Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Katu
- Quality (Guna)
- Laghu, Tikshna
- Potency (Virya)
- Ushna
- Also Known As
- Sanskrit: यवक्षार
Hindi: जवाखार
What is Yavakshara (Barilla / Impure Potash)?
Alkali obtained from burning barley or other plant ashes. Used in Ayurvedic preparations as a digestive and for urinary stones. An important Kshara (alkali) in Ayurvedic therapeutics.
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1
Therapeutic Actions (Karma)
- Deepana (digestive)
- Ashmari Bhanjana (urinary stones)
- Gulma hara (abdominal masses)
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1
How to Use Yavakshara — Barley Alkali by Condition
Explore how Yavakshara — Barley Alkali is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (3 sources)
References in Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan
गु म हणीपा डु ल हानाहगलामयान ् वासाशः कफकासां च शमये यवशक ू जाः Yavakshara - (Kshara prepared from barley) mitigates abdominal tumors, diseases of the heart, duodenal disease, anaemia, splenic disorders, distension of the abdomen, diseases of the throat, asthma, haemorrhoids and cough arising from kapha.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food
References in Charaka Samhita
Leave it overnight and next morning on cooling adds 320 gm of honey and little quantity of yavakshara.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)
Prepare a ghrita with eight times of water with paste of chitraka and yavakshara.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा)
Ghee cooked with pippali (Piper longum), pippalimoola, chitraka (Plumbego zylanicum), gajapippali, shringavera, yavakshara should be given in hemorrhoids.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
[197] Bleeding and pain in the hemorrhoids relieved with medicated ghee cooked with the juice of dadima (Pongamia granatum) and yavakshara as well as ghee cooked with nidigdhika (Solanum surratense) and dugdhika (Euphrbia thymifolia).
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
The paste of ingredients like hribera, utpala, lodhra, majitha, chavya chandana, patha, atisa, bilva, dhataki, devadaru, bark of daruharidra, nagaramotha, jatamamsi, musta, yavakshara and chitraka should be made then added 4 times juice of changeri and cooked with ghee as per ghrita siddha.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 12: Edema Treatment (Shvayathu Chikitsa / श्वयथुचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
References in Sharangadhara Samhita
— Yavakshara (alkali of barley) half a Karsha, and Dadima (pomegranate — Punica granatum) two Karsha.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.