Kayam Churna Benefits, Dose, Ingredients, Side Effects

Kayam churna is a very famous Ayurvedic medicine for constipation. It is not a traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It is a proprietary Ayurvedic medicine. It means that the formula of Kayam churna is not mentioned in any Traditional Ayurvedic text books. The manufacturer of Kayam churna – Sheth Brothers, formulated a combination of a few Ayurvedic herbs that benefit in constipation, blended them into powder form and labelled it as Kayam churna.

Ingredients

Kayam churna is a powerful and intelligent blend of good Ayurvedic herbs. Kayam churna ingredients are –
Senna leaves (Cassia angustifolia)
Black Salt (Sauvarchala Lavan or Kala Namak)
Nishoth (Trivrit) – Operculina turpethum
Ajwain – Carum capticum /  Trachyspermum ammi
Himej = Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
Svarjika Kshara – a type of Kshara preparation
Jethi Madh = Yasthimadhu = liquorice = Glycyrrhiza glabra.

Benefits, dosage

Kayam churna is claimed to be beneficial in Chronic constipation, acidity, gas, headache and mouth ulcer.

Kayam Churna how to use –1 – 2 teaspoons at bed time, preferably before food with half a glass of hot water.

Can it be taken continuously for many months / years?
For long term usage, Kayam churna – 1 teaspoon at night 3 – 4 times in a week is generally advised. It is not good to take it continuously for a very long time.

Some people might find it difficult to tolerate the smell. They can mix it with a cup of water or with their regular beverage. It can also be mixed with a bolus of meals and consumed.

Mode of action, side effects

How does Kayam churna act? 
Trivrit is a good purgative Ayurvedic herb.
Haritaki and Senna leaves are mild laxatives.
Yasthimadhu is good for stomach complaints, peptic ulcers and mouth ulcers.
Saindhava lavana and Swarjika kshara are usually used in gastritis condition. They also improve the digestion capacity of stomach and intestines.

Kayam Churna side effects – 
Very high dose of Kayam churna may cause stomach ache, bloating, diarrhea and dehydration.
Kayam Churna is known to cause dependence. Hence, many people use it over a very long period of time.

Kayam Churna contains yashtimadhu. People with diabetes, high BP, high potassium levels (hyperkalemia) should take this only under medical supervision.

Overall, Kayam churna makes a good remedy for constipation. But for a long term and permanent cure for constipation, lifestyle changes and fiber rich diet plan is the solution.
Kayam churna in pregnancy  is not recommended, unless prescribed by the doctor.
Kayam churna is not recommended for children.
It does not cause any harm to liver or kidney in the recommended dose.

Kayam churna for constipation

Kayam churna is one of the most over-the-counter purchased Ayurvedic medicine for constipation. However, many complain of dependency and recurrence of constipation once after stopping the product.

Expiry date

Expiry date of Kayam Churna – 2 years from the date of manufacturing.

Does Kayam churna causes cancer? No it does not.

Taking Kayam Churna by a diabetic, hypertensive patient

There is no restriction for a diabetic patient. Since it does not contain sugar, Kayam Churna is considered safe for a diabetic patient.
Because it contains salt as an ingredient, patients with high BP should consult their doctor before taking this medicine, especially for long term use.

Kayam Churna for Fissure

This product is not indicated in the treatment of fissure. However, people with fissure often have constipation as a cause. Meaning, the hard constipated stools, while passing through the anal canal may cause anal fissures. Hence, it is very vital for the fissure patients to have soft bowels. Kayam Churna helps with it.
While it may not help in reducing the pain associated with anal fissure, the licorice and haritaki ingredients are useful in healing the fissure faster.

Is Kayam Churn useful in overcoming Ama?

Not getting satisfactory results?

Kayam Churna is one of the popular and effective medicines for constipation. There is no doubt about it. It contains strong herbs such as Nishoth (Trivrit), Senna and Haritaki to relieve constipation. But despite that, it may not work unfortunately in people with severe constipation. In such a case, your Ayurvedic doctor may be forced to add another laxative / purgative medicine, in the form of Gandharvahastadi castor oil might be added to the prescription.
Under such circumstances, overall health, diet, habits of the patient, and the entire disease profile of the patient should be taken into consideration. Merely addressing constipation as a symptom might not work.

In some cases, Panchakarma therapies such as Virechana purgation therapy, Basti (enema) therapy, Oil massage, sweating treatment etc. help in improving the symptom.

In some cases of constipation, it is a good idea to mix or change the medicines once in 2 months so that the patient does not develop mental dependency on the medicine.

For Virechana

Can Kayam Churna be used for relieving food poisoning? Can it be used for Virechana?
In a case of food poisoning, laxative or purgatives are not usually recommended, as the person might already be having diarrhea. In a proper Virechana Panchakarma treatment, Kayam Churna can be used but there are several other traditional Ayurvedic medicines such as Trivrut Lehyam, Avipattikara Churna, Manibhadra guda etc, which are effective and act as per traditional indications.

During lactation period

If the constipation is not relieved with mild Ayurvedic laxatives such as Triphala, haritaki, Svadishta Virechana Churna etc., then, under the doctor’s advice, Kayam churna can be taken for a short period of 2 – 4 days only.

Does it help in losing weight?
It is not a product meant for causing weight loss.

Does it help in fissure and hemorrhoids? 
It helps by relieving constipation and thus helpful indirectly. 

Suppose there is lot of ama accumulation and this is the cause of my constipation, headache and inflammation. Suppose I take kayam choorna or triphala for few weeks. Is it possible that the ama will leave my body and after that I will no longer have any issues?

in your example, once after the constipation is resolved by taking Kayam Churna or by Triphala churna, if headache is resolved, then, in that case, regular use of laxative is substantiated.
Sometimes, the ama – disease causing Dosha complex might be present in deeper tissues and might not be resolved just with using laxatives. In such case, a standard Virechana Panchakarma treatment, involving improving digestion strength, high dose ghee intake, oil massage, sweating treatment and then purgation treatment, is more useful.
Mere use of laxative does not mean that the Doshas are expelled out.
So, in case of constipation causing migraine, taking Virechana treatment once or twice a year would be useful.

Interesting how the name is “Kayam Churna” right? It’s like the manufacturer knew that there’s going to be dependency and made a joke out of it in the name. Btw ‘Kayam’ means ‘perpetual/never-ending’ in Gujarati.

Lol! your guess is half correct.
The reason for the name may be two.
Kayam in Sanskrit is – body / health. So, it can be assumed to be good for health.
Kayam, even in Kannada, and many languages means permanent, suggesting that once taken, one becomes permanent customer of it?! weird.
It may also mean that the solution offered and health benefits of this product is permanent. 🙂

Does it help in losing weight? 
It is not a product meant for causing weight loss.

Does it help in fissure and hemorrhoids? 
It helps by relieving constipation and thus helpful indirectly. 

I am working in night shift and could not sleep well for long time in day time or take food in time. Will Kayam churna will be helpful to me to relieve my constipation? 
Hi, in your case, the cause for constipation is Vata dosha aggravation due to night shift work. Hence, Vata balancing measures will be useful to make Vata dosha to flow in the normal downward movement and thus relieving constipation. Taking laxatives might give only temporary relief. 
Follow these tips: Ayurvedic Health Tips For Night Shift Workers

Can it be taken by a person with hiatus hernia?
Yes, if associated with constipation; not a cure for it though. 

Watery stools with Kayam Churna?

Will there be always watery or loose stool after using kayam tablet or churna?
Dr JV Hebbar
Kayam Churna is an Ayurvedic medicine used for the treatment of constipation. Some patients with constipation, while using Kayam Churna, may experience watery stool, instead of normally formed stool. If this is the case, then, as per their doctor’s advice, they can consider decreasing the dose of Kayam Churna or opt for a milder medicine for constipation such as Haritaki.

Once someone stops using Kayam churna, in most cases, she will not continue to have watery stools problem. On the same note, for people with constipation, a. It is good to take the constipation medicine for some weeks and then stop it for some weeks. This way, you are forced to follow natural measures to relieve constipation, than getting addicted to medicines. And b. It is good to change the constipation medicines from time to time. Your Ayurvedic doctor can help you with it.
Read: Constipation Causes, Ayurvedic Treatment, Home Remedies