Vol. 3, Issue 2 (2014)

Author(s):
Sujata Waddar, Prasanna N Rao, BJ Gopi Krishna, Arun Raj GR, Shridhar Waddar

Abstract:
Kshara Chikitsa (alkaline therapy) is the herbal extracts of plants like Mulaka(Raphenus sativus Linn.), Snuhi (Euphorbia nerifolia Linn.), Aragwada (Cassia fistula Linn.),Kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica Linn.), Vasa (Adhatoda vasica Linn.) and Arka (Calotropis gigantea Linn.). Kshara can be a compound or mixture of many herbs or may be from single herb. Mulaka Kshara is a caustic alkaline preparation of the drug Mulaka (Raphenus sativusLinn.), indicated in diseases like Mutrakrchra, Mutrashmari, Gulma etc. There is wide range of description available about Kshara as told by Acharya Sushruta and many other authoritative classics. This alkaline preparation has many therapeutic usages and even has replaced many surgical procedures and proved to be effective in treating many disorders. The internal use ofKshara is advised in Mutrashmari, external application in Arshas (hemorrhoids) and in the form of Kshara Sutra in Bhagandhara (fistula in ano). The paper details the most practical way of preparing Mulaka Kshara for clinical use.