STANDARDISATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF MERCURY EXTRACTION FROMCINNABAR (HINGULA) USING THE NADA YANTRA METHOD IN AYURVEDICPRACTICE

The extraction of mercury (Parada) from cinnabar (Hingula) is a critical process in Ayurvedic medicine, particu-larly for use in metallic and mineral formulations known as Rasayoga. Traditional methods for mercury extrac-tion, such as Urdhva Patana (upward sublimation), Adhah Patana (downward sublimation), and Tiryanka Pat-ana (transverse sublimation), face challenges in terms of efficiency and environmental concerns. This research addresses contemporary efficiency, safety, and environmental issues while creating a refined and standardised procedure for extracting mercury (Parada) from cinnabar (Hingula) utilising conventional Ayurvedic techniques. This study aims to refine mercury extraction by applying the Nada Yantra method, a specific approach detailed in classical Ayurvedic texts. A series of pharmaceutical trials developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) to optimise mercury yield from Hingula with and without purification (Shodhana). The process involves a series of sublimations following purification steps and a series of sublimations without purification, ensuring effective procurement of mercury for medicinal use. The study successfully standardises and compares mercury extraction from cinnabar with and without purification using the Nada Yantra method, yielding approximately 60% and 45 % purified mercury, respectively. This optimised process is efficient, environmentally considerate, and suitable for modern Ayurvedic practices, ensuring safe and high-quality mercury for medicinal use without additional pu-rification steps for Parada Shodhana. The project aims to create a repeatable standard operating procedure (SOP) for mercury extraction using the Nada Yantra technique, which has its roots in ancient writing but has been up-dated for modern applications. This method offers a reproducible and efficient means of obtaining purified mer-cury, suitable for modern Ayurvedic pharmaceutical practices. Enhancing the quality and yield of mercury for use in Ayurvedic medicinal formulations by improved extraction techniques would ensure that the material is safe, effective, and comply with environmental and regulatory requirements.