Preserve Your Grains Naturally with Parad Goli: An Ayurvedic Solution for Long-Term Preservation

Holding the plate in your hand, how often have you wondered how the food came to you? From the farmers to the transporters to the shop sellers, how many hands have your food crossed? Once you start thinking about this you will come to know what Parad Goli is!

Well, many hardly get a glimpse of the food on the plate. Because their mind is preoccupied with the trivialities of life! But when it comes to mindful eating, the food on your plate should be all you think about.

In my recent webinar on healthy living, I asked a group of people to follow the practice of thanking the people who bring the food from the farm to the table. I urged them to think about the food and enjoy every grain as they chew.

A few days later I received many e-mails and messages. People were enquiring about different things about their food. When they put their mind on the plate, they started thinking more about it. One common question that bugged many is the use of Parad Goli in the storage of food grains. 

‘Parad Goli contains mercury!!!! Isn’t mercury harmful? Sir, Mercury can cause so many side effects. Sir, Is there any alternative to grain storage? Doctor, which brand doesn’t use mercury for grain storage? And a lot more…’

Grain storage and supply

For the uninitiated, many grains are not perennial, but they are consumed throughout the year. Hence, there is a need to store the grains for the non-cultivating seasons. The objective of storage is definitely to maintain the crop in prime condition as long as possible. 

Hence, the storage of food grains plays a crucial role! The moisture content of the crop is one of the most critical physiological factors in effective grain storage. High moisture content can ruin crops with fungal and insect attacks, respiration, and germination. 

Did you know?

Every year India loses about 10% of its total grain production due to unscientific storage, insects, rodents, and micro-organisms. 

Another thing important to note is the supply chain. Crops produced in one corner of the country are supplied to another. As such proper storage while transport plays an equally important role in preserving their quality. 

In most cases, suppliers rely on the traditional Ayurvedic Parad Goli for grain preservation. 

Parad Goli for grain preservation

Mercury also called Parad, has been used for ages in agricultural chemicals such as fungicides, mildewcides,s or pesticides. Metallic mercury has been proven to be effective in the prevention of infestation by insects. 

Research proves that mercury prevents the reproduction of certain types of pests. Experiments showed that mercury vapour was completely effective in preventing the reproduction of grain weevil (Calandra granaria). It is also effective against the saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis), lesser grain borer (Rhizopertha dominica), and Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella).

Parad Goli – Preparation for preservation

This Goli is prepared using a fixed amount of mercury combined with khatika. It is an Ayurvedic formula very effective against small insects and pests. 

Parad Goli – Research & Safety 

Researchers gained a fascination with the use of mercury or Parad Goli in the preservation of grains. Their research revealed that it is the insecticidal property of mercury that helps in the preservation of wheat, rice, and other grains from spoilage by insects.

Several such pieces of research and studies have established that mercury is effective as a pesticide because of the small amount of vapor it emits at atmospheric temperatures. The mercury vapor can sterilize the insect eggs and breaks the life cycle of the insects feeding on the grain. 

Mercury vapor is also capable of killing small larvae of insects. Thus, mercury acts as a fumigant. But the mercury content concerns many for its safety profile. Here are a few things to note:

Parad Goli does not kill the pests on touch or ingestion. Rather it is the vapor that defuses into the air. Researchers verified that the touch or consumption of these tablets causes no harm.

Furthermore, the mercury used in Parad Goli is in its alloy form. This means it is used as a mixture of two or more elements which considerably reduces the mercury content in the tablets.

Mercury alloys are used in many other things – one common area is dental fillings!!! Apparently, about 50% of dental filling consists of elemental or raw mercury. This is much more than that contained in the Parad Goli.

Parad tablets are kept in containers holding grains wrapped in a cloth. The content of mercury is low and it’s only one or two tablets (big containers), that don’t cause many effects on the grains. 

How to use Parad Goli?

Tie a tablet tightly in a small light cloth or bandage. Keep this in the container holding grains and pulses. You can keep one tablet at the bottom of the container and one at the top. 

This shall keep the insects and pests at bay, thus preserving the grains for longer.

Other Household measures and traditional practices for grain storage

• Neem leaves or neem oil is used as a natural solution to keep the pests away.
• The strong smell of turmeric powder and its insecticidal properties keeps the pests at bay
• Red chilies and cloves of garlic can be kept in the grain container.
• Salt is another effective insecticide.

Research on Mugdha ras

The paper “Mercury as a control for stored grain pests” by Wright DW, published in the Bulletin of Entomological Research in 1944, explores the use of mercury as a control for pests in stored grain. The author conducted experiments to determine the effectiveness of mercury in killing pests and found that it was an effective means of controlling pests in stored grain. The author also notes that proper storage conditions, such as low humidity and temperature, are important for reducing pest infestations. The results of the experiments suggest that mercury can be a useful tool in controlling pests in stored grain, although caution should be taken in its use and handling due to its toxic nature.