Powder of the mango-kernel and iron powder are taken in equal parts, and triphala powder and nilanjana powder (glossed as blue vitriol or antimony) each equal to these two. The four powders are mixed with six times their quantity of triphala decoction and twice their quantity of sesame oil, rubbed well, filled into an iron vessel and buried in a heap of grain for four months. Then it is taken out and, after devout worship of the Lord, applied to the hair (a footnote: at night, washed off in the morning) and washed off with triphala decoction; even moon-white hair is said to become black like clouds and bees in a moment. The commentary adds that the same preparation made with bhasma of pure kanta iron is to be eaten, while observing good conduct.
Names and synonyms
- Sanskrit
- पलितनाशक लेप
- Hindi
- पलितनाशक लेप
- English
- Grey-hair removing paste (palitanashaka lepa)
Ingredients and preparation
Ingredients
| Ingredient | As written in the text | Quantity as written |
|---|---|---|
| Mango (amra)आम (आम्र) | आम्रास्थयंतरसारचूर्ण / आम की गुठली के मिंगी का चूर्ण | सम भाग (आम की गुठली की मिंगी का चूर्ण व लोहे का चूर्ण) · mango-kernel powder and iron powder in equal parts |
| Iron (loha)लोहा (लोह) | लोहस्य चूणँ / लोहे के चूर्ण; कांतलोह के भस्म | Not stated |
| Triphala (three fruits)त्रिफला | त्रिफलाविचूर्ण; त्रिफला पक्वोदक / त्रिफला चूर्ण; त्रिफला का काढा | पक्वोदकै: षड्गुणै: / छह गुना त्रिफला का काढा · six parts of triphala decoction |
| Antimony sulphide (anjana, sauviranjana)सुरमा (अंजन) | नीलांजन / नीलांजन (तूतिया वा सुग्मा) चूर्ण | इन दोनों के बराबर त्रिफला चूर्ण अैर नीलांजन चूर्ण · triphala powder and nilanjana powder each equal to the first two |
| Sesame oil (tila taila)तिल का तेल (तैल) | तैल / तिल का तेल | तैलेन द्विगुणोन / दुगुना तिल का तेल · two parts of sesame oil |
Preparation as described
The four powders are mixed with six parts of triphala decoction and two parts of sesame oil, rubbed well, put into an iron vessel and buried in a heap of grain for four months.
साथ) एकत्र कर इस में छह गुना त्रिफला का काढा अैर दुगुना तिल का तेल मिलाकर अच्छी तरह
How it is used
After worship it is applied to the hair, at night according to a footnote, and washed off with triphala decoction (in the morning). A version made with pure kanta iron bhasma is eaten, according to the commentary.
दें। पश्चात् उसे निकाल कर भगवान् की भक्रि भाव से पूजा करके बालों पर लेप1 करें एवं बाद में
Indicated for, as the text says
- Premature greying (palitya)(चंद्र के समान रहने वाले सफेद बाल)
Duration as written
four months buried in grain, during preparation · धान्ये मासचतुष्टयं / धान्य की राशि में चार महीने तक
Quantities are reported exactly as the source states them. They are historical measures, not dosage advice.
भावार्थ : आम की गुठली की मिंगी का चूर्ण व लोहे के चूर्ण को सम भाग लेवें। इन दोनों केSource wording as converted, Chapter 23 · p. 562 · v. 88-89.Safety
- Needs a trained practitioner. This procedure or preparation is of a kind that should only be carried out under qualified supervision.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, older adults, kidney or liver disease and other medicines all call for professional advice before any traditional remedy is used.
Questions and answers
What do the hair-blackening preparations of verses 88 to 101 have in common?
Every one of them contains iron powder, most also triphala and several nilanjana, bhringaraja, nili and sesame oil; most are matured in an iron vessel or a treated pot, often buried in a heap of grain, then worshipped and applied to the hair.
Detailed answer and sourcesAll references
Every page and verse of the source that this entry draws on.
Extraction notes
- Supervision is flagged for the iron and nilanjana powders and the iron bhasma taken internally. Footnote 1 on PDF 634: apply at night and wash off in the morning. The last quarter of verse 89 (विन्मस्यामललोहकांतकृतसद्वत्तं तु संधारयेत्) speaks of something made of pure kanta iron and the mouth; the commentary renders it as eating the preparation made with kanta iron bhasma, with good conduct.
Quick facts
- Content type
- Formulation
- Source pages with records
- 1
- Pages naming it
- 0
- Chapters
- Chapter 23
- Extraction tasks
- T26
- Record id
- formulation_palitanashaka_lepa_p634