Sarjikshara

Modern description

A combination of herbs and alkali preparation used to stimulate digestion, alleviate gas, and balance Kapha dosha. It acts as a digestive and carminative agent.

Purpose

Ingredient in a formulation.

Indications

• Gulma (abdominal tumors/lumps)
• Udara Roga (abdominal disorders)
• Pleeha Vriddhi (splenomegaly)
• Adhmana (abdominal distention/bloating)
• Agnimandya (digestive impairment)
• Shoola (colic/pain)
• Krimi Roga (worm infestation)
• Constipation
• Mutraghata (Dysuria)
• Ajirna (Indigestion)

Classical indications

• Gulma
• Udara
• Shoola
• Agnimandya
• Krimi

Karma

• Deepana (appetizer)
• Pachana (digestive)
• Rochana (improves taste)
• Bhedana (purgative)
• Kaphahara (reduces Kapha)
• Pittala (increases Pitta)
• Shoolahara (pain reliever)
• Vatahara (reduces Vata - potentially with proper anupana)

Key ingredients

• Sarjika

Adult dose

125 mg - 500 mg (approximately 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon)

Pediatric dose

Consult an Ayurvedic practitioner

Preparation steps

• Collect the Panchangas (five parts) of Duralabha (Tragia involucrata) or Dhanvayasa (Fagonia cretica Linn.).
• Dry the collected plant material.
• Burn the dried plant material to ash.
• Dissolve the ash in four times the amount of water in a mud pot and let it sit overnight.
• The next morning, decant the clear supernatant water into a clean vessel.
• Boil the water until it evaporates completely, leaving a fine white powder at the bottom.

Safety contraindications

• Pregnancy
• Lactation
• Children
• Debilitated individuals
• Timira roga
• Excessive use may cause baldness, grey hair, debility, and sterility