Last verified: April 2026

Loha Bhasma — Calcined Iron

लोह भस्म — Loha (iron) + Bhasma (calcined ash)

Loha Bhasma is the primary classical Rasa Shastra preparation for Pandu (anaemia) — the most widely used metallic Bhasma in modern Ayurvedic clinical practice. Charaka Samhita documents iron preparations (Lauha) as the primary treatment for Pandu, and Rasa Shastra texts document the Bhasma form as the most bioavailable and best-tolerated iron preparation. Modern research has confirmed that properly prepared Loha Bhasma consists primarily of iron oxide nano-particles with documented higher relative bioavailability than ferrous sulfate (the standard pharmaceutical iron preparation) in some studies.

Rasa Ratna Samucchaya 5.83

Pandu roga parama aushadam Loha Bhasma — Loha Bhasma is the supreme medicine for Pandu (anaemia and pallor conditions). Prepared through 100 or more Puta (calcination cycles), it penetrates the deepest Dhatu channels and restores the blood quality that iron-deficient Rasa Dhatu cannot produce.

Grades of Loha Bhasma by Puta count

Classical texts document graded quality based on number of calcination cycles: Shatagni Loha (100 Puta): the standard clinical preparation — 100 heat-quench cycles with herb juices between each. Sahasragni Loha (1000 Puta): the highest grade — documented as the most therapeutically potent and finest particle size. The 100-Puta preparation takes approximately 3–4 months to produce using traditional methods.

Preparation method

After Loha Shodhana (purification): the purified iron is ground with herb juice (typically Aloe vera or Triphala decoction) into a paste (Chakrikas — small discs). The discs are dried and placed in a sealed clay crucible with cow dung cakes of a specific size (one Puta = one calcination cycle using a specified number and size of dung cakes). The crucible is allowed to cool completely. The resulting material is ground with the same herb juice and the process is repeated. After 100 cycles: Varitara, Rekhapurna, Apunarbhava, and Nishchandra tests confirm completion.

Iron nano-particle research

X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of Loha Bhasma consistently identifies it as a mixture of iron oxide phases (primarily Fe2O3 — haematite, and Fe3O4 — magnetite) with particle sizes ranging from 25–150nm depending on Puta count. Research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Sarkar et al., 2012) and Ancient Science of Life documents Loha Bhasma's relative bioavailability compared to ferrous sulfate in animal models — with some studies showing comparable or higher bioavailability. Human clinical trial data is limited but growing. API Part I, Vol III specifies the full quality monograph for Loha Bhasma including XRD identity tests and heavy metal limits.

Clinical use and dosage

Classical dose: 125–250mg twice daily with appropriate Anupana (vehicle) determined by condition — honey and Triphala for general Pandu; Amalaki juice for Pitta-type Pandu; milk and ghee for Vata-type Pandu. Maximum duration: typically 1–3 months, reassessed. API Part I, Vol III specifies iron content (minimum 69% as Fe2O3 equivalent) and heavy metal limits (Pb < 10ppm, As < 4ppm, Hg < 1ppm, Cd < 0.3ppm) for Loha Bhasma quality.