Kaharuba Pishti
Kaharuba Pishti is a bhasma, a mineral or metal preparation reduced to ash by repeated calcination. [Characterization and antimicrobial study of Trinakantamani (Amber) Pishti](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35813362/). PMID [35813362](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35813362/) · [doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_155_19](https://doi.org/10.4103/ayu.AYU_155_19) EDEX study showed Pishti particles reduced to 701nm from 1-2 micrometers raw size, potentially enhancing bioavailability.
| Substance type | Mineral or metal preparation, not a plant |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Kaharuba Pishti, KaharubaPishti |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Kaharuba Pishti |
How does it work?
- Hemostatic (Rakta Stambhaka): Succinic acid and mineral traces contribute to astringent and blood-coagulation promoting effects; used traditionally in bleeding disorders including hemorrhoids, bloody diarrhea, and excessive menstruation
- Cardiotonic (Hridya): Succinic acid plays a role in the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) as succinate, supporting mitochondrial energy production in cardiac cells
- Anti-inflammatory: Succinic acid has documented anti-inflammatory properties; the amber matrix provides a slow-release delivery of this bioactive compound
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
- Bleeding disorders (Raktapitta, Raktarsha): The astringent and hemostatic properties of amber/succinic acid provide mechanistic support; traditional use in bloody diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and excessive menstruation is well-documented in clinical practice
- Heart tonic (Hridya): Succinic acid’s role in the Krebs cycle and mitochondrial energy production provides modern biochemical validation for the traditional cardiotonic claim
What do recent clinical trials show?
- Joshi N, Ahuja MR, Rastogi GK and others 2020. Characterization and antimicrobial study of Trinakantamani (Amber) Pishti. Ayu. PMID 35813362 · doi:10.4103/ayu.AYU_155_19
EDEX study showed Pishti particles reduced to 701nm from 1-2 micrometers raw size, potentially enhancing bioavailability. Heavy metals were below permissible limits. Microbial contamination within acceptable range. The nanoparticle size positions this as a form of traditional nanomedicine.
1 further claim previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and has been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- GENERALLY SAFE: Amber is fossilized tree resin with no heavy metal toxicity concerns; tested heavy metals (As, Hg, Cd, Pb) were below permissible limits
- Possibly safe for most people with no reported side effects at therapeutic doses; maximum daily dose should not exceed 1500 mg to avoid headache
- Microbial contamination and total microbial count found within permissible limits in analytical studies
- One of the safest Pishti preparations - no mercury, arsenic, or toxic metals; suitable for broader clinical use compared to rasa shastra formulations
What is it made of?
Mineral/Elemental Profile
- Primary component: Calcined mineral/metal oxide (after Shodhana and Marana)
- Particle size: Sub-micron to nanoparticle range
- Note: Exact composition depends on source material and preparation method
Analytical Methods: XRD, ICP-OES/ICP-MS, SEM-EDS, Particle size analysis, Namburi phased spot test
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Pishti
Standard Dosage: 125–250 mg
Bioavailability: Moderate; amber resin in fine particle form
Optimal Timing: With honey or Arq Gulab
Standardized Extract: Amber (fossilized resin) pishti
Shelf Life: Indefinite
Storage: Airtight container
Marker Compounds: Succinic acid, Fossil resin compounds, Trace minerals
Quality Parameters: Standard pishti fineness, authenticity verification (amber fluorescence test)
Vehicle (Anupana): Honey, rose water
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Laboratory and animal studies1
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.