Kankshi
Kankshi is a Sanskrit name for alum (potassium aluminium sulfate), the mineral better known in Ayurveda as Sphatika or Sphatikari and in Hindi as Phitkari. It is a mineral, not a plant. Its calcined form, used internally, is described on the Sphatika Bhasma page.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Alum (potash alum) |
| Sanskrit | Kankshi, Sphatika, Sphatikari |
| Hindi | Phitkari |
| Chemical | Potassium aluminium sulfate, KAl(SO4)2·12H2O |
Kankshi is a mineral. It is a different substance from Gunja (Abrus precatorius), the toxic seed also called Raktika, and nothing said about Gunja applies to it.
How is it used?
- Raw alum is used externally, as a powder or a solution, for its astringent action.
- For internal use it is first calcined into Sphatika Bhasma, which is taken only in small doses under a practitioner’s supervision.
Recent safety updates
- Raw alum is astringent and can irritate the stomach and gut when swallowed.
- It contains aluminium. The safety notes on Sphatika Bhasma, including the caution for people with impaired kidney function, apply to any internal use.
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
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