Alum powder, a versatile mineral salt, finds application in aftershave, culinary endeavors, and traditional medicine, especially for treating respiratory ailments. This transparent granular salt, often recognized as “phitkari” in India, is employed by many for various purposes. When heated to approximately 200 degrees, it transforms into an anhydrous salt, valued in medicines, food, and cosmetics. Discover how alum powder can benefit you:
- Cough Relief: Combining alum powder with honey, known as Sphatika Bhasma, helps reduce lung mucus, making it effective against coughs and throat infections. It can also alleviate dysentery when taken twice a day due to its drying properties.
- Skin Enhancement: Alum powder, mixed with wax, serves as a hair cleanser and has skin-lightening properties. It removes excess oil, tightens the skin, and diminishes signs of aging, like wrinkles and pigmentation.
- Oral Health: Alum’s antiseptic and healing properties make it ideal for curing mouth ulcers. Rinsing with alum powder helps with inflammation and combats bacteria in the mouth.
- Piles Management: Alum’s anti-inflammatory and drying properties normalize stool consistency, making it helpful for piles, a condition linked to constipation and bleeding.
- Bacterial Control: As a bacteriostatic substance, alum prevents bacterial growth, making it a valuable preservative. It is useful in skincare and can unclog pores.
- Acne Reduction: Alum’s astringent qualities cleanse the skin of bacteria, reducing acne and pimples, making it beneficial for oily skin and skin lightening.
- Sweating Reduction: Alum’s ability to shrink sweat ducts and control bacteria makes it a common ingredient in deodorants, reducing excessive sweating and body odor.
However, certain precautions are necessary. Avoid contact with the eyes, as it can cause severe irritation. Consuming large quantities can upset the stomach. There are also concerns about aluminum in antiperspirants and its potential link to breast cancer, though more research is needed to substantiate this claim. Avoid using products with high aluminum content, especially deodorants, to mitigate potential side effects.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Indiana Sphere journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
