Ayurmed Info

Apamarga Kshara – Benefits, Dosage, Ingredients, Side Effects

Apamarga Kshara is an alkaline Ayurvedic medicine, in powder form. It is prepared from an herb called Apamarga – Prickly Chaff-flower – Achyranthes aspera. The medicine is in use since the time of Sushruta, that is since thousands of years. 

Benefits

Apamarg Kshar uses:
It acts as a natural diuretic. Hence useful to relieve dysurea (difficulty in urination).
It is useful to treat adbominal distension as in ascites, liver and spleen disorders.
It is used in Ayurvedic treatment of ear diseases and leucoderma.
It is used in treating cold, cough and other respiratory diseases.
It is used as an ingredient in many Ayurvedic medicines.
It is also used in making Ksharasutra – special threads used in the treatment of abscess and fistula.

How long to use?
It can be used for a period of 2 – 3 months only.
Effect on Tridosha – It balances Kapha Dosha.

Properties of Apamarha Kshara

खरमञ्जरिका क्षारस्तीक्ष्णः श्वास निबर्हणः
गुल्मशूलादिरोगघ्नः कामं बाधिर्यनाशन:॥ (र.तं.१४/६६)
kharamañjarikā kṣārastīkṣṇaḥ śvāsa nibarhaṇaḥ
gulmaśūlādirogaghnaḥ kāmaṃ bādhiryanāśana:|| (ra.taṃ.14/66)

tīkṣṇaḥ – sharp,
śvāsa nibarhaṇaḥ – cures asthma,
gulma śūlādi rogaghnaḥ – cures abdominal lump, colicky pain etc.,
bādhirya nāśana: – cures deafness

Side Effects

Do not use this medicine for self medication.
This medicine has to be taken strictly under medical supervision only.
This medicine is best avoided in pregnant ladies and infants.

Since it has kshara as ingredient, this might affect the quality and quantity of sperm on long term use. Hence people undergoing medical treatment for low sperm count should exercise precaution. Watch here
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
Store in a dry cool place.

Dosage

Apamarg Kshar Dose
250 mg to 1 gram in divided dose, per day, along with Trikatu churna and rock salt, after food or as directed by Ayurvedic doctor.

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.

Shloka Sanskrit Verse

Contents

Apamarg Kshar ingredients and how to make?
Completely developed Apamarga whole plant parts are collected, cleaned well, dried completely in sunlight. They are collected preferably in the month of November.
It is taken in a big iron pan and burnt completely in open air.
After it cools down on its own, the ash is collected and mixed with 4 times of water – volume-wise, (6 times of water according to other reference) then mixed well, filtered with cloth, into an Iron vessel.
The mixture is stirred for a few minutes and then allowed to stand for a few hours.
The ash settles down and we get a clear yellowish liquid solution on the top which now contains all the water soluble constituents of Apamarga bhasma (ash).
The solution is carefully decanted into another container and strained.
The clear yellowish solution may still contain minute insoluble parts of the apamarga ash.
To get pure Kshara or alkali, the solution should be further purified by filtering it so that the remaining minute insoluble particles are removed.
This filtration process is done for 7-14 times.
The solution is now kept to boil in a thick container (preferably stainless steel container).
The water is boiled on moderate flame.
As the water evaporates, we start getting crystals of Apamarga Kshara. They adhere to the sides of the container. These should be regularly scraped and let back into the solution.
Repeated stirring should be done.
When almost all the water is evaporated we get a white substance which settles at the bottom.
Minimizing the heat, the process should be continued till all the water evaporates and we get a thick layer of the Kshara at the bottom of the container.
The container should be allowed to cool.
This thick layer of kshara settled at the bottom of the vessel can be removed on cooling.
This is powdered in a mortar and packed in air tight container for further use. Obtained Apamarga Ksar is white in colour.

Expiry date and Reference

 5 years, if stored in air tight containers. Once the bottle containing this medicine is opened, it should be emptied within a month or two.

Reference: Sushruta Samhita Sutra Sthana 11/11, Rasa Tarangini 14/64, AFI, Vol. 1.

Synonyms – Mayura Kshara, Kharamanjarika Kshara, Kani Kshara.

Legal substitute

Official Substitute

चित्रकाऽभावतो दन्ती क्षारः शिखरिजोऽथवा |
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu Mishra Varga – Pratinidhi Dravya
In case of absence of Chitrak, Kshara of Danti or Kshara of Apamarga can be used.

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

9 thoughts on “Apamarga Kshara – Benefits, Dosage, Ingredients, Side Effects”

  1. Sir, My son 10 yrs has poor voice quality , can’t speak aloud, a friend suggested this churna (agheda churna). Is it safe? How much to be given? Can he take with honey?

    Reply

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