(Ref; Kashyapa Samhita, Sutrasthana)

The process of Swarnaprashanam is
Medha Vardhana – improves intellect
Agni Vardhana – improves appetite
Bala Vardhana – improves strength and immunity
Ayushya Vardhana – provides longevity
Mangala – it provides spiritual, sane and holy life.
Vrushya – Aphrodisiac
Grahapaha – relieves from infection.
Varnyam – enhancement of colour and complexion

By administering Swarnaprashanam for a month, the child becomes extremely intelligent and is protected from diseases.
By six months, the child is able to retain the memory of whatever he or she hears, for a long time.

Swarnaprashanam is a Rasayana chikitsa and one among the Prashana or Lehana, for healthy infants in preventive and promotive aspects and, for diseased infants in a curative aspect. An age-old and time tested practice for disease prevention in Ayurveda is administering oral intake of gold. It dates back to 1000 B.C and is described under Jatakarma Samskara (neonatal care) as one of the 16 essential Samskara described in Ayurveda.

Swarnaprashanam fulfils the first motive of Ayurveda, i.e. preventive measures (Swasthasya Swasthya Rakshanm). Our body’s tendency to check the micro-organisms which spread diseases deactivates or lowers down its intensity. This is known as Vyadhikshamtva (immunity). Prevention of disease by boosting immunity has always been the most important aspects of child growth. Swarnaprashanam works as an oral immunity enhancer.

It is a unique method of immunisation which has been in practice since Vedic times and is still practised in several parts of India. Swarnaprashanam can be administered from birth to the age of sixteen to attain optimum therapeutic effects such as boosting memory, intelligence and immunity.

In Swarna Prashana we use shuddha Swarna-bhasma, shuddha Ghrita (pure ghee) and shuddha Madhu (pure honey) as ingredients. As per Ayurvedic texts, Swarna-bhasma is prepared by Putapaka method. This method involves three steps which are Shodhan (Purification of gold to haul out physical impurities), Bhavna (wet grinding for reduction of particle size) and Maran (incineration to further reduce particle size). The procedures of Bhavna and Maran are repeated numerous times on the metal to reduce the particle size. The incinerated matter is then ground well and a brownish red powder called Swarna-Bhasma is obtained. The bhasma is considered to be naturally produced nanoparticles. When mixed with Madhu and Ghrita and consumed for 21 doses over 21 months promotes good body growth, promotes the development of intelligence and strength along with toning skin complexion.

Administration of honey and ghee mixed in equal quantity is considered visha (toxic) in Ayurveda. Since it is given in small quantities which is not enough to show any toxigenic effects, it can be administered to develop resistance to toxins, by stimulating immunity.

Swarna is nirmala, categorised under Shuddha Loha (pure metal). It is said to prevent grahabaadha, protects against visha and increases budhi, medha, and smriti. Swarna is said to have preventive and protective qualities alongside portraying excellent rejuvenating and aphrodisiac properties. It possesses immunomodulatory, free radical scavenging, anti-stress and analgesic properties. Ayurveda greatly stresses the fact that gold should be correctly purified before internal administration.

In the context for making the Swarna therapeutically useful, there are two requisites. First is the reduction in the particle size of the element. Unless the particle size is not reduced, it will not be absorbed or metabolised and will not impart any of the mentioned therapeutic effects. The second important criteria is the existence of metal in the human body in its ionic form. Non-reactive substances will not impart any effect and will lie inert. Since Swarna-bhasma is prepared by Maran, the particle size is up to 56 nanometers which convert the inert metal into its ionic form, thus resulting in better absorption and assimilation thereby enabling the pharmacological properties of gold.

Mode of action

Gold particle uptake occurs in the small intestine by persorption through single degrading enterocytes in the process of being extruded from villi. Swarna-bhasma principally constitutes globular gold particles that would reach the target site of action through blood after gastrointestinal uptake.

“Ghrita is the unctuous substance par- excellence because of its power to assimilate effectively the properties of other substances… it increases, thousand times in potency and develops manifold qualities” (Charaka Sutrasthana 13/13).
Ghrita has the unique property of acquiring the gunas of dravyas which are added to it. Ghrita is widely used in medicinal formulations due to its unusual ability to assimilate the properties of herbs it is mixed with, without losing its own qualities. For instance, ghrita mixed with a drying or heating herb doesn’t sacrifice its own cold and oily nature but the ghrita helps in increasing the potency of Agni (digestive fire), allowing other herbs to be more easily absorbed.

Mode of action

It helps in the growth and development of the child and provides nutrition to the newborn until lactation properly starts. According to Ayurveda the only thing that can cross the blood-brain barrier is Ghrita.

In Ayurveda, Madhu is used for both internal and external applications. It shows mild laxative, bactericidal, sedative, and antiseptic properties. Madhu is also used as a natural preservative and sweetener in many Ayurvedic preparations. Madhu is considered as a vehicle to improve the efficacy of the other medicines mixed with it apart from mitigating the side effects of those medicines. Aged honey reduces fat and obesity. Pure and unadulterated honey produces results akin to its character.

Mode of action

Honey contains pollens which act as mild allergen. This stimulates the active immunity of baby which protects it against allergic illnesses which is common in this age group. It also serves as anupana (vehicle or medium for absorption of drugs). The reason for using madhu in Swarnaprashanam is that when madhu is administered in low doses in childhood, it gradually develops resistance to allergens and later remains immune to similar allergens and unaffected by allergic disorders.

Swarnaprahashanam can be administered at any time until the age of sixteen. As an immuno-modulator, it can be administered in children in their early ages as this period is considered to be the most vulnerable time for infections due to an immature immune system.

To get serve as an enhancer of intelligence, Swarnaprashanam can be given from birth and specifically for a period of 1 or 6 months continuously as mentioned in the classic.

In adolescence, there is the appearance of secondary sexual characters, which signify the development of the reproductive system. This could be the right period to attain the benefit of Swarnaprashanam as a fertility enhancer. The immunity benefits of Swarna Lehan has also been noted in Kashyap Samhitha about how the ingestion of Swarna modulates immune mechanism to reduce the condition of disease.

It is said that Swarna-bhasma aids in increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase. The two enzymes are responsible for reducing free radical concentration in the body.

Swarna-bhasma portrays antioxidant and restorative properties. Oxidative stresses have been implicated as a cause of many abnormalities in newborns. Since Swarna-bhasma has been found to possess anti-oxidative properties, its administration may reduce free radical-induced damage in neonates and could help to restore stress-induced elevation of neuro-transmitters to normal levels.

Swaranaprashanam has been found to have nootropic and anti-acetylcholinesterase action. Hence, can be employed in enhancing the memory of the child.

Administering Swaranaprashanam prevents diseases that come during the teeth growing phase and seasonal change. Chronic administration of Swarna-bhasma showed no toxicity as judged by SGOT, SGPT, serum creatinine and serum urea level and histological studies.