Palasha Kshara – Benefits, Dosage, Ingredients, Side Effects

Palasha Kshara is an alkaline Ayurvedic medicine, in powder form. It is used in treatment of kidney, spleen and liver diseases. The medicine is in use since the time of Sushruta, that is since thousands of years.

Synonyms – Kimshuka Kshara, Parna Ksara, Triparna Kshara.\

Propeties of Palasha Kshara

पर्णक्षारो अग्निजननो गुल्मप्लीहादिनाशनः
यकृद्वृद्धिप्रशमनो मूत्रकृच्छ्राश्मरीहरः। (र.त.१४/१००)
parṇakṣāro agnijanano gulmaplīhādināśanaḥ
yakṛdvṛddhipraśamano mūtrakṛcchrāśmarīharaḥ| (ra.ta.14/100)

agnijanano – increases digestion strength,
Gulma plīhādi nāśanaḥ – cures abdominal lump and splenic disorders,
yakṛd vṛddhi praśamano – pacifies hepatitis,
mūtrakṛcchra aśmarī haraḥ – cures dysuria and urinary calculi.

Benefits

Palash Kshar uses:
It acts as a natural diuretic. Hence useful to relieve dysurea (difficulty in urination) and urinary calculi.
It is useful to treat abdominal distension as in ascites, liver and spleen disorders.
It is used in Ayurvedic treatment Chronic fever, Oedema, toxic condition and slow poisoning, Malabsorption syndrome, Gastro-enteritis, anorexia, Dyspepsia and internal abscess.
It is also used as an ingredient in many Ayurvedic medicines.
Palash Kshar is used as ingredient in making Lohadi Rasayan, as per Charaka Samhita Chikitsasthana 1.3/15-23, wherein, iron leaves are heated to red hot and dipped in Palasa Ksharajala (mixed with water)

How long to use?
It can be used for a period of 2 – 3 months only.

Effect on Tridosha – It balances Kapha Dosha.

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

Palasha Kshara 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.

Contents

Palasha Ksharam ingredients and how to make?
Completely developed banana stems are collected, cleaned well, dried completely in sunlight.
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 (6 times of water according to other reference) then mixed well, filtered with cloth, into an Iron vessel.
These contents are kept for one night as it is.
Next day morning the clear supernatent part of water is filtered with a cloth into another vessel.
This process of filtering is repeated for 3 – 4 times.
Then this water is heated over mild fire,  till the water content gets totally evaporated.
White coloured Palasha Kshara is produced. It is stored in an air tight glass contained.

Different Method of Preparation

Another method of preparation as per Sahasrayoga:
Palasha whole plant is burnt in open air. 3.072 kg of ash is coolected, added with 12.288 liters of water, boiled and reduced to 3.072 liters.
It is filtered for 21 times with a four folded cloth, and boiled till it becomes solid.
It is then added with
Shankha choorna (conch powder) – 48 g
Sudha choorna  – lime powder – 24 g
Shukti Choorna – 96 g
Shankha Bhasma – 192 g
The total mixture is heated till total moisture is lost, and preserved in heap of grains.
It is used for external application over piles.

Expiry date

 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, Sahasrayoga Kshara Prakarana 96

Ayurvedic medicines with Palasha Kshar as ingredient:
Chitrakadi Lepa – used in treating Mandala Kushta – Reference: Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 7/85-86
Mamsyadi Lepa – used in all skin diseases – Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 7