Black Salt, Kala Namak
Halitum violaceum, Halitum purpureumHimalayan Black Salt, Sonchal Salt
Kala Namak, Sauvarcala Lavana, Visa Lavana (Ayurveda)
Kha ru tsha (Tibet)
Zi Nao Sha 紫硇砂 (TCM)
Black Salt, Kala Namak(Photo by Hedonistin, Wikimedia)
Minerological name:
Halitum violaceum
In the Western Tradition, “Indian Salt or “Black Salt” is sometimes listed in formulas. This is said to be a Black Salt which is mined, and therefore different from the Black Salt of India. Salmon and various other authors said common Rock Salt could be used in its place.
From Lexicon of Alchemy, under the heading of Mined Salts:: “Black, from the mines of Poland; also sometimes white and blue. It is dug up in blocks like mill-stones. It is called Naphthic, and is found in combination with Naphtha. It is also called Black Salt, Indian Salt, the last on account of its colour”.
Parts used:
Natural and artificial varieties are used.
Temperature & Taste:
Hot, dry. Pungent
Classification:
Uses:
1. Warms the Stomach, Promotes Digestion:
-increase digestive Heat (Agni, Spleen Yang)
-indigestion, bloating, Colic
-Hiccups, Reflux
-Constipation
-abdominal tumors
2. Clears the Channels:
-believed to clear the fine channels
3. Benefits Heart:
-traditional texts claim it benefits the Heart
4. Settles Wind, Guides Qi Downwards:
-Wind disorders (Tibetan Medicine)
-upward rising of Qi
–Treats Phlegm in the upper body, wind in the lower body (Tibetan)
Dose:
250mg–1 gram
Substitute:
Rock Salt can generally be substituted
Preparation:
1. According to some sources Black Salt is Rock Salt that is kiln-dried for 24 hours in a sealed pot with Triphala
2. According to other sources, impure Sodium carbonate (extracted from plant ashes) and Rock Salt are taken in equal parts, dissolved in water, filtered, then heated on a fire. (Damodar Joshi, Rasamritam)
3. Rock Salt, Sodium carbonate heated with Emblic and Chebulic Myrobalans.
Main Combinations:
Often combined with other Salts such as Sea Salt and Rock Salt
Also often combined with Ginger and Pepper
1. To promote digestion and increase digestive Heat:
i. Black Salt, Rock Salt, Ginger, Long Pepper
ii. Black Salt, Rock Salt, Sulphur, Embelia ribes, Long Pepper (as in Habb-e-Kibreet)
iii. Black Salt, Rock Salt, Sea Salt, Triphala, Black Pepper, Ginger Zedoary (as in Habb-e-Kabid Naushadari)
2. Loss of appetite , Black Salt, Costus, Cumin, Black Pepper, taken with Honey
3. Poor appetite, flatulence, chronic constipation, Black Salt with Borax, Sal Ammoniac, Long Pepper, Black Pepper, Ginger and Asafetida (as in Powder of Borax of Unani)
4. Upward movement of Qi with abdominal distention, reflux, Black Salt with Calamus, Asafetida, Costus, Hedychium, taken with wine.
5. Fever, Black Salt, Ginger, Andrographis (Unani)
6. Stomach pain, Black Salt with Chebulic Myrobalan, Ginger, Senna (as in Powder for Stomach Pain of Unani)
7. Renal Colic, Cumin with Caraway and Black Salt (Ayurveda)
Major Formulas:
Powder for Stomach Pain (Black Salt)
Citrakadi Churna
Arka Vati
Citrakadi Gutika
Sankha Vati
Powder for Stomach Pain (Unani)
Habb-e-Kibreet
Habb-e-Kabid Naushadari
Aloeswood 8 (Tibetan)
Calamus 4 (Tibetan)
Caraway 8 (Go snyod brgyad pa) (Tibetan)
Greater Salt Combination (Tshwa sbyor chen mo) (Tibetan)
Nutmeg 14 (Dza ti bcu bzhi) (Tibetan)
Mental Happiness (Tibetan)
Pomegranate All Inclusive Pill (Se ‘bru kun ‘dus) (Tibetan)
Rhododendron 9 (Dwa li dgu pa) (Tibetan)
Cautions:
As for Common Salt
Main Preparations used:
Nothing at Present
Nothing at Present