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Shankha Bhasma

Shankha Bhasma is a bhasma, a mineral or metal preparation reduced to ash by repeated calcination.

Key facts
Substance typeMineral or metal preparation, not a plant
Also known asShankha Bhasma, ShankhaBhasma

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2008 to 2025, every one with a DOI.

  • 10Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 2Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishShankha Bhasma

Key Phytochemical Constituents

  • Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as predominant constituent
  • Calcium oxide (CaO) formed during calcination
  • Trace strontium, magnesium, sodium
  • Marine-derived trace minerals
  • Organic matrix residues from shell protein (conchiolin)

How does it work?

  • Antacid action through direct acid neutralization by calcium carbonate and calcium oxide
  • Calcium supplementation via marine-derived bioavailable calcium supporting bone metabolism, muscle contraction, and nerve impulse transmission
  • Pitta-shamana (Pitta-pacifying) action through alkaline pH correction and reduction of Pitta-predominant digestive fire excess

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

  • Hyperacidity and GERD (Amlapitta): traditionally used for these conditions. A clinical study reported a reduction in GERD symptoms with lemon-purified Shankha Bhasma.
  • Digestive disorders (Agnimandya, Ajirna): traditionally used as a digestive aid and antacid. A high acid neutralization capacity has been reported.
  • Calcium deficiency: traditionally used for bone health and Asthi Dhatu nourishment. It is described as containing marine-derived calcium.

What do recent studies show?

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • SAFETY: Properly prepared Shankha Bhasma is reported to contain negligible heavy metals and to pass classical safety tests (Varitara, Rekhapurna)
  • MILD SIDE EFFECTS: Possible mild constipation or alkaline reflux
  • CAUTION: Hypercalcemia is possible with overdosage
  • METAL CONTENT: Marine shell-based preparation without intentional toxic metal content; described as carrying lower contamination risk than metallic Bhasmas.
  • PURIFICATION METHOD MATTERS: Lemon-purified Shankha Bhasma showed superior clinical efficacy vs sour gruel-purified, indicating preparation quality directly affects outcomes

What is it made of?

Mineral/Elemental Profile

  • Calcium carbonate (CaCO3): Major component (conch shell)
  • Calcium (Ca): ~38%
  • Magnesium (Mg): Trace
  • Strontium (Sr): Trace

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Bhasma

Standard Dosage: 250–500 mg twice daily

Optimal Timing: Before meals for hyperacidity; with meals for calcium supplementation

Storage: Airtight, dry container

Marker Compounds: Calcium carbonate (95%), Calcium phosphate, Trace strontium and magnesium

Vehicle (Anupana): Honey, warm water, or lemon juice

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.

Other clinical studies and reviews10

  1. Büyükdağ MH, Burth S, Reddy MM and others. 2025. Guanidine alkaloids from marine spongesThe Alkaloids. Chemistry and biology. PMID 40713153 · doi:10.1016/bs.alkal.2025.06.001
  2. Toulis V, Marfany G, Mirra S. 2025. Marine Derived Strategies Against NeurodegenerationMarine drugs. PMID 40863632 · doi:10.3390/md23080315
  3. Zhu L, Ren Y, Zhang S and others. 2024. Marine-derived polysaccharides: the potential agents against neurodegenerative diseasesFrontiers in pharmacology. PMID 39744139 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1506789
  4. Saini N, Sirohi R, A A and others. 2023. Marine-derived Natural Products as Anticancer AgentsMedicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates)). PMID 36476429 · doi:10.2174/1573406419666221202144044
  5. Wu L, Ye K, Jiang S and others. 2021. Marine Power on Cancer: Drugs, Lead Compounds, and MechanismsMarine drugs. PMID 34564150 · doi:10.3390/md19090488
  6. Dyshlovoy SA. 2021. Recent Updates on Marine Cancer-Preventive CompoundsMarine drugs. PMID 34677457 · doi:10.3390/md19100558
  7. Shikov AN, Flisyuk EV, Obluchinskaya ED and others. 2020. Pharmacokinetics of Marine-Derived DrugsMarine drugs. PMID 33182407 · doi:10.3390/md18110557
  8. Nigam M, Suleria HAR, Farzaei MH and others. 2019. Marine anticancer drugs and their relevant targets: a treasure from the oceanDaru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. PMID 31165439 · doi:10.1007/s40199-019-00273-4
  9. Hassan SS, Anjum K, Abbas SQ and others. 2017. Emerging biopharmaceuticals from marine actinobacteriaEnvironmental toxicology and pharmacology. PMID 27898308 · doi:10.1016/j.etap.2016.11.015
  10. Lu XL, Xu QZ, Liu XY and others. 2008. Marine drugs--macrolactinsChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 18816519 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.200890155

Laboratory and animal studies2

  1. Blunt JW, Munro MHG. 2023. The Benefits of CollaborationMarine drugs. PMID 36827106 · doi:10.3390/md21020065
  2. Chavan S, Tayade S, Gupta V and others. 2018. Pharmaceutical Standardization and Physicochemical Characterization of Traditional Ayurvedic Marine Drug: Incinerated Conch Shell (Shankha Bhasma)Marine drugs. PMID 30445775 · doi:10.3390/md16110450

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

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.