Parad Goli: Myths and Facts About the Ayurvedic  Pest Control Tablet

Mercury is one of the most toxic elements known to man, with its ability to harm the nervous system through inhalation and other means. It’s no wonder that the mention of parad goli, which contains mercury, raises concerns among many. In fact, it’s just one of the countless tales of distress caused by this medicine. Mugdha Rasa Tablet, also known as Parad Goli, Parad Tablet, or Parad Tikdi, is an Ayurvedic tablet with pesticidal properties. It is commonly used to fumigate grains and pulses at home to protect them against small insects. Parad Tablet can also be used for fumigating vegetables to aid in their preservation.

A few years ago, my cousin’s five-year-old son consumed rice mixed with Mugdha ras, also known as parad goli. My cousin was in a hurry and didn’t notice the small, innocuous-looking pieces of parad goli in the rice. It wasn’t until the child had finished eating that she realized her mistake and panic set in. My cousin attempted to contact me on my mobile, but to no avail – it was on silent mode while I was at the clinic. In her distress, she sought help from the doctor in her township. Upon examining the young boy, the doctor initially perceived that everything was fine. However, upon learning that the cause for concern was mercury tablet ingestion, he was struck with shock and anxiety, almost experiencing a mini heart attack. In a rush of urgency, he sent the child to Mallya Hospital, a super-specialty medical facility located in the heart of the city. Once there, the boy was immediately admitted to the emergency room. Yet, was the situation truly an emergency?

Well, no!

But mercury – the word was enough!

An hour later, I checked my phone and called my cousin. She narrated the entire incident, informing me that the doctors were about to administer gastric lavage. I calmed her down and requested her to connect me to the attending doctor at Mallya Hospital.

As I introduced myself as an Ayurvedic doctor, I could sense the tension on the other end of the line. The attending physician at Mallya Hospital was discussing the severity of the situation and the potential impact of mercury poisoning. I carefully explained that Ayurveda involves a detailed study of mercury in all its forms: elemental, organic, and inorganic. I also mentioned that the toxic manifestations of mercury exposure can range from minor to life-threatening, depending on the type and magnitude of exposure. 

Mallya Hospital Doctor: Isn’t it toxic to have mercury in small amounts?
Me: Well, we use mercury tablets like Parad goli or Mughda Rasa to preserve rice and keep pests away. But it’s important to note that Parad goli is actually an alloy, not a pure elemental metal.

Mallya Hospital Doctor: What’s the difference between an elemental metal and an alloy?
Me: When a substance is made purely of one metal, it is a pure elemental metal. However, if it is present with another metal, it is an alloy. Parad or Mugdha Rasa are alloys of mercury, which have different chemical properties than pure elemental metal.

Mallya Hospital Doctor: Do you know where else mercury alloy is used?
Me: Yes, it’s used in dental fillings. Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals, consisting of liquid (elemental) mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper. By weight, dental amalgam is composed of around 50% elemental mercury. The chemical properties of this mercury enable it to react and bond with the silver, copper, and tin alloy particles, forming an amalgam.

Mallya Hospital Doctor: Is there a difference in the form of mercury found in dental fillings versus fish?
Me: Yes, there are different chemical forms of mercury – elemental mercury, inorganic mercury, and methylmercury. The form of mercury associated with dental amalgam is elemental mercury, which releases very very small amounts of mercury vapor. However, the FDA considers dental amalgam fillings safe for adults and children over six years old. Fish contains methylmercury, which is a type of organic mercury.

Mallya Hospital Doctor: So, what’s the risk of having Parad goli or Mugdha rasa?

Me: While Parad or Mugdha rasa potentially has the risk of mercury vapor, it is much lower than that of dental fillings. It is very unlikely that a good-quality alloy would cause any harm.

However, I assured him that the particular substance the child had ingested, parad goli, was not elemental mercury and therefore would not cause any harm.

I went on to explain that parad goli is a mixture of 30 mg of purified mercury and Khatika (chalk), which effectively reduces its toxicity levels. I cited the LD50 of Mugdha Rasa*, which indicates that it is safe for acute exposure at levels greater than 2000 mg/kg body weight. The attending physician listened carefully to my explanation and understood what I was trying to convey. He even chuckled and commented that all Ayurvedic doctors are like alchemists, and he was aware of the various purification processes used to extract mercury in Ayurvedic medicine. However, he was unfamiliar with parad goli and relied on my explanation to make an informed decision.

After carefully considering my advice, the attending physician cautioned my cousin to monitor the child closely for the next 24 hours.

He then handed the phone over to my cousin and allowed her to speak to me.

I advised her to take the child home, as he had no symptoms or problems. Although the hospital staff was initially reluctant to discharge the child, they eventually agreed with the attending physician’s decision. As I hung up the phone, I breathed a sigh of relief and realized how grateful I was for my knowledge and experience in Ayurvedic medicine.

Seven years have passed since the incident, but my cousin recently called me to inquire about ways to prevent seasonal flu and boost her son’s immune system as he attends coaching classes. Her call brought back memories of the previous incident.

I frequently receive calls from people all over India who are worried about ingesting Parad Goli. This is due to the common misconception that it is fatal. The reason for these calls is that a blog post I wrote a few years ago about Mugdha Ras (Parad Goli) is ranked number one on Google.

Only a small percentage of these callers report experiencing mild symptoms like loose motions or mild abdominal pain. However, the major concern seems to be the panic caused by the belief that they have ingested mercury.

I reassure these callers by citing studies and research that show that Parad Goli is not fatal and there is no need to worry. Nonetheless, I still check back with them after 5-6 days to make sure nothing serious has occurred. To date, there has never been a serious case of illness caused by the accidental ingestion of Parad Goli.

Caution

It is important to note that in case of accidental consumption of Parad Goli (Mugdha Rasa), it is advisable to immediately contact your nearest doctor. This blog does not provide medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for seeking professional medical attention.

However, it’s always better to take precautions, such as tying the Parad Goli in a cloth before placing it in a rice jar.

Note

*Mugdha Rasa is a type of Kharaliya Rasayana, made of Parada and Khatika. Toxicological studies were conducted using OECD guidelines. In the acute toxicity study, no signs of toxicity or mortality were observed in mice at a limited dose of 2000 mg/kg orally. Sub-acute toxicity study in rats at a therapeutic equivalent dose (TED), TED ×2, and TED×5 showed no hazardous effects at the TED dose level. Mild changes were observed at higher dose levels. Therefore, Mugdha Rasa is considered safe for acute and sub-acute exposure.