Pravala (Coral): Types, Properties, Shodhana, Marana, Dosage
Pravala or coral is a precious gem, which comes under Navaratnas (group of nine precious gems). It is opaque and red in color. Corals are gastrovascular marine cnidarians (phylum Cnidaria; class Anthozoa) existing as small sea anemone-like polyps, typically forming colonies of many individuals. Coral is a natural calcium source used in Ayurvedic treatment of varieties of disorders.
Table of Contents
Pravala synonyms
Angarakamani, Abdhijanthu, Ambhodipallava, Bhougarathna, Rakthankura, Rakthanga, Lathamani, Vidruma, Latamani
Pravala Vernacular Names
- English – Coral
- Hindi – Pravala
- Kannada – Havala
- Gujarathi – Parval
- Malayalam – Pavizham
- Tamil – Pavizham
Availability
Italy, Spain, Iran, Australia, Algeria, France, Mexico etc.
Types
Based on color –
1. Rakta
2. Shweta
3. Krushna and
4. Dyusara
Among these, Rakta Pravala is considered the best.
Based on part used –
1. Pravala mula (Basal part)
2. Pravala kanda (Porous tube-like branches)
Pravala grahya and tyajya lakshana
Grahya lakshana
The pravala, which is red colour (pakva bimbi phala chaya), round (vratha), without irregularity (avakrakam), slimy (snigdha), not having any crack (avranakam), long (sthula), is used for medicinal preparation.
Tyajya lakshana
If pravala is pale colour (pandu varna), grayish (dusara), dry (ruksha), having crakes (savranam), having cavities (kotaranvitha), light (nirbara), white (shubra), should not be used for medicinal purpose.
Praval properties
| Rasa | Madhura, amla, kashaya |
| Guna | Laghu, snigdha |
| Virya | Sheetha |
| Vipaka | Madhura |
| Doshanatha | Tridoha shamaka especially kapha vata hara |
| Karma | Viryakara – improves virility, kanthikara – enhances complexion, mangalakara – auspicious, kshayagna – corrects depletion of body tissues, rakthapittagnam – cures bleeding disorders, kasa hara – cures cough, swasa hara – cures dyspnea, deepana – carminative, pachana – digestive, vishahara – anti-poisonous, bhutha nashana – destroys evil spirits, vidrudhi shamanam – cires abscess, netraroga hara – cures eye diseases, balyam – strengthening, athi sweda haram – subsides excessive sweating, ratri sweda hara – subsides nocturnal sweating. |
Qualities
क्षयपित्तास्रकासघ्नं दीपनं पाचनं लघु ।
विषभूतादिशमनं विद्रुमं नेत्ररोगनुत ॥ (र.र.स. ४/१९)
kṣayapittāsrakāsaghnaṃ dīpanaṃ pācanaṃ laghu |
viṣabhūtādiśamanaṃ vidrumaṃ netraroganuta || (ra.ra.sa. 4/19)
Useful in the treatment of –
Kshaya – depletion of body tissues,
Raktapitta – bleeding disorders,
Kasa – cough,
acts as digestive, antitoxic, light in nature, useful as diuretic, good for eyes.
Chemical composition – CaCO3
Indications of Pravala pishti– Bleeding disorders, malabsorption syndrome, dry cough associated Pittaja lakshanas, insanity, toxicity, eye disorders, hyperacidity, disorders occurring during Dantodbhava (eruption of teeth). They are also known to improve complexion and sperm count.
Dose – 62.5 mg – 250 mg
Adjuvants – Sitopaladi churna and honey, Guduchi satva and honey, Gulkand, cream and sugar candy, butter and sugar candy or as per the disease.
How to use
- Fever associated with Pitta or intermittent fever – Pravala pishti and Guduchi satva
- Bleeding disorders – Pravala pishti, swarna makshika bhasma and Haridra
- Cough, tonsillitis and other respiratory disorders – Pravala pishti along with pomegranate juice or sugar candy.
- Chronic cough – Pravala pishti, shrunga bhasma, vamshalochana, ela and guduchi satva
- Rickets – Pravala pishti along with Guduchi satva
- Nocturnal emission/ premature ejaculation – Pravala pishti along with Vanga bhasma
- Bleeding piles – Pravala pishti, Guduchi satva, Nagakesara along with butter and sugar candy or goats milk.
- Peptic ulcer – Pravala pishti and Guduchi satva along with Amla juice to be taken one hour before food twice a day.
Formulations – Kastooribhairava rasa, Kanchanabhra rasa, Pravala panchamruta, Mahamriganka rasa, Muktapanchamrita rasa, Vasanta tilaka rasa, Ratna garbha pottali, Sarvanga sundara rasa.
Research works
Pravala bhasma was found to be effective in the prevention of Calcium and oestrogen deficit bone loss on experimental model.
Praval shodhana
Pravala is taken in cloth & made into pottali. This pottali is suspended in dola yantra containing either mixture of sarja rasa & green gram or tandula patra swarasa or jayanthi kwatha as medium. Swedana is given for 3 hours
Pravala marana
Shoditha pravala is pounded into sukshma choorna. To this either shathavari swarasa or grathakumari swarasa or cow’s milk or jayanthi swarasa is added such that the choorna is completely immersed. Mardana is done till it attains semi solid consistency. Then it is rolled into chakrika, dried in sunlight. The dried chakrika is taken in sharava, sandhi bhandana is done & heated in gaja puta. The whole procedure is repeated 2 to 3 times so that fine bhasma is obtained.
Read more about Pravala Bhasma here
Dosa
Based on strength the dosage is – ½ – 2 Ratti (62.5 mg to 125 mg) in divided doses per day.
Anupana
Butter, Milk cream or Honey.
Pravala therapeutic use
| 1. Khapaja prakopajanya mutra krichra | 2 rathi pavala bhasma with tandulodaka |
| 2. Constipation due to shakthi daurbhalya | Pravala bhasma – 2 rathi Rasa sindoora – 1 rathi Katuki choorna – 4 rathi Draksha – 8 to 10 in number Harithaki choorna – 1 masa Tablet is prepared & taken with hot water or milk |
| 3. Muthra sada | Pravala bhasma/ pisti – 1 rathi Taken with gokshura kashaya |
| 4. Nisha sweda | Pravala bhasma – 2 rathi Taken along with honey |
| 5. Shotho roga | Pravala bhasma & rasa sindoora, taken along with punarnava & gokshura kwatha |
| 6. Mutra krichra | Pravala bhasma/pisti taken with shathavari kashaya |
| 7. Excess sweating in palm & other part of body | Pravala bhasma with abraka bhasma & vamshalochana taken with vasa swarasa or bhanapsa kashaya |
| 8. Severe cough in small children | Pravala bhasma, shunti choorna, abraka bhasma, rasa sindoora, & kantakari choorna mixed with honey & taken |
| 9. Cough due to kshaya roga | Pravala bhasma, abraka bhasma, vamshalochana choorna taken with vasa swarasa |
| 10. Jvara, kasa, swasa, in children (bronchopneumonia) | Pravala bhasma, abraka bhasma, katphala choorna, rasa sindoora & bhargi choorna vamshalochana choorna taken internally |
| 11. Swasa, kasa | Pravala bhasma, shukthi bhasma, rasa sindoora, vamshalochana choorna taken internally |
Pravala pisti
Ingredients:
Shodhitha pravala
Cows milk
Gulab arka
Procedure:
Shoditha pravala is triturated along with cows milk & made into paste, which is rolled into chakrikas, dried and taken sharava samputa. This is then subjected to puta to obtain bhasma. The obtain bhasma is again triturated with gulab arka for 21 times and pravala pisti is obtained
Pravala yoga
- Apoorva malini vasantha
- Unmada bhanjana rasa
- Kandarpa rasa
- Kasturi bhirava rasa
- Kanchanabra rasa
- Kshayakesari rasa
- Chinthamani rasa
- Chudamani rasa
- Jvarakunjara parindra rasa
- Trilokya chinthamani rasa
- Putapakva vishamajvarantaka loha
- Pravala panchamrutha rasa
- Makaradvaja vati
- Mahamruganka rasa
- Mruthapanchamrutha rasa
- Rathnagarbha pottali rasa
- Vadavanara rasa
- Vasanthatilaka rasa
- Vishamajvaranthaka rasa
- Sarvangasundara rasa
