Shringa Bhasma

November 12, 2015Last Updated: March 28, 2019

4 minutes read

Shringa Bhasma is a calcined ayurvedic medicine used as expectorant. The expectorant action of Shringa Bhasma is comparable with all modern/allopathic expectorants. Shringa Bhasma is beneficial in pleurisy, pneumonia, influenza, productive cough, common cold, chest pain, angina pectoris, chronic fever, fever in tuberculosis, bone disorders, rickets, pyorrhea, pyelonephritis etc.

Ingredients & Composition

Shringa Bhasma is prepared from deer horns (Deer Antler Velvet). The bhasma is made from the dry and solidified antler pieces.

However, deer antlers have very nutritive value if they obtained before maturing (before solidifying into bones), but in ayurveda, immature horns are not used for making bhasma. Mature antlers still have a good nutritive value, but the burning process (calcination) used for making bhasma in ayurveda destroys most of its nutrients and only therapeutic value remains.

The burnt powder of the dry antlers is further processed in latex of Calotropis Procera (AAK, Rubber bush, apple of Sodom) and again calcined in absence of air. This process is repeated for 3 times to obtain a good quality of bhasma. This process also increases its expectorant and mucolytic properties.

Chemical Composition

However, the chemical composition of Deer Antlers is altered during the process of calcination used for making Shringa Bhasma and most of nutrients get destroyed. Still Shring Bhasma contains calcium, zinc, magnesium and some heat stable amino acids. Heat stable amino acids also decrease during the process of calcination.

Medicinal Properties

Shringa Bhasma mainly acts as expectorant and mucolytic. A list of medicinal properties of Shring bhasma is given below:

Expectorant
Mucolytic
Antitussive
Bacteriostatic
Antibacterial
Antimicrobial
Mild Anodyne
Mild Antipyretic

Therapeutic Indications

Shringa Bhasma is used in respiratory disorders accompany with a productive cough, wheezing, chest congestion, chest tightness, chest pain or fever. The main therapeutic indications include:

Productive Cough
Bronchitis
Pleurisy
Pneumonia
Intercostal Neuralgia
Influenza
Common Cold
Chest Pain
Angina Pectoris
Chronic Fever or Fever in Tuberculosis
Rickets
Pyorrhea
Pyelonephritis

Benefits & Medicinal Uses

Shringa Bhasma is mainly beneficial in respiratory disorders and bone disorders. It also provides strength the bones, joints, cartilages, lungs and heart.

Productive Cough

Shringa Bhasma helps clearing the lungs and airways. It is used when there is a need to regulate mucous secretion. In ayurveda, the following combination is helpful in management of productive cough.

Remedies	Quantity
Sitopaladi Churna	2 grams *
Shringa Bhasma	125 mg *
Tankan Bhasma	250 mg *
Praval Pishti	125 mg *
* Twice a day with Honey

This combination acts as antitussive and melts the thick mucus, which helps clearing the lungs easier and gives relief in cough.

Angina Pectoris

Shringa Bhasma, Heerak Bhasma, and Swarna Bhasma are ayurvedic remedies that help in angina pectoris and chest pain.

Shringa Bhasma alone can help in mild to moderate cases when used with 5 ml Ghee. This combination improves blood flow to the heart muscle and reduces tightness and pain in the chest. It also reduces squeezing sensation. In severe cases, Shringa Bhasma may not work alone and a following combination may require.

Remedies	Quantity
Shringa Bhasma	250 mg *
Hirak Bhasma	5 mg *
Swarna Bhasma	10 mg *
Pushkarmool	250 mg *
Praval Pishti	250 mg *
* Twice a day with Ghee (Clarified Butter)

Pleurisy

Pleurisy occurs due to inflammation of pleura (thin serous membrane around the lungs). It causes sharp chest pain, which get worse during breathing. Pleurisy can occur due to several causes. In addition to treating underlying causes, Shringa Bhasma is used for pleuritic pain management in ayurveda. The following ayurvedic combination helps in pleuritic pain.

Remedies	Quantity
Shringa Bhasma	250 mg *
Long pepper (Pippali) Churna	125 mg *
Honey	1 tsp. *
* Twice or thrice a day

Fever in Tuberculosis

Shringa Bhasma has bacteriostatic action, which most likely to appear in tuberculosis. It inhibits the growth of Mycobacterium tubercle. However, Shringa Bhasma plays a supportive role in tuberculosis and the main medicine is Swarna Bhasma. Along with Praval Pishti, it reduces fever, body aches, and debility.

Rickets

Shringa Bhasma (125 mg) along with Praval Pishti (250 mg) and Godanti Bhasma (250 mg) improves bone health in rickets. It also provides strength to the child and improves overall growth.

Pyelonephritis

Shringa Bhasma has antimicrobial action and dries up the pus, which helps in management of kidney infections. When used with Vanga Bhasma, Chandraprabha Vati and Chandanasava, it provides relief from kidney infection, bladder infection and reduces pus in the urine.

Dosage & Administration

The general dosage of Shringa Bhasma is as follows.
Infants	20 to 60 mg *
Children	50 to 125 mg *
Adults	125 to 375 mg *
Pregnancy	50 to 125 mg *
Geriatric (Old age)	125 to 250 mg *
Maximum Possible Dosage (per day or in 24 hours)	750 mg (in divided doses)
* Twice a day with following adjuvants

Best Adjuvants

Condition	Adjuvants
For expectorant action	Misri (crystalline sugar) = 3 grams
For reducing sputum production	Honey = 1 tsp.
To reduce runny nose or thin mucus	Paan (Betel Leaf) = 1 leaf
Chest pain due to problem in the lungs	Long pepper (125 mg) and honey (1 tsp.)
Angina Pain (Angina Pectoris)	Ghee (Clarified Butter) (5 ml)
Fever in Tuberculosis	Praval Pishti (250 mg) and Giloy Satva (250 mg)
Low bone density, Osteoporosis, Rickets	Praval Pishti (250 mg) and Godanti Bhasma (250 mg)