Ayurmed Info

Shankha Bhasma Benefits, Dosage, Ingredients, Side Effects, Preparation

Shankha Bhasma is an Ayurvedic medicine prepared from Conch shell. It is used in Ayurvedic treatment of gastritis, abdominal pain, malabsorption syndrome etc.

Uses

  • It is coolant, improves skin color and complexion.
  • It is useful in the treatment of gastritis, acidity, abdominal colic, malabsorption syndrome, dyspepsia, vomiting, nausea, acne, etc.
  • It is used as ingredient in the preparation of Palash Kshar – Alkali of Butea monosperma.
  • Growing children, adolescents and post-menopausal women need more calcium. It provides natural calcium and vitamin C for the development and maintenance of healthy bones, teeth and cell membrane.
  • It easily absorbs and compensates the calcium requirement of the body.
  • It relieves the body from the condition of calcium deficiency without any side effect like constipation and acid formation in stomach.
  • It decreases body heat and relieves burning sensation.

Qualities

Rasa (taste) – Katu, kshariya (kshara properties)
Guna (qualities) – Grahi – absorbent, useful in diarrhea, IBS, Guru – heavy to digest, Snigdha – unctuous, oily
Vipaka (taste conversion after digestion) – Madhura – sweet
Veerya (potency) – Sheeta – coolant
Effect on Tridosha – Balances Vata and Pitta Dosha
Chemical composition: Calcium carbonate – CaCO3

Conch shell - Shankh

Dosage

250 mg – 500 mg once or twice a day before or after food or as directed by Ayurvedic doctor. It is traditionally administered along with honey, lemon juice, Triphala kashaya etc.

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.

Adjuvants

Shankh Bhasam adjuvant as per disease:
Atisara and grahani – diarrhoea, IBS – D – Along with lemon juice
Agnimandya – low digestion strength – Trikatu churna
Amlapitta – Gastritis – Along with Amalaki churna – Indian gooseberry
Gulma roga – Abdominal bloating, tumor – Along with Trikatu Churna or Yavakshar
Sannipataja Shoola – chronic abdominal colic pain – Along with trikatu choorna,hingu & saindhava lavana
Parinama shoola – Duodenal ulcer – along with pancha lavana, jaggery and Trikatu choorna
Shwasa roga – Asthma, bronchitis – Along with Bharngi Churna

Shankha names in different languages:
Sanskrit name :Shankha
Hindi: Shankh
English: Conch shell
Kannada: Shankha
Malayalam:Shankham
Gujarati name: Shankh

Sanskrit synonyms


Sankhabhasmam, Shankha Bhasm,
Shankha, Shankhakha, Kambu, Kamboja, Kutilotta, Sasvana
Trirekha – having three horizontal lines
Samudraja – found in oceans
Pavadhwani, Sunada – produces auspicious sound
Mahanada, Deerghanada – produces deep sound
Haripriya – liked by Lord Vishnu

Shankh Types


Dakshinavarta- its considered to be best, used in worship, acts as Tridosha hara, brings wealth
Vamavarta- available everywhere

Shankha

Side Effects

  • Self medication with this medicine may prove to be dangerous.
  • Take this medicine in precise dose and for limited period of time, as advised by doctor.
  • Keep out of reach and sight of children. Store in a dry cool place.

Contents

Shanka Bhasma preparation, ingredients, how to make:
It is prepared from purified Conch shell. There are many different methods of preparation. Any one method can be used. Here is one such method.
Purified Shankha powder is ground with aloe vera juice or lemon juice, made into disc shaped cakes, dried, burnt in absence of air, in 800 – 900 degree celsius, allowed to self cooling. This process is repeated twice to obtain Bhasma.

Reference and Manufacturers

 Rasa Tarangini 12/17 – 18

Research: Evaluation of antacid activity

Manufacturers: Divya Pharmacy, Dabur, Baidyanath
Kottakkal Arya Vaida Sala manufactures the same in the form of capsule, called Sankha Bhasmam capsule.
Divya Pharmacy manufactures the same product in the name as Divya Shankha Bhasma

Shloka, Sanskrit Verse

Grahya Lakshanas

Suitable characteristics of Conch for medicinal uses:
The shankha should have pleasant look,
white(shweta),heavy(guru), slimy(snigdha) clear(nirmala)
big(mahat) long, should be used for medicinal purpose

Tyajya Lakshanas

Undesirable features of Shankha:
If the shankha is dry (rooksha), absence of water (nirjalavat), dark color(shyama) like copper, tinge of white and black(arda shubram) irregular shape(vikatam), should not be used for medicines

Shankha Shodana


1. Shankha is cut in to pieces and takn pottali. Taken in dolayantra and given swedana media being jambeera or nimbu swarasa for 3 hours
2. Swedana is given for 3 hours media is Jayanti swrsa in dolayantra
3. Swedana is given for 3 hours, media being tandulodaka
4. Swedana in Dolayantra, media being kanji for for 3 hours. Then washed with hot water and dried

Shankha Marana


Shodhita Shankha is made into pieces. Taken in puta made Sandhi bhadhana is made dried in sun light and made into Samputa then subjected to Gajaputa for two times. After attaining Swangusheetata puta is opened powedered in Khalva yantra. Bhasma is collected.

Formulations

Ayurvedic medicines with Shanka Bhasma as ingredient: 
Agnikumar Ras – used in digestive disorders
Shankh Vati – used in acid peptic disorders
Agnisandeepana rasa
Apoorvamalini rasa
Kaphaketu rasa – used in the treatment of rhinitis, cough, cold, Asthma etc.
Kalingadi gutika
Grahani kapata rasa
Grahani gajendra rasa
Chaturthakari rasa
Pravala panchamrata rasa
Bhaskar rasa
Maha mrityunjaya loha
Maharaja nrapati vallaba rasa
Mahashankha vati
Vishama Jwaranpaka loha
Shankha rasa gutika
Shanka dravaka rasa

Proprietary Ayurvedic medicines with Shankh Bhasma as ingredient:
Dysentrine Tablet – used for the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery
Dysentrol Tablet – Manufactured by Shree Dhanwantari Herbal Pharmaceuticals

Does Shankha bhasma help in improving speech?
Some Ayurvedic doctors prescribe Shankhabhasma – 250 mg, along with 2 grams of Amla powder and a pinch (100-200 mg) of Vacha churna once or twice a day to treat speech disorders.

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

32 thoughts on “Shankha Bhasma Benefits, Dosage, Ingredients, Side Effects, Preparation”

  1. Sir, If your physician has prescribed then take it with water only.

    Note: As we all are genetically different with different constitutions and patterns, we respond to treatments in many different ways. Hence Standard Ayurvedic Treatments are always individually formulated.

    Reply
  2. Dear sir,

    The article is excellent.

    Please clarify:
    How water stored in Shank ( Conch) overnight and taken in the morning helps as per Ayurveda. Please elaborate, if it helps.

    b/r

    Reply
    • Hi, water stored in any vessel will get some amount of qualities from the nature of the vessel. For example, curd stored in brass or copper vessel will react to liberate hydrogen gas.

      Reply
  3. will shanka bhasma treat acne /pimples too? how much mg & for how long should it be taken? Please let me know about this. What else can be used for external application?

    Reply
  4. HI Dr. J V Hebbar,
    The article is excellent with lot of information. I have seen on Facebook Haratalam Shanka churnam with salt water will help girls to get rid of unwanted hair on their lips. Is it true? If it is true,please let me know where I can get it.
    Thanks
    Ramesh

    Reply
  5. Hi I dislocated my elbow with fractures underwent surgery.. now after removing cast even after one month I am not able to bend or straighten my elbow it is very stiff.. my Ayurveda doctor prescribed shacharadi kwatham, gandha Tailam, and sankha bhasmam will it help me to recover from stiffness and elbow movement

    Reply
  6. Hi my doctor prescribed sankhabhasma 500mg capsules for coughing phlegm persistanly in a month. Will it help me?

    Reply
  7. Dear sir, none of these herbs / medicines cause any burning sensation in mouth. It is not due to the Ayurvedic medicines. Take a teaspoon of coconut oil and fill it in mouth. Try to hold it in mouth for 5 minutes and then spit it out. Do this once a day for a week. Hopefully, with this, the burning sensation will be relieved.

    Reply
  8. For 6 week I am using some ayurvedic medicines
    Bilwadi
    Gangadhar
    Shankh bhasma
    Kapardak bhasma

    Udaramrit vati
    Citrakadivati
    Kutajagana vati

    Kutajarista ans vidangasava
    For stomach infection

    Now insomnia developed..I can’t able to sleep.

    Reply
  9. Hi Doc,

    How we want to know that if we have high or low stomach acid, I think both give burning sensation in the stomach.

    If I have low acid then this medicine is not suitable, am I right?

    Reply
  10. Hi sir,
    I visited ayurvedic hospital for hair fall.For that treatment doctor suggested me to take Shankar bhasmam 500 mg capsule after dinner.Also she gave me Narasimha rasayana,Gandha tailam capsules,Loha sidunduram to take morning and evening.

    Is my treatment going fine?
    Will these things lead weight gain?

    Will be waiting for your suggestion.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  11. Sir first of all i really like the work you do…the way you divide all the segment and give every information to the best is literally appreciable…thnx for doing all this sir

    And sir wanted to know any possible treatment for very old phlegm.. I am 21 yrs old and having this from long time it gets worst during winters and moderate in summer, if i drink something chilled may be juice or water i get that mucus immediately.. its basically present inside my interior nose and goes down into my throat everytime pull it from inside and newer gets out any way..i am not sure if its sinus or not..plz help for this asap thnk u sir..

    Reply
  12. Hi sir, can we use shankh bhasma for skin fairness? If so, how long we can use it? If not, please tell me what is the useful for fairness.

    Reply

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