What is Geru Mitti Powder - Lal Mitti Powder - Sona Geru Powder - Red Ochre Powder?

Red Geru Powder also known as Gairika (Red Ochre) is an alumina silicate and iron oxide. After cleansing, it is known as Geru in Ayurveda and is utilized for medicinal purposes. It has the properties of being sweet, astringent, anti-phlegmatic, anti-bilious, and cooling.

It is effective in skin illnesses, piles, bleeding disorders, ulcers, boils, urticaria, vomiting, hiccups, and other conditions. It is not utilized as a standalone medicine, but rather as a constituent in several compound preparations comprising a variety of mineral pharmaceuticals.

Gairika is a natural hematite mineral that occurs as an accessory mineral with other iron-titanium oxide minerals in metamorphic rocks. Magnetite is connected with Gairika. It may contain trace amounts of titanium and magnesium. Gairika occurs as an alteration product of other iron minerals or as weathered residual concentrations of highly ferruginous rocks. It is commonly found in mixtures with clay and other contaminants.

There are two varieties of ochres found in the country based on hue. Anhydrous iron oxide is the chemical formula for Red Geru Powder. It has a higher iron content and is utilised in medicine. Yellow ochre is made up of hydrated iron oxide.

Red Geru Powder deposits are mostly found in Gujarat (Rajpur, Banaskantha, Jamnagar, and Kuchchh), Karnataka (Bellary and Bidar), Madhya Pradesh (Gwalior, Jabalpur, Satna, Kailashpur, Madhogarh, and Mandla), and Rajasthan (Udaipur, Alwar, Bikaner, Chittorgarh, and Sawai Madhopur), Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have also reported sightings.

Red Geru Powder Uses: 

  • It has a cooling and anti-bilious effect.
  • It inhibits bleeding.
  • It alleviates hiccups.
  • Its topical treatment alleviates burns, ulcers, boils, and pustular eruptions.
  • It is used in Heart and Liver related Issues.
  • It is also beneficial to cure wounds, and act as a drying agent.

Some Ayurvedic medicines are so astonishing to the general public that many people do not recognize their medicinal value until they experience their unique effects.

Geru is an Ayurvedic remedy that falls into this category. Renowned for its distinctive properties beyond those of regular soil, Geru is red-colored soil found abundantly throughout India, also known as Geru or Senageru.

Other names: Gerik, Swarnagerik, Paashan Gerik, Geru

Nature of Geru according to Ayurveda

Geru is characterized as smooth, sweet, astringent, and cool.

Benefits of Red Geru (Powder)

  1. Stopping Internal Bleeding

    Geru is widely accepted as a medicine that reduces bleeding in any part of the body. To use, finely sift Geru and mix it with water to form a pulp, then apply it to the affected area. Remove the pulp once it dries. This technique helps to reduce internal bleeding.

  2. Deafness

    For deafness, combining ochre with milk and placing two to four drops in the ear is beneficial. Additionally, mixing ochre with water and wrapping it around the ear can alleviate earache.

  3. Burns from Fire

    Strain the ochre and mix it with coconut oil before applying it to affected areas without blisters, which provides significant relief.

  4. Wounds

    For a wound causing significant pain, mix ochre with turmeric and cow ghee and heat it. Once slightly warm, apply it to the wound. If the wound is on the brink of developing further, this method will prompt it to open and ease the pain. Doing this at night yields particularly surprising results.

  5. Constipation

    Geru is an effective remedy for chronic constipation that requires daily medication. Mix Geru with water and wrap it around the abdomen at night. After an hour, wash it off. Doing this for fifteen to twenty days helps relieve constipation.

  6. Vision Issues

    Mix finely sifted Geru with water to create a paste, then apply it over both eyes at night and remove it in the morning. This practice can help improve vision and reduce the need for glasses in a few days. However, this should only be tried during the summer months.

  7. Preventing Miscarriages

    For recurrent miscarriages, soak Geru in water and apply it around the pelvis and vaginal area for three to four hours. This method can help prevent miscarriages and facilitate conception.

  8. Skin Care

    Mixing Geru with curd and applying it on the face can make the skin radiant and spotless.

  9. Hair Care

    Applying wet Geru to the hair before bathing makes the hair soft and shiny.

  10. Anemia

    Geru contains a high amount of ferrous oxide, which is beneficial for healthy hemoglobin. Drinking water stored in a pot made of Geru soil helps alleviate anemia.

  11. Joint Pain

    Heating Geru with mustard oil and applying it to the joints alleviates joint pain quickly.

  12. Headache

    If headache persists despite various medications, mixing Geru with mint juice and applying it to the head can provide relief.

  13. Stress Relief

    For a stress-free life, one can place ochre on the head and keep pouring water over it until it melts and washes away with the water. This practice helps reduce stress and promotes a happy life.

  14. Hypothyroidism

    Geru soil is rich in selenium, a mineral that enhances thyroid gland function and helps manage hypothyroidism. Consuming grains or fruits and vegetables grown in Geru soil can be beneficial.