Avipathi Choornam
Avipathi Choornam is an ayurvedic formulation described in Sahasrayogam, which is used for Pitta Diseases in ayurveda. It helps balancing Pitta and reduces its aggravation. It is useful in problems which occur due to increased DRAVA (Liquid) quality of the Pitta Dosha. These problems include sour belching, heartburn, GERD, gastritis, burning sensation in the abdomen, sour taste of mouth, stomatitis, and excessive sweating.
Ingredients (Composition)
Avipathi Choornam contains following ingredients:
| INGREDIENTS | QUANTITY |
| Trikatu Herbs: | 5% |
| Sonth (dried ginger) Zingiber Officinale | 5% |
| Black Pepper (Piper Nigrum) | 5% |
| Long Pepper (Piper Longum) | 5% |
| Trijata Herbs: | 5% |
| Dalchini (Cinnamon) – Cinnamomum Zeylanicum | 5% |
| Elaichi (Green Cardamom) – Elettaria Cardamomum | 5% |
| Tejpata (Indian Bay Leaf) – Cinnamomum Tamala | 5% |
| Other Herbs: | 5% |
| Mustak (Nut Grass) – Cyperus Rotundus | 5% |
| Vaividang (False Black Pepper) – Embelia Ribes | 5% |
| Amla (Amalaki or Indian Gooseberry) – Emblica Officinalis | 5% |
| Nishoth (Turpeth) – Operculina Turpethum | 5% |
| Misri (Crystallized sugar) | 50% |
| Reference: SAHASRAYOGAM, CHURNA PRAKARANA, AVIPATHI CHURNA (73) | |
Medicinal Properties
Avipathi Choornam has following healing properties.
- Antacid
- Appetizer
- Digestive Stimulant
- Carminative
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
Therapeutic Indications
However, it is beneficial in all PITTA disorders, but according to ingredients and clinical observation, Avipathi Choornam mainly works well on SAMA PITTA. SAMA PITTA is the condition when Pitta is associated with AMA (toxins). The main symptoms of SAMA PITTA condition are as follows:
- Sour Belching
- Foul Smell
- Burning sensation in the throat
- Heartburn (burning sensation in the chest)
- Feeling of heaviness in the body
Avipathi Choornam gives promising results in these symptoms. In addition to these symptoms, it can be used in following health conditions:
- Gastritis
- GERD
- Mild constipation with foul smelling stools
- Loss of appetite
- Stomatitis
- Migraine
- Headache with feeling of burning sensation in the head or forehead
- Excessive thirst
- Exhaustion due to heat
- Dizziness
- Hepatitis & Jaundice
Avipathi Choornam Benefits & Uses
The main effect of Avipathi Choornam is observed on the digestive system. It helps rectifying the digestive juices and eliminating the AMA linked with Pitta.
Heartburn
Avipathi Choornam is a drug of choice in ayurveda for heartburn and it is truly effective for treating it. The most common cause of heartburn is acid flowing back up into the food pipe (esophagus). Avipathi Choornam helps preventing the acid flow into the esophagus by pushing the acid back into the stomach and rectifying its secretion and reducing excess production. Further, it also provides strength to the weakened lower esophageal sphincter and helps in proper relaxation, which allows content to flow down into the stomach.
Gastritis
Avipathi Choornam excellently works in acute as well as chronic gastritis. It reduces inflammation of stomach linings. It should be used when patient has burning ache or sensation in the abdomen along with feeling of fullness after eating.
Please note it should not be used in abdominal cramps, which is a type of spasmodic pain, but it is highly beneficial for burning type pains present in upper abdomen. For best results, Kamdudha Ras should also be used along with it. If patient also has constipation, then it should be used along with Praval Pishti, Giloy Sat and Yashtimadhu Churna instead.
Nausea & Vomiting
Avipathi Choornam is beneficial when patient has sour taste in mouth or expelling out sour vomitus. It can be used as supportive remedy along with Sutshekhar Ras or Kamdudha Ras in such cases.
Constipation
Avipathi Choornam has mild laxative action due to presence of Nishoth (Turpeth). However, it does not contain significant quantity of Nishoth to work in moderate to severe constipation, but it can work when someone has mild constipation, stool is sticky and having foul smell. In such cases, it should be used at night in dosage of 6 grams or 1 teaspoon with warm water.
Avipathi Choornam for Weight Loss
All ingredients in Avipathi Choornam except Misri help reducing weight. Many doctors recommend it to obese or overweight patients with Aggravated Pitta symptoms. In such cases, it is most suitable. Contrarily, it may not give results in people having no Pitta symptoms.
Dosage & Administration
| The general dosage of Avipathi Choornam is as follows. | |
| Infants & Children | 25 to 50 mg per Kg body weight, but the dosage should not exceed from 1.5 grams |
| Adults | 3 grams |
| Geriatric (above 60 yrs) | 1 to 3 grams |
| Pregnancy | Generally not recommended |
| Lactation | 1 to 3 grams |
| Maximum Possible Dosage | 9 grams Per Day (in divided doses) |
| * Twice a day with honey | |
| When to Take: After Food | |
How to Take Avipathi Choornam
Mix 3 grams Avipathi Choornam in 1 teaspoon honey and make a paste and then eat it. Water can also be taken after eating it.
Safety Profile
Avipathi Choornam is considerably safe for most individuals in recommended dosage and when Avipathi Churnam is taken under professional supervision.
Avipathi Churna Side Effects
There are no side effects reported with Avipathi Choornam use in its recommended dosage. But it should not be used in people suffering with abdominal pain or cramps and abdominal tenderness. In such cases, it can worsen the condition and can cause severe abdomen pain. Diarrhea (Loose stools) is very rare side effect, which can occur in sensitive people or with high dosage.
Contraindications
- Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
- Abdominal pain or cramps
- Abdominal tenderness
- Ulcerative colitis
FAQs about Avipathi Choornam
Can diabetic patient take Avipathi Choornam?
Avipathi Choornam contains Misri, which is also form of added sugar. 3 grams Avipathi Churna is likely to contain 1.5 grams sugar, which is insignificant to raise your blood sugar level.
According to most experts, added sugar equally raises your blood sugar level as starches present in many foods. Actually, how much carbohydrates you eat per day is more considerable as compared to the source of the sugar. If you really require Avipathi Choornam, then you should reduce the starch intake from other foods.
It also depends on controlled and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. You can take it for a shorter period if your blood sugar level is under well controlled. But if you have uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, then you should not take it. There are many several ayurvedic medicines available for each problem.
Can hypertensive patient take Avipathi Choornam?
If you have any symptom or disease in which it is indicated, then you can take it without any problem. It does not likely to affect your blood pressure negatively.
Does it lower blood pressure?
Herbs present in Avipathi Choornam also work on elevated cholesterol and normalizes overall lipid profile. In some patients, hypertension occurs due to lipid disorders. In such cases, if patient has some Pitta symptoms associated with it, and then it can be helpful. However, it is not indicated as antihypertensive and has very little effects on blood pressure. There are several better ayurvedic remedies available for high blood pressure, which can be used instead.
Also Read: Ayurvedic Medicine for High Blood Pressure
