prescribed for a specific time period.

      Reply
  13. Dear Dr. Hebbar,

    I have been taking Shodhana Vati tablets, by Vyas Pharmaceuticals, 2 tablets once a day for a year. I feel it does me good and increases my sperm amount. Is it safe to continue taking indefinitely?

    Reply

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