Medical Reviewer: Dr Surabhi Rawat
In the Ayurvedic realm, Churna is a category of medicine that calls for the grinding of potent ayurvedic herbs, salts or sugars into a powder. The Avipattikar Churna is a popular polyherbal ayurvedic formulation that is used to treat peptic ulcer diseases. It is widely used in the treatment of constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, ascites, gastritis, obesity and bloating as well.
Clinically, it has also been used in the treatment of liver disorders and alcoholism. It is used to treat the pitta in the body and balance the doshas. With properties of amla-pittam nihanti aashu, it relieves the body of gastritis; of vibandham malamootrayoho, it treats constipation and difficulty in micturition; of agnimandya, it treats indigestion; of prameha, it treats diseases of the urinary system; of durnama nashanam, it treats chronic conditions.
Formulation – Ingredients & Contents
The Avipattikar Churna is a polyherbal powder, which means that a number of herbs are carefully sourced, cleaned and dried to make the final derivative. The Bhaishajya Ratnavali mentions the preparation and formulation of the Churna in the section Bhaishajya Ratnavali Amalpitta Chikitsa 25-29. The following herbs are used to formulate the Churna:
- Sonth or dried ginger (Zingiber officinale) with a weight of 10 grams
- Black pepper or Kali Miri (Piper Nigrum) with a weight of 10 grams
- Long pepper (Piper longum) with a weight of 10 grams
- Haritaki or Chebulic Myrobalan (Terminalia chebula) with a weight of 10 grams
- Bibhitaki or Bahera or Beleric Myrobalan (Terminalia bellirica) with a weight of 10 grams
- Amla or Amalaki or Indian gooseberry (Emblica Officinalis) with a weight of 10 grams
- Mustaka or Nut Grass (Cyperus rotundus) with a weight of 10 grams
- Vaividang or false black pepper (Embelia Ribes) with a weight of 10 grams
- Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) with a weight of 10 grams
- Tejpatta or Indian bay leaf (Cinnamomum Tamala) with a weight of 10 grams
- Laung or clove (Syzygium aromaticum) with a weight of 110 grams
- Nishoth or turpeth (Operculina turpethum) with a weight of 440 grams
- Misri or candied sugar or rock sugar or crystallized sugar lumps with a weight of 550 grams
All of the above herbs, spices and binding agents are sourced, cleaned and dried. Following the same, they are carefully ground into a fine powder to make the Churna. It is consumed along with adjuvants which are considered as vehicles, carriers or mediums for the prescribed medicine. The Churna is consumed with either of the following adjuvants:
Coldwater
Coconut water
Honey and ghee (clarified butter)
Avipattikar Medicinal Properties
This potent Churna is known to treat numerous issues and balancing the doshas of the body and has the following benefits:
- Carminative properties
- Antioxidant nature
- Anti-lithiatic properties
- Anti-ulcer properties
- Antacid
- Induces and increases appetite
- Digestive stimulant
- Promotes metabolic activities
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Has a mild diuretic effect
Uses And Benefits
The Churna can be used for numerous treatments to pacify and balance the doshas. It is used with adjuvants such as cold water, tender coconut water and ghee and honey.
Avipattikar Churna For Digestive Health
The Churna is very effective when used for acid dyspepsia with symptoms such as loss of appetite, discomfort, nausea, sour and acidic vomiting, retrosternal or heart burning and burning sensation in the throat. Tender coconut water makes for an excellent medium and adjuvant, in this case, allowing the patient to experience relief from the aforementioned symptoms.
Avipattikar Churna For Heartburn (Retrostrenal Burns)
For heartburn or retrosternal burning sensations, the mixture of the Churna with the coconut water must be administered to the patient after the meal. It alleviates symptoms of burning sensation in the abdomen, early satiety, postprandial fullness and gastro oesophagal reflux.
The Churna is known to control acid production and expulsion any excess acid from the stomach, thus allowing the inner squamous epithelial lining of the stomach to heal.
In combination with Praval pishti, Amalaki Rasayana, liquorice and Giloy salt, the treatment is known to neutralize the stomach acid and balance acidic secretion.
Avipattikar Churna For Chronic Gastritis
In cases of inflammation of the stomach linings, the inner mucous barrier weakens and does not provide the necessary protection to the stomach allowing for the secreted digestive juices to harm the epithelial cells. The reason for the inflammation can be anything from anti-inflammatory drugs or medication to helicobacter pylori (H.pylori).
In this case, the Churna aids in expelling the excess stomach acids to the intestine, allowing for the lining and mucous membrane to heal and repair itself over time. The therapy can be extended for up to four weeks with the prescription of a controlled dosage. In addition to the Churna, the following herbal remedies may also be combined.
Suggested Remedy: Vanshlochan or bamboo manna, Giloy salt, Amalaki Rasayana, Mulethi or Yashtimandu/ Licorice, coriander or Dhaniya powder and Cumin or Jeera powder. The above-mentioned ingredients can be administered in a dosage of 500mg each.
Avipattikar Churna For GERD Or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
GERD or Gastroesophageal reflux disease refers to the back-flow of the stomach content into the oesophagus or food pipe and is chronic in nature. The main cause of this disorder is the weakening of the cardiac sphincter in the fundus region of the stomach. This causes severe irritation and burning sensation in the food pipe and resulting in chest pains, heartburn, dysphagia, hoarseness and sour taste among other symptoms.
While the Churna itself is not target-specific to the root cause, which is the sphincter that stops the reflux, it is effective in alleviating the symptoms of the disease.
Suggested Remedy: To target the root cause of the disease, one is advised to take other remedies such as Abhrak Bhasma or Yashad Bhasma, Vanshlochan or liquorice.
Avipattikar Churna For The Difficulty In Micturition
With diuretic properties, the Churna is capable of correcting the action of the Apana Vata aiding the proper flow of urine and excretion. In cases of difficulty in passing urine or in cases of frequent urination with a minimal flow, the Churna is deemed effective. However, if the root cause for the difficulty lies in the prostate, the Churna cannot be used for treating the patient.
Avipattikar Churna For Kidney Stones
While the Churna is deemed effective in treating the kidney stones, promising results can be achieved when used along with Yahood Bhasma. Churna is also effective in treating urinary and kidney-related disorders.
Avipattikar Churna For Nephritis
With its well known anti-inflammatory properties, the Churna can be used to treat the inflammation in kidneys, targeted on glomeruli, interstitial tissues and tubules. All in all, it is considered effective in treating glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis and tubulointerstitial nephritis.
When used along with Chandraprabha Vati and Punarnavarishta, it reduces protein loss through urine and reduces swelling and excess fluid retention.
Dosage Information
The dosage of the Avipattikar Churna is restricted to one to three grams for children, three to six grams for adults and three grams for the geriatric. A daily maximum dosage is twelve grams only, and after it is divided and administered throughout the day.
Possible Side Effects
The Churna is not safe for use during pregnancy but can be used during breastfeeding. It must not be used when the patient has any of the following conditions: Diabetes, Diarrhoea, Acute abdomen, Abdominal pain, Epigastric tenderness and abdominal cramps.
Self-medication is not advised and a medical practitioner or an ayurvedic practitioner must be consulted before consumption.
Market Availability & Price
The Avipattikar Churna is available online at numerous ayurvedic pharmacies. You can buy it directly from Amazon or 1mg.com. The price is reasonable and is lesser than Rs 200 in all cases. Following are a few links you can use to purchase.