{"id":158517,"date":"2022-04-25T13:39:57","date_gmt":"2022-04-25T08:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharmeasy.in\/blog\/?p=158517"},"modified":"2026-03-17T09:21:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T09:21:46","slug":"alum-uses-benefits-side-effects-dosage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharmeasy.in\/blog\/alum-uses-benefits-side-effects-dosage\/","title":{"rendered":"Alum: Uses, Benefits & Side Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<\/head>

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Table of Contents<\/p>\nToggle<\/span>

Introduction<\/a><\/li>
Chemical Composition of Alum<\/a><\/li>
Properties of Alum<\/a><\/li>
Potential Uses of Alum<\/a><\/li>
How to Use Alum<\/a><\/li>
Side Effects of Alum<\/a><\/li>
Precautions While Using Alum<\/a><\/li>
Interactions With Other Drugs<\/a><\/li>
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/a><\/li>
References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n \n <\/span>\n $\"Join$ \n <\/a>\n
<\/span>Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Alum is a mineral salt found in nature in both pure and impure forms. It is obtained from the soil ore found in Nepal, Bihar, Punjab, and the Kathiawar area. It is a colourless, clear, odourless, crystalline mass or granular powder with a sweetish, astringent flavour. It is found in Egypt, Italy, England, Germany and India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Indian households, alum is commonly known as phitkari or phatkari. Other names for alum include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Bengali:<\/strong> phitkari, phatphadi^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Gujarati:<\/strong> phatkari^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Hindi:<\/strong> phitkari, phitikhari^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Punjabi:<\/strong> fatkari^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Tamil:<\/strong> pati-karam, padikharam^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Sanskrit:<\/strong> sphatikari, surashtraja^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Sindhi:<\/strong> pitki^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
English:<\/strong> aluminous sulphate, sulphate of alumina and potash, sulphate of aluminium and ammonium<\/a>^{1<\/sup><\/a>
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n}
When heated, it melts at around 200 degrees ^{1<\/sup><\/a>, resulting in an anhydrous salt. It is frequently contaminated with impurities in markets. It may be made suitable for potential health uses. It is found in many pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food products. It has a strong astringent quality. It comes in four different colours: white, green, yellow, and red. White is known as phitkari, green is known as heera kasees, yellow is known as kasees and red is known as surkh phitkari. The most notable quality alum, according to Unani physicians, is one that easily shatters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
<\/span>Chemical Composition of Alum<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Alum is composed of the following:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Potassium ^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Aluminium ^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Hydrogen ^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Sulphur ^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
Oxygen ^{1<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n}
<\/span>Properties of Alum<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Various properties of alum are listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
It might be an antibacterial agent<\/li>\n\n\n\n
It might have an antiplatelet (prevents platelet aggregation) property ^{2<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n}
It might have an anti-obesity activity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
It may be an anti-haemorrhagic (stops bleeding) agent<\/li>\n\n\n\n
It may have an anti-inflammatory potential<\/li>\n\n\n\n
It may have an anti-dandruff property<\/li>\n\n\n\n
It may be an anti-asthmatic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Potential Uses of Alum<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. Alum for Managing Infections<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
$\"urinary$
_{Image Source: freepik.com<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n}
Different alum concentrations were tested against Proteus mirabilis<\/em>, which causes urinary tract infections. These studies^{4<\/sup><\/a> suggested that alum may have antimicrobial properties, as it appeared to reduce the motility of the bacteria in culture media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
Using an in-vitro<\/em> bioassay method^{5<\/sup><\/a>, the antibacterial activity of alum and clove extract was assessed against pathogens such as S. aureus<\/em>, S. epidermidis<\/em>, E. coli<\/em>, and K. pneumoniae<\/em>. Potential antibacterial activity was observed in the alum and clove extracts, suppressing bacterial growth isolated from various infection sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n}
Using an alum mouthwash and rinsing twice a day might be efficient in lowering the level of salivary mutans<\/em> Streptococci <\/em>in the children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The antifungal activity of alum was tested on yeast isolated from mouth lesions. It was concluded that alum might help control fungal isolates and it might be helpful against infections such as oral thrush and mouth ulcers. However, more studies are required to ascertain the use of alum for infections.<\/p>
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