The short answer
Laxmivilas Ras (Naradiya) is a rasa medicine, a tablet built on minerals. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India recipe includes mica (abhraka) bhasma, purified mercury (parada) and sulphur, with camphor and the seeds of dhattura (Datura) and bhang. Mercury makes up one tenth of the powder by weight. The formulary lists it for many complaints, from cough, sinus trouble and skin disease to piles, hernia, filariasis and obesity.
Mercury and Datura are both on India's official list of poisonous substances in Ayurvedic medicines, so packs must say it is to be taken under medical supervision. We found no clinical trial of it. If you take it, make sure your doctor knows, along with every other medicine you take.
What is in it
The official recipe is in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 20:39, as Lakshmivilasa Rasa (Naradiya) (2003 printed edition, page 272).[1]
| Ingredient | Botanical name | Part used | Proportion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krishnabhra (abhraka, mica) bhasma | - | Mineral | 48 g |
| Rasa (parada, mercury), purified | - | Mineral | 24 g |
| Gandhaka (sulphur), purified | - | Mineral | 24 g |
| Chandra (karpura, camphor) | Cinnamomum camphora | Sublimated extract | 12 g |
| Jatikosha (mace) | Myristica fragrans | Aril | 12 g |
| Jatiphala (nutmeg) | Myristica fragrans | Seed | 12 g |
| Vriddhadaraka | Ipomoea petaloidea | Seed | 12 g |
| Dhusturaka (dhattura) | Datura metel | Seed | 12 g |
| Trailokya vijaya (bhang) | Cannabis sativa | Seed | 12 g |
| Vidari | Pueraria tuberosa | Root tuber | 12 g |
| Narayani (shatavari) | Asparagus racemosus | Root tuber | 12 g |
| Nagabala | Sida veronicaefolia | Root | 12 g |
| Atibala | Abutilon indicum | Root | 12 g |
| Gokshuraka (gokshura) | Tribulus terrestris | Fruit | 12 g |
| Nicula | Barringtonia acutangula | Seed | 12 g |
| Parna patra (nagavalli, betel leaf) | Piper betle | Leaf (juice) | As needed, for grinding |
Quantities for one batch, from the 2003 printed edition. The powders are ground with betel leaf juice and made into tablets. Products on sale may differ, so check the label.[1]
Classical source
The formulary takes the recipe from the Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Rasayanadhikara, verses 55 to 58. The verse opens with one pala of black mica powder and half that of mercury and sulphur.[1]
What it is used for
- Head and throat: the formulary lists it for urdhvanga roga (disorders of the head), mukha-karna-nasa-akshi vikriti (disorders of the mouth, ears, nose and eyes), jihvastambha (stiffness of the tongue), galagraha (difficulty swallowing) and galashosha (dry throat).[1]
- Chest: pinasa (chronic nasal catarrh), kasa (cough) and yakshma (a wasting disease).[1]
- Abdomen and skin: udara (enlargement of the abdomen), antravriddhi (hernia), atisara (diarrhoea), arsha (piles), guda roga (anal disorders), bhagandara and nadi vrana (fistulas), vrana (wounds) and kushtha (skin disease).[1]
- Other uses: prameha (urinary disorders), dhatukshaya (wasting of the tissues), amavata (a joint disease), all kinds of shlipada (filariasis) and sthaulya (obesity).[1]
What the evidence says
From the classical textsWe found no clinical trial or laboratory study of Laxmivilas Ras itself. Its listed uses come from the formulary and the Bhaishajya Ratnavali, not from modern testing.[1]
Safety notes
- Contains mercury. Each batch has 24 g of purified mercury (parada) and 24 g of sulphur (gandhaka) with 48 g of mica bhasma, in 240 g of powders. Mercury is one tenth of the powder by weight.[1]
- Parada (mercury) and dhattura (Datura) are on Schedule E(1), India's list of poisonous substances in Ayurvedic medicines, so the label must say "Caution: to be taken under medical supervision". The schedule lists bhang except its seeds, so the bhang seed here is not itself scheduled.[2]
- Contains camphor (karpura), 12 g per batch, in a medicine taken by mouth. Ask your doctor about this before it is given to a child.
- A 2008 study bought 193 Ayurvedic products online and found lead, mercury or arsenic in 40.6% of the rasa shastra (mineral-based) medicines, against 17.1% of the others. It was a survey of many products, not a test of Laxmivilas Ras.[4]
Who makes it
Sold in India by makers including Patanjali, Baidyanath. We list names so you can match your bottle to this page. We do not recommend or sell any brand.
Withheld until review
Questions people ask
Is Laxmivilas Ras the same as Mahalakshmi Vilas Ras?
The names differ, and we have checked only the Naradiya recipe on this page. A 2004 US study found 72,100 µg/g of mercury, 2,800 µg/g of arsenic and 300 µg/g of lead in one Baidyanath product sold as Mahalakshmi Vilas Ras with gold. We have not confirmed how its recipe compares with the Naradiya one.[3]
Does Laxmivilas Ras help cold and cough?
The formulary lists kasa (cough) and pinasa (chronic nasal catarrh) among many uses. We found no trial of it for colds or coughs, and the recipe contains mercury and Datura seed.[1]
Related
Kamini Vidrawan Ras
Australia's regulator found dangerous poisons and prescription-only drugs in Kamini tablets, which are also labelled to contain mercury (cinnabar).
FormulationTribhuvan Kirti Rasa
A fever tablet that contains mercury (as cinnabar), aconite and Datura juice. We have not found a study of it in people.
FormulationHridayarnava Rasa
A rasa medicine of mercury, sulphur and copper ash, listed for a classical type of heart disease. Take it only under medical supervision.
FormulationArogyavardhini Vati
A classical tablet that contains mercury by design, with copper, iron and mica ashes. In rats, mercury built up in the kidneys.
Sources
- Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, 2nd revised English edition, 2003. Laksmivilasa Rasa (Naradiya), 20:39, printed page 272.
- Drugs Rules, 1945, Rule 161(2) and Schedule E(1), list of poisonous substances under the Ayurvedic (including Siddha) and Unani systems. Central Drugs Standard Control Organization compilation, 2022, pp. 184 and 344-345.
- Saper RB, Kales SN, Paquin J, et al. Heavy metal content of ayurvedic herbal medicine products. JAMA. 2004;292(23):2868-73. PMID 15598918.
- Saper RB, Phillips RS, Sehgal A, et al. Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US- and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet. JAMA. 2008;300(8):915-23. PMID 18728265.
Updated 4 November 2026
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