Hinguleshwar Ras
Hinguleshwar Ras is a rasa preparation, a herbo-mineral formulation of the rasa shastra tradition.
| Substance type | Herbo-mineral (rasa shastra) preparation, not a single plant |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Hinguleshwar Ras, HinguleshwarRas |
The evidence at a glance
1paper on this site for this drug, every one with a DOI.
- 1Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Hinguleshwar Ras |
How does it work?
- Cinnabar (HgS) has documented sedative and anti-anxiety properties, possibly through modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission and ion channel activity, relevant to its traditional use in calming cough
- Pippali (long pepper) contains piperine which has mucolytic, anti-tussive, and bronchodilatory properties; also enhances bioavailability of other formulation components through inhibition of hepatic and intestinal CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein
- The combination provides anti-inflammatory action at respiratory mucosal surfaces while processed aconite contributes analgesic effects through sodium channel modulation
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Cough and cold (Kasa-Pratishyaya): traditionally used for cough and cold. The formulation includes cinnabar and Pippali.
- Respiratory congestion: traditionally used in respiratory disorders. The formulation combines Pippali with ingredients traditionally regarded as expectorant and anti-inflammatory.
What do recent studies show?
- Liu J, Shi JZ, Yu LM and others 2008. Mercury in traditional medicines: is cinnabar toxicologically similar to common mercurials?. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.). PMID 18445765 · doi:10.3181/0712-MR-336
Cinnabar (HgS) is insoluble and poorly absorbed from the GI tract. Absorbed mercury from cinnabar accumulates mainly in kidneys, resembling inorganic mercury disposition. In risk assessment, cinnabar is less toxic than many other forms of mercury. Adverse effects at therapeutic doses of sulfide drugs like cinnabar are rare, generally reversible and tolerable. - Jain A, Sarsaiya S, Wu Q and others 2019. New insights and rethinking of cinnabar for chemical and its pharmacological dynamics. Bioengineered. PMID 31431119 · doi:10.1080/21655979.2019.1652491
Cinnabar after traditional Shodhana significantly reduces heavy metal levels to safe limits. The processed HgS form has sedative, hypnotic, and anti-anxiety properties potentially related to GABAergic system modulation.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Contains cinnabar with approximately 86% mercury by weight - although processed HgS has lower bioavailability than organic mercury, the high absolute mercury content requires strict dose adherence
- CRITICAL: Also contains Aconitum ferox (Vatsanabha) - even after purification, this is one of the most toxic plants known; cardiac arrhythmias and death possible from overdose
- Cinnabar is classified as less toxic than organic mercury forms, but chronic kidney accumulation remains a concern with extended use; renal function monitoring recommended
- Not suitable for self-medication under any circumstances; both mercury and aconite content demand physician supervision and short-course therapy only
What is it made of?
Mineral/Elemental Profile
- Primary component: Mineral-derived preparation
- Note: Composition varies by specific preparation method
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Vati (pill)
Standard Dosage: 125–250 mg twice daily
Optimal Timing: With honey and ginger juice; before meals
Storage: Airtight glass container
Marker Compounds: Mercury sulfide (HgS, metacinnabar), Sulfur compounds, Herbal bioactives
Vehicle (Anupana): Honey + ginger juice (Ardrak Swarasa); Tulsi juice
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews1
- 2008. Mercury in traditional medicines: is cinnabar toxicologically similar to common mercurials?Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.). PMID 18445765 · doi:10.3181/0712-MR-336
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.