Vida Lavana – Benefits, Usage, Ayurveda Details

Vida Lavana is one among the group of five salts as explained in many Ayurvedic text books. However, there is difference of opinion regarding the identity of this salt.  It is also called Vid Lavana

Sanskrit Synonyms

Vid Lavan, Vidlavan, Vida lavanam, Bida Lavanam, Bid Lavan
Vidgandha, Bida Lavana – because according to some this salt is prepared by excreta of goat, cow, camel, sheep etc.
Kritrimala – Because this salt is artificially prepared.
Supakva / Supakya – Because heating process is involved in its production.
Dravida – Available in South Indian region.

Controversy

There is difference of opinion regarding Vida Lavana. It is artificially prepared. Vida means excreta. Hence, it is prepared by using excreta of different animals.It is also prepared by burning a particular type of mud with wooden pieces of Kareera, peelu etc.
According to Rasa Tarangini, 80 Tola (800 grams) of Romaka Lavana (earthen salt) is mixed along with 10 tola of Amalaki powder in a pot and subjected to heat. The resultant salt is Vida Lavana.

Some textbooks of Rasashastra explain to prepare Vidalavana by heating 82 part of table salt, 1 part each of Vibheetaki and Sarjika kshara.
Rasendra Chudamani explains Navasadara as Vida lavana, which is prepared by excreta of Cow, Camel, Sheep,etc.
The Hindi commentator of Rasaratna Samucchaya, Dr D.Anant Kulkarni explains preparing Vida lavana with excreta of Camel and Human urine.
In Punjab, it is collected from places where bricks are manufactured.

Chemical composition

Vida Lavana is artificially prepared salt. It has granular shape. it is mainly composed of Sodium chloride. It also contains traces of Sodium sulphate, Alumina, magnesia, Ferric Oxide and Ferric Sulphide.
Sodium chloride – 93.7 % w/w
Total Sulphides – 0.121 %
Iron – 0.0089 % (Reference)
Some authors compare it to Ammonium salts.

Preparation of Bida Lavana

Romaka Lavana – 80 Tola – 960 g
Amalaki Churna – 10 Tola – 120 g
The fine powders of both are taken in an earthen pot and subjected to intense fire for 2 Yamas (6 hours). After self cooling, Vida lavana is collected from the pot.

Sanskrit verse

As per Bhavaprakasha haritakyadi Varga,
बिडं पाकं च कृतकं तथा द्राविडमासुरम् |
बिडं सक्षारमूर्ध्वाधःकफवातानुलोमनम् ||२१४||
दीपनं लघु तीक्ष्णोष्णं रूक्षं रुच्यं व्यवायि च |
विबन्धानाहविष्टम्भहृद्रुग्गौरवशूलनुत् ||२१५||

Sakshara – alkaline, caustic, produces burning and corrosive action.
Teekshna, Sookshma – minute, enters into minute channels, piercing
Ushna – hot in nature
Vyavayi – spreads rapidly throughout the body
Deepana – improves digestion strength
Laghu – light to digest
Shulahara – useful in abdominal colic
Hrudroganashana – useful in cardiac disorders
Rochana – improves taste
Vatanulomana – causes Vata Dosha to move in normal direction, eases constipation.
Urdhva Adha Kapha Vata anulomana – elimiates Kapha and Vata in upper and lower orifices
Indicated in
Vibandha – constipation
Anaha – bloating
Vishtambha – hard stools
Hrudroga – cardiac disorders
Gaurava – heaviness
Shula – abdominal colic pain.
Effect on Dosha – causes Vata balances, increases Pitta.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines with Vida Lavana as ingredient:
Lavan Bhaskar Churna – Useful in bloating, gas problem, spleen diseases, hemorrhoids, constipation, fistula, etc
Avipattikar Churna – useful in low digestion strength, gastritis, etc
Brihat Saindhavadi Tail – Herbal oil useful in  low back ache, sciatica, rheumatoid arthritis, abdominal colic, Ankylosing spondylosis etc.