Yavakshara
Yavakshara is a salt or alkali preparation used in Ayurveda. It is not a chloride but an alkali: potassium carbonate as its primary component, with sodium carbonate and silica from the barley epidermis it is made from.
| Substance type | Salt or alkali preparation, not a plant |
|---|
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Yavakshara |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) - primary component
- Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3)
- Silica (from barley plant epidermis)
- Calcium carbonate (trace)
- Magnesium (trace)
- Potassium chloride (trace)
- Mineral microelements from barley ash
How does it work?
- Antacid action: Potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate neutralize gastric acid as alkalis; traditionally used for hyperacidity (Amlapitta)
- Anti-urolithiatic: Traditionally used in Ashmari (urinary calculi); proposed mechanism not established
- Digestive enhancement: Despite alkaline nature, Ushna virya (hot potency) stimulates Agni (digestive enzymes) after initial acid neutralization, improving overall digestion
- Srotoshodhana (channel clearing): Sharp and penetrating qualities clear obstructed srotas (channels), particularly in urinary and digestive tracts
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Amlapitta (hyperacidity/GERD): traditionally used as a primary remedy for hyperacidity.
- Ashmari (urinary calculi/kidney stones): traditionally used for urinary calculi.
- Gulma and Anaha (abdominal distension/bloating): traditionally used for abdominal distension and bloating.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Must be used in strictly controlled doses; excessive intake can cause alkalosis, electrolyte imbalance, and mucosal erosion
- Contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency (potassium accumulation risk) and alkalotic conditions
- Long-term unsupervised use may lead to metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia paradox, or sodium overload
- Should be consumed with Madhu (honey) or warm water as Anupana to reduce mucosal irritation
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Potassium
- Silica
- Magnesium
- Sodium carbonate
- Calcium carbonate
- Potassium chloride
- Mineral microelements from barley ash
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Kshara (alkaline ash extract)
Standard Dosage: 0.5–2 g with warm water or buttermilk
Optimal Timing: Before meals for Deepana; after meals for Pachana
Storage: Airtight, moisture-proof container (very hygroscopic)
Marker Compounds: Potassium carbonate (primary), Trace barley minerals
Vehicle (Anupana): Warm water, buttermilk, or honey
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.
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