What Is Bhasma? Ayurvedic Minerals Explained Honestly

A bhasma is an Ayurvedic preparation made by purifying a mineral, metal, shell or gem and then repeatedly heating it with herbal juices until it becomes a fine ash-like powder. Bhasmas belong to rasa shastra, the branch of Ayurveda that works with minerals and metals. Some are made from calcium-rich materials such as coral, pearl and shell; others are made from metals such as iron, gold, lead or mercury. That difference is at the heart of the safety debate, which this guide sets out as plainly and fairly as we can.

Where bhasmas come from: rasa shastra

Early Ayurvedic texts such as the Charaka Samhita rely mainly on plants. The use of minerals and metals expanded greatly in the medieval period with the rise of rasa shastra, a name usually translated as “the science of mercury”. Rasa shastra texts, such as the Rasaratna Samuchchaya, set out detailed methods for purifying and transforming minerals into forms they considered suitable for internal use.

In India today, herbo-mineral preparations remain part of mainstream Ayurvedic practice and are made by licensed manufacturers.

How a bhasma is made

Classical methods vary for each material, but most follow the same broad stages.

• Shodhana (purification): the raw material is heated and quenched, or boiled, in liquids such as oil, buttermilk, cow’s urine or herbal decoctions. The texts describe this as removing impurities and unwanted qualities.
• Marana (incineration): the purified material is ground with herbal juices, formed into small cakes, sealed in clay pots and heated in a pit or furnace. One heating cycle is called a puta. Some bhasmas go through a few cycles; others are described as needing dozens or even hundreds.
• Jarana and other steps: mercury-based preparations involve further specialist processes.
• Classical quality tests: a finished bhasma was expected to be fine enough to fill the lines of the fingertips (rekhapurnatva), light enough to float on water (varitara) and, for some materials, to have lost its metallic shine.

Modern studies using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy report that many bhasmas consist of very fine particles, often in the sub-micron or nanometre range, and that processing changes their chemical form. For example, a metal may end up as an oxide or sulphide. Supporters see this as evidence that classical processing makes the material safer. Others point out that the presence of a fine particle or a different compound does not, on its own, prove safety in people.

Bhasma or pishti?

You will see both words on labels. A pishti is made without fire: the purified material, such as coral or pearl, is ground for a long time with rose water or another liquid and then dried. Praval pishti and mukta pishti are common examples. A bhasma is made with repeated heating. Ayurvedic texts describe pishtis as cooler and gentler, and bhasmas as more potent. Chemically, a coral pishti and a coral bhasma are both largely calcium compounds.

Common bhasmas and what they are made from

Name	Source material	Main chemical type	Notes
Praval (bhasma or pishti)	Red coral	Calcium carbonate	One of the most widely sold; found in Praval Panchamrut
Mukta (bhasma or pishti)	Pearl	Calcium carbonate	Often combined with praval
Shankh bhasma	Conch shell	Calcium carbonate	Traditionally used in digestive formulas
Godanti bhasma	Gypsum	Calcium sulphate	Traditionally used in cooling formulas
Abhrak bhasma	Mica	Silicate mineral containing iron, magnesium and other elements	Classically described as a rasayana; many puta cycles
Mandur bhasma	Iron oxide from processed iron rust or slag	Iron oxide	An iron preparation; found in a number of classical and proprietary formulas
Swarna bhasma	Gold	Gold (elemental or compounds)	Used in small amounts in premium rasayanas
Rasa sindoor, Naga bhasma and similar	Mercury, lead and other metals	Mercury sulphide, lead compounds	The group most linked to toxic-metal concerns

The table shows why “bhasma” is not one thing. A shell-based calcium powder and a mercury-based preparation share a name and a method, but carry very different risks.

The heavy-metal debate: what studies found

• 2004, Boston: a JAMA study by Saper and colleagues found that 14 of 70 Ayurvedic products bought in South Asian shops (20%) contained lead, mercury or arsenic. If taken as directed, each could lead to intakes above regulatory safety standards.
• 2008, online purchases: a second JAMA study tested 193 products bought online. About 21% contained detectable lead, mercury or arsenic, with similar rates for US-made and Indian-made products. Rasa shastra products were more than twice as likely to contain metals as purely herbal ones (roughly 40% compared with 17%), and every product with detectable metals exceeded at least one accepted daily limit.
• 2005, UK: the MHRA advised the public not to use several named unlicensed Ayurvedic products that might contain high levels of heavy metals, following a similar warning from Health Canada.
• 2025, US: the FDA warned consumers not to use a product called Rheumacare after testing found high levels of lead and mercury, following a report of a person with very high blood lead levels.

Rasa shastra practitioners respond that these metals are added on purpose, that classical processing changes them into less harmful forms, and that properly made bhasmas should not be judged in the same way as accidental contamination. Some Indian studies have reported no toxicity in animals over short periods. Critics, including the authors of the JAMA studies, argue that the processed forms have not been fully characterised and that long-term safety in people has not been shown. Recent reviews from both sides agree on one thing: there are still gaps in heavy-metal safety data and in standardisation.

The fair summary is that calcium-based bhasmas made from shell, coral or pearl are a different category from metal-based ones, but every bhasma depends on good raw materials, correct processing and testing.

How India regulates them

Several Indian rules reflect these concerns.

• Schedule E(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules lists potent substances, including mercury (parada). Ayurvedic medicines for internal use that contain a listed substance must carry the warning “Caution: To be taken under medical supervision” in English and Hindi.
• In 2022, India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority told e-commerce sites to sell such medicines only when a valid prescription is uploaded.
• Since 2006, purely herbal Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines for export have had to be tested for heavy metals. Reports from the time noted that herbo-mineral preparations were not officially exported.

The UK position

The UK has no separate legal category for bhasmas. Products sold here as food supplements must be safe and must meet legal maximum levels for contaminants: in Great Britain these are 3.0 mg/kg for lead, 1.0 mg/kg for cadmium and 0.1 mg/kg for mercury in food supplements as sold. Any product that claims to treat or prevent disease would fall under medicines law, and the MHRA can act against unlicensed medicines. The MHRA also asks people to report suspected side effects from herbal products through the Yellow Card scheme.

In practice, preparations deliberately made from mercury or lead would struggle to meet these contaminant limits, so they are not suitable as over-the-counter supplements. Calcium-based preparations and mineral-free herbal products are far more common on UK shelves.

What to look for if you choose a bhasma product

• Read the full ingredient list. Look for the words bhasma, pishti, ras or rasa, and for the source material. Calcium-based ingredients (praval, mukta, shankh, shukti, kapardika) are a different matter from metals such as naga (lead), parada (mercury) or rasa sindoor.
• Check for the medical supervision caution. If it is there, do not take the product without a qualified practitioner’s advice.
• Ask about testing. A reputable seller should be able to say whether the product, ideally the batch, has been tested for lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium.
• Keep to the label and to short courses, unless a practitioner advises otherwise. Do not combine several mineral products.
• Avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding and in children, and speak to your GP if you have kidney problems or take regular medicines. Calcium-based preparations can affect how some medicines are absorbed, such as certain antibiotics and thyroid medicines, so ask a pharmacist about timing.
• Stop and see a GP if you develop symptoms such as unusual tiredness, stomach pain, constipation, headaches, tingling or a metallic taste. A blood test can check lead levels.

Bhasma products at KantiGlow

We stock a small number of mineral preparations. Dabur Praval Panchamrut is a classical herbo-mineral formula built on calcium-based ingredients such as coral, pearl and conch shell preparations; check the pack for the full list. Basic Ayurveda Abhrak Bhasma is a mica preparation that Ayurvedic tradition describes as a rasayana; it is a more specialist product and best used with guidance from a practitioner. For contrast, Patanjali Divya Medha Vati is a herbal tablet. As always, read the label to see whether any version you buy includes mineral ingredients. You can see more in our Ayurvedic tonics collection.

For the wider picture, read Is Ayurveda safe? Our UK guide and our overview of authentic Indian Ayurvedic brands.

Sources and further reading

• Saper RB et al. “Heavy metal content of Ayurvedic herbal medicine products.” JAMA, 2004;292(23):2868–2873.
• Saper RB et al. “Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US- and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet.” JAMA, 2008;300(8):915–923.
• US Food and Drug Administration. “FDA warns about heavy metal poisoning associated with certain unapproved Ayurvedic drug products”, fda.gov, December 2025.
• MHRA warning on unlicensed Ayurvedic products and heavy metals, reported by NutraIngredients, 19 August 2005, nutraingredients.com
• Commission Regulation (EC) No 629/2008 (maximum levels of lead, cadmium and mercury in food supplements), legislation.gov.uk/eur/2008/629
• Solanke D, Patil U. “Nanotechnology-based reinterpretation of bhasma as Ayurvedic nanomedicine: a review.” Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 2026;15(4).

Frequently asked questions

What is a bhasma in Ayurveda?

A bhasma is a fine powder made by purifying a mineral, metal, shell or gem and repeatedly heating it with herbal juices. It belongs to rasa shastra, the branch of Ayurveda that works with minerals and metals.

Are bhasmas safe?

It depends on the material and the quality of manufacture. Calcium-based bhasmas from coral, pearl or shell are different from metal-based ones containing mercury or lead, which are linked to toxic-metal concerns in published studies. Choose tested products, follow the label, and speak to a healthcare professional first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have kidney problems or take medicines.

What is the difference between bhasma and pishti?

A bhasma is made with repeated heating, while a pishti is made without fire by grinding the purified material with rose water or another liquid and drying it. Praval and mukta are sold in both forms.

Why do some Ayurvedic products say “to be taken under medical supervision”?

Indian law requires this warning on medicines for internal use that contain a substance listed in Schedule E(1), such as mercury. It means the product should not be self-selected and should only be used on the advice of a qualified practitioner.

Can I buy bhasma products in the UK?

Some calcium-based and herbo-mineral products are sold in the UK as food supplements, which must meet legal limits for lead, cadmium and mercury. Metal-based rasa preparations are a different matter, and you should not take them without qualified advice.

This guide is for general information and is not medical advice. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision, speak to a healthcare professional before using herbal supplements.