Red Ochre or "Gairika" are mentioned in 2 sorts by Sanskrit writers, namely, red and yellow. The red variety called Raktapashana is used in medicine. It is a silicate of alumina coloured with oxide of iron. It is purified by being soaked in milk for 7 hours, and is described as sweetish, astringent, cooling, and useful in ulcers, burns, boils etc. It is rarely used internally except as an ingredient of some of the complex prescriptions containing a large number of mineral drugs, such as the preparation called Jvarakunjara Parindra Rasa, which contains nearly all the mineral substances.
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