Guidelines

Surma, not only enhances the beauty of the eyes, but can be used for its medicinal benefits too.


Surma... remember the shiny stone which our elders used to rub on a smooth coarse surface; like a tile or a big sickle (Koita) , and apply it in our eyes , especially when going out for the Friday prayers?


Surma is called as Kohal in Tibb-Unani Medicine. Kohal is the sufoof (fine powder), which is applied on the eyes or to the inner surface of the eye lid, with the help of a thin stick or either mixed with water or oil for the base.


Kohal is the finest powder form of the medicinal preparation used externally to strengthen the eyesight and to cure other eye aliments.


Surma is a greyish black coloured shiny stone which is rubbed on the hard surface like stone or a tile .It is obtained from the rock which is situated in Saudi Arabia.


It mainly consists of mica , lead and graphite .which is available in the form of stone and powdered .The best quality is one which is hard stone type and rubbed on a hard surface for application with a cleaned finger tip .


Method of Preparation and Purification as per Tibb-e-Unani


There are four methods of purifying sang-e-surma (small piece of surma stone)
1. A piece of sang-e-surma (surma stone) is covered with the goat’s fat and kept on a low fire till all the fat is completely burnt into fumes .


The piece of sang -e-surma is then removed from the fire with tongs and immersed in arkh-e- gulab (rose water) or ice water .The whole process is repeated three times.


2. A piece of sang-e- surma (surma stone ) is immersed in arkh-e-gulab (rose water) or arkh-e-badiyan (fennel seeds) and heated till the Arqh (liquid) evaporates . This process is repeated seven times.


3. Sang-e-surma (surma stone) is immersed in Aab-e-Triphala and boiled for 12 hours.


4. Sang -e- surma (surma stone) is kept in aab-e-Baran (rain water) for 21 days.
Medicinal Uses of Surma

Surma is of many types which is used for medicinal purpose. Mainly it is used in eye diseases.,Here are a few:


1.Surma /Kohal-e- abras-ham : This is used for the treatment of allergic conjunc-tivitis. Surma is taken as the base and abrasham(silk cocoon) as the medicine .Abrasham is a very good cleanser and acts as a coolant to the eyes after a strenuous exercise like working with a computer for a long time.


Method for Preparation:


Surma powder -10gms
Burada -e- abrasham-10gms is prepared as follows: abrasham (silk cocoon) is taken and cut into small bits with the scissors and the inner worm is removed, it is then heated on the pan till it is charred, then it is crushed and made into fine powder. Both the surma powder and the cocoon are finely mixed.


The above powder can be applied singly or it can be mixed with castor oil or rose water.
2.Surma -e-Rumanun: This is a particular surma used for Ramad (Secondary Glaucoma- increase in the occular pressure due to secondary lesion)


Method for prepara-tion:


Surma after purifica-tion -10gm.
Burada-e-Rumanun- 10 gm (Charred powder of pomegranate tree’s bark) The bark of the pomegranate tree is burnt until ashes and it is collected. Mix both the powders and apply before sleeping.


3. Surma-e-asha (Kohal -e-asha): This is a particular surma used for Shabkori (Cataract), the drugs used have a very good property of jalli (corrosive) which give out best result when used as medicine after purification


Method for preparation :
Surma after purification 10gm.


Filfil -e-daraz-10 gms (Piper longum)
Filfil -e-siyah-10gms (Piper nigrum)
Qimbeel -10gms (Mallotus philippensis)


All the above drugs powder is prepared and finely mixed and can be applied as the powder itself or mixed with arkh -e-gulab (rose water)


4. Surma-e-Muqhavi-e-Basar
The name suggests that it is used for increase of the eye sight especially during the old age.
This formulation was mainly used by the court men during the rule of Emperor Akbar,
Surma :5gms
Chandi :3gms -silver
Zafran;1gm- Crocus sativus
Kafoor :50mg Cinnamomum camphora)


Method for preparation : chandi is roasted on a pan until it is charred, then fine powder of the other drugs is mixed with it ,adding surma to it , is applied to the eyes before sleep


Precautions:
Kohal (surma) should be ground to the finest degree of powder form.
When touched with fingers, Kohal (surma) should not give the feel of coarseness.


Preservation:
Kohal ( surma) is preserved in glass bottles or small stainless steel bottles and other glass containers in clean and dry places .It can be preserved for many years


(The writer is a Unani Physician and can be reached at dr_ashaan@yahoo.co.in)