Rasamanikya
Rasamanikya is a rasa preparation, a herbo-mineral formulation of the rasa shastra tradition.
| Substance type | Herbo-mineral (rasa shastra) preparation, not a single plant |
|---|
The evidence at a glance
1paper on this site for this drug, every one with a DOI.
- 1Laboratory 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 | Rasamanikya |
How does it work?
- Arsenic sulfide (As2S3) in processed form has demonstrated immunomodulatory and anti-proliferative properties - similar to the mechanism by which arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is used in modern oncology for acute promyelocytic leukemia treatment
- Anti-dermatological action: Arsenic compounds modulate keratinocyte proliferation and immune cell activity in skin, relevant to traditional use in skin diseases; may act through inhibition of NF-kB and modulation of apoptotic pathways
- The insoluble sulfide form provides a slow-release mechanism with lower peak blood arsenic levels compared to soluble arsenic compounds, potentially providing therapeutic effects at reduced toxicity
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Skin diseases (Kushtha): traditionally used for psoriasis and chronic dermatoses. Arsenic was historically used in Western medicine for psoriasis (Fowler’s solution). Arsenic has been reported to have anti-proliferative effects on keratinocytes. Western medicine abandoned this practice because of carcinogenic risk.
- Fever and respiratory conditions: traditionally used for Jwara (fever) and Shwasa (asthma). Arsenic has been reported to have immunomodulatory properties. No clinical trials specific to Rasamanikya have been reported for these uses.
What do recent studies show?
- Srimannarayana K, Patgiri BJ, Prajapati PK 2010. Process standardization of rasamanikya. Ayu. PMID 22131676 · doi:10.4103/0974-8520.68195
Established standardized manufacturing procedures. Shodhana significantly reduced arsenic content compared to raw orpiment. ICP-AES confirmed arsenic and sulfur as major constituents. Different preparation methods yielded products with varying arsenic concentrations.
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
- CRITICAL: Arsenic is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by IARC. Chronic arsenic exposure even at low levels is associated with skin cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, and cardiovascular disease
- Clinical pilot study showed increased blood arsenic levels after just 15 days of use - while acute clinical toxicity was not observed, the long-term carcinogenic risk of elevated blood arsenic is well-established
- Historically, arsenic was used in Western medicine for psoriasis (Fowler’s solution) but was abandoned due to recognized carcinogenic and chronic toxicity concerns - the same scientific evidence applies to Rasamanikya
- The arsenic sulfide form (As2S3) is less acutely toxic than arsenic trioxide (As2O3) due to lower solubility, but chronic exposure still poses carcinogenic risk; no long-term carcinogenicity studies specific to Rasamanikya exist
- Cases of chronic arsenic poisoning following Ayurvedic medication use (including Rasamanikya) have been documented in medical literature; symptoms include skin hyperpigmentation, keratoses, neuropathy, and organ damage
What is it made of?
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Vati or powder
Standard Dosage: 60–125 mg twice daily
Optimal Timing: With honey or ghee; after meals
Storage: Airtight, labeled container; Schedule E1
Marker Compounds: Arsenic sulfide (processed), Sulfur compounds
Vehicle (Anupana): Honey, ghee, or Haridra Khand
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 studies1
- 2010. Process standardization of rasamanikyaAyu. PMID 22131676 · doi:10.4103/0974-8520.68195
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.