Use of Metals as Medicines in Ayurveda.

The Ancient Ayurveda science emphasized the use of naturally occurring herbs in the treatment of health ailments. Later on in the era of around 100 BC the use of metals was discovered. The metals like Tin, Lead, Arsenic, Copper, Gold, Silver etc were used in the medicines. These metals were detoxified first with the use of special processes which included the juices of herbs, heating the metal various times with a special Yantra ( Equpment ). This detoxification was termed as Shodhana & Marana of the metal.
The metals were named as Bhasmas. These Bhasmas have special quality to treat any disease faster than normal herbal combination. So the use Bhasmas was increased day by day in the Ayurveda practice. The people were trying many metals to make them in the form of Gold. So people tried many forms of many metals to get the same. These techniques helped to evolve many other Bhasmas.
These Bhasmas were tried on various health ailments as per the properties of the metals used in them. Then it was observed that, Mercury is one of the metals which helps to act faster when it is mixed with other metals. So the use Mercury was being done in various forms of Bhasmas. The Mercury was purified with the help of 8 types of detoxification processes with the help of various herbs. And the use of it was done which used to give faster relief in many diseases.
Due to various reasons these Bhasmas are in some controversy in today's era. But if the Bhasma has been prepared in perfect format as directed in ancient texts, there should not be any problem regarding the residues of the same in any body part as claimed by various people. If the Shodhana & Marana is done as per the texts, there is not any problem to use these best medicines. Sadly, people today who use today's science as the base for any thing, can't take these best medicines for any health ailment.