Makaradhwaj Vati
Makaradhwaj Vati 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 | Makaradhwaj Vati, MakaradhwajVati |
The evidence at a glance
2papers on this site for this drug, published 2014 to 2017, 1 with a DOI.
- 2Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Makaradhwaj Vati |
How does it work?
- Mercury sulfide (HgS) nanoparticles act as a bioavailable mineral complex that modulates cellular metabolism; the insoluble HgS form has dramatically reduced GI absorption compared to organic or ionic mercury, explaining reduced toxicity
- Gold nanoparticles in the formulation are proposed to act as immunostimulants and Rasayana agents; effects on immune cell function and tissue regeneration have not been established in humans
- Acts as a catalytic agent at the cellular level, potentially activating calcium channels (shown to increase sperm count in related Rasasindura studies) and modulating mitochondrial function
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Vajikarana (aphrodisiac/vitality): traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and for vitality. Animal studies on Rasasindura have reported activation of calcium channels, increased sperm count and motility, and rejuvenating effects.
- Rasayana (rejuvenation) and general debility: traditionally used for rejuvenation and general debility. Animal studies have reported no toxicity at the doses tested. They also suggested immunomodulatory and metabolic-enhancing properties.
What do recent studies show?
- Jamadagni S, Jamadagni PS, Singh RK and others 2017. Ninety days repeated dose oral toxicity study of Makaradhwaja in Wistar rats. Ayu. PMID 30254400 · doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_33_17
At doses of 2.7, 13.5, and 27 mg/kg/day for 90 days, no treatment-related changes were observed in body weight, feed consumption, biochemical parameters, or histopathology. NOAEL was established at 27 mg/kg and NOEL at 13.5 mg/kg. The Ayurvedic preparation method alters physicochemical properties of raw mercury rendering it significantly less harmful. - Kumar G, Srivastava A, Sharma SK and others 2014. Safety evaluation of mercury based Ayurvedic formulation (Sidh Makardhwaj) on brain cerebrum, liver & kidney in rats. The Indian journal of medical research. PMID 24927349
Up to five times the equivalent human dose administered for 28 days did not show any toxicological effects on rat brain cerebrum, liver, and kidney despite per-day ingested mercury being many-fold higher than EPA reference dose. The Shodhana process may modify metal properties abolishing toxicity while retaining pharmacological activity.
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
- 90-day repeated dose toxicity study established NOAEL at 27 mg/kg in Wistar rats, but this is animal data only - no equivalent long-term human safety study exists
- Despite containing approximately 85% mercury as HgS, the Ayurvedic preparation method appears to convert mercury to a largely insoluble and poorly absorbed sulfide form, significantly different from methylmercury or mercuric chloride in terms of toxicity
- EPA reference dose for mercury is 0.1 micrograms/kg/day; therapeutic doses of Makaradhwaj exceed this by several orders of magnitude, yet animal studies show no overt toxicity - this paradox requires further investigation
- Risk of neurological toxicity at supra-therapeutic doses; renal mercury accumulation possible with chronic use even at therapeutic doses; kidney weight increase observed at high doses in the 90-day study
- Contraindicated in pregnancy, lactation, children, renal/hepatic impairment; requires physician supervision and periodic renal function monitoring
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
Standard Dosage: 30–60 mg twice daily (potent, precise dosing)
Optimal Timing: With honey, ghee, or Chyawanprash; morning and evening
Storage: Airtight glass container
Marker Compounds: Gold-mercury sulfide complex, Red mercuric sulfide (alpha-HgS), Colloidal gold
Vehicle (Anupana): Honey + ghee (unequal parts), Chyawanprash, or specific herbal vehicles
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.
Laboratory and animal studies2
- 2017. Ninety days repeated dose oral toxicity study of Makaradhwaja in Wistar ratsAyu. PMID 30254400 · doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_33_17
- 2014. Safety evaluation of mercury based Ayurvedic formulation (Sidh Makardhwaj) on brain cerebrum, liver & kidney in ratsThe Indian journal of medical research. PMID 24927349
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.