Ayurmed Info

Tankan Bhasma – Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects, Ingredients

Tankan Bhasma is a special Ayurvedic medicine prepared from Borax. It is used in Ayurvedic treatment of lack of menstruation, cough, bronchitis etc. It is also used as ingredient in many Ayurvedic medicines. Borax is obtained from the banks of ponds of Tibet, Nepal and Iran. Sinkce it is alkaline in nature; it is called as Tankana Kshara. Chemically it is Sodium pyroborate. It is found in the form of Tincal in Kashmir.

Benefits

Tankan Bhasma uses: 
It is pungent in taste, hot in nature.
It is good for heart, useful in Vata imbalance diseases.
It is used in the treatment of productive cough, bronchitis, wheezing, asthma, chest congestion,
It is used in treating food poisoning, abdominal colic pain.
It improves digestion power, relieves bloating.
It induces menstruation in women suffering with amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea (Scanty menstrual flow). It helps to improve menstrual flow. Hence, it is an important ingredient in Raja pravartini vati – an Ayurvedic medicine used for treating secondary amenorrhea.

Properties

Properties

टंकणो अग्निकरो रूक्षः कफघ्नो वातपित्तकृत्।
टंकणो वह्निकृत् स्वर्णरौप्यो शोधनपरः॥
विषदोषहरो हृद्यो वातश्लेष्म विकारनुत् । (आ.प्र.अ.२/२४३-२४५)
ṭaṃkaṇo agnikaro rūkṣaḥ kaphaghno vātapittakṛt|
ṭaṃkaṇo vahnikṛt svarṇaraupyo śodhanaparaḥ||
viṣadoṣaharo hṛdyo vātaśleṣma vikāranut | (ā.pra.a.2/243-245)

agnikaro – increases the digestion strength,
rūkṣaḥ – dry,
kaphaghno – pacifies Kapha,
vata pittakṛt – increases Vata and Pitta,
svarṇaraupyo śodhanaparaḥ – useful in the purification of gold and silver,
viṣadoṣaharo – removes the ill-effects of poison,
hṛdyo – cardiotonic,
vātaśleṣma vikāranut – cures diseases manifestated due to Vata and Kapha.

Video

Usage in Hair care

It is applied to hair, left for 5 – 10 minutes, and then washed off. It is useful in dandruff.
A teaspoon of Tankana Bhasam is mixed with 30 ml of sesame oil / coconut oil / or mustard oil. This oil mix is applied over hair, 30 minutes before hair wash.  You can optionally add 10 ml of neem oil to the above mix.
This is useful in the treatment of dandruff.

Effect on Tridosha – Balances Vata and Kapha.

Dosage


125 mg to 250 mg of this Bhasma is given along with honey and ghee.
2 to 8 ratti (250 mg to 1 gram) in divided doses per day

Anupana – Ghee, honey and other formulations

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic/modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then, after a gap of 15 – 30 minutes, take Ayurvedic medicine or as directed by the physician.

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

With supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

Method of Preparation

Necissity of purification

If unpurified Tankana is administered, it leads to vomiting and giddiness. So, it is important to purify Tankana, before the administration is must.

Tankan Shodhana: Tankana Bhasma preparation method: 
Tankana Bhasma – prepared from Sodium borate (Na2 B4O7. 10 H2O) – It is heated to remove moisture, then further heated to get white dry powder.

Powdered-TankanaBorax-powdered-and-added-to-vessel-to-subject-it-for-heat
Powdered-Tankana Borax-powdered-and-added-to-vessel-to-subject-it-for-heat
Heating the Tankana and puffed borab(dehydrated)
Heating the Tankana and puffed borax(dehydrated)
Purified-and-dehydrated-Tankana
Purified-and-dehydrated-Tankana

Other Indications

Tankan Bhasm for warts:
Tankana bhasma is mixed with lemon juice and fine paste is made and applied over the warts.
Take 3 grams of Tankana Bhasma in a stainless steel spoon. Add half a teaspoon of lemon juice to it.
Apply this paste over the wart region. You can use the end part of another spoon to apply it. Do it once a day. Be careful not to apply it to other parts of skin, as it may cause burning sensation. Wash it off after 5 minutes.

Tankana Bhasma for skin sores: It is useful in viral infection of skin such as Hand foot and mouth disorder. Shuddha Tankana Bhasma (Borax) is mixed with honey and applied on the sores. It quickens the healing process and reduces pain.

Side Effects


It increases Pitta and hence may cause burning sensation in few people. Hence care should be taken while administering this in gastritis and peptic ulcer patients.
It is not recommended during pregnancy. It is used in children. Consult a doctor for its use during lactation period.
Tankan Bhasm is having Kshara properties. Medicines with such Kshara properties are not used for long periods of time (more than 2 months) in men seeking infertility treatment.
Long term usage of this can cause oligospermia.

How long to use?
Oral administration is done for 2 – 4 weeks of time.

Ayurvedic medicine with Tankana Bhasma as an ingredient: 
Jirakadi Modak
Anthrakutharam gulika

Reference and Manufacturers

 Reference: Rasa Tarangini 133/79-81


Manufacturers: Divya Pharmacy, Baidyanath, Dabur

Questions

If somebody has taken long use of tankan,then how we can do anti dote,or neutralize the side effects of tankan bhasm?
Answer: For a patient taking Tankana Bhasma for long term,It is best for him to take Giloy Amla juice (Patanjali) – 10 ml, mixed with half a small cup of water, once  a day, at any time of the day. This would reduce the excess Pitta increase and Kshara effects caused by Tankana. 

Tankana Bhasm for Bindi allergy:
Make a paste of half a teaspoon of Tankana Bhasma with a teaspoon of turmeric powder, with milk. Apply this 2 – 3 times a day

Synonyms

Tanka, Dravaka, Rangada, Soubhagya, Shweta Kshara, Kshara raja, loha shodhana.

Please consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
This article is written by Dr. Janardhana V Hebbar BAMS, MD (Ayu), PGDPSM, Managing Director, Easy Ayurveda Hospital.
It is reviewed by Dr. Raviganesh Mogra BAMS, MD (Ayu), Chief Medical Officer, Easy Ayurveda Hospital

25 thoughts on “Tankan Bhasma – Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects, Ingredients”

      • Hi I’m using the tankan bhasm as per the doctor’s suggestion,mixed with oil,but the doctor didn’t tell me to wash it off.He told to use it daily and shampoo twice a week.I can see improvement on my scalp,its actually working.
        I want to know will it have an adverse effect in long run,if I’m not washing it off after 30-60mins?

        Reply
  1. Tankan bhasma has different packing at stores with RT mentioned in bracket. However the one on internet says ASS. Are they both same? I have flaky dandruff and want to use it to cure dandruff.

    Reply
  2. If tankan bhasm (means boric acid) mix with coconut oil then apply on scalp effective for flack dandruff .too much hair fall for my son (15 yr) what can we do?this permenant cure? we went many doctors pls give me the solution

    Reply
  3. noble soul, Borax is different from boric acid. I think tankana bhasma is borax not boric acid is it correct. In the service of humanity bka

    Reply

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