Witnessed by: Ayurveda
Sauvira collyrium, of the sulfide (a bluish-black metallic sulphide collyrium — antimony sulphide or galena; the identity is disputed in the sources) family. A heavy, bluish-black metallic-lustred mineral, ground to an impalpable powder; native range: the Sauvira country of the lower Indus, from which the classical drug took its name. Globally recognized as sauviranjana, sauvira anjana in Sanskrit, surma in Hindi/Urdu, and sauvira collyrium in English. The part used is the levigated mineral, applied to the eye. Steel-blue to black with a metallic glint, heavy, soft under the muller, grinding to a smooth black powder that leaves no grit on the lid.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
SAUVIRA COLLYRIUM
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- sauvira collyrium
- Family
- sulfide (a bluish-black metallic sulphide collyrium — antimony sulphide or galena; the identity is disputed in the sources)
Form
- Part used
- the levigated mineral, applied to the eye
PROPERTIES
Nature
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- cooling (shita)
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- chakshushya (preserves and strengthens the sight), and cooling and astringent to the eye
Cautions
- Contraindications
- any grit remaining in the powder; acute injury or ulceration of the eye
- Toxicity
- the sources disagree on what the mineral is — where the article is galena it is a lead sulphide, and repeated application to the eye is a route of lead absorption, particularly in children
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