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Tankana (Borax): It’s Therapeutic Value in Gynecology

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 ISSN: 2456-6640
International Journal of of Ayurveda
(A Monthly Scientific Journal of Kiban Research Publications)
www.kibanresearchpublications.com

REVIEW ARTICLE

Tankana (Borax): It’s Therapeutic Value in Gynecology

Anubha Chandla*1, Praveen Guleria2
1Department of Stri Roga Avum Prasuti Tantra, SKSS Ayurvedic College & Hospital Sarabha, Ludhiana,
Punjab, India.
2Departmentof Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, SKSS Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Sarabha ,
Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

*Corresponding Author: Email: dranubhachandla@gmail.com

Abstract

Tankana has been used in ayurveda since very long time and has been kept under kshara(alkali) varga.
Chemically it is composed of boric acid and sodium and is also named as sodium tetra borate
decahydrate. It occurs as a natural deposit in the form of crystalline tough masses formed by evaporation
of water, on shores of dried up lakes in India, Tibet and Nepal. It is then purified to get Tankana
Bhashma. Borax is only ingredient of tankana Bhasma. Borax contains 11.3% boron. Boron is always
chemically bound to oxygen forming borates (borax or boric acid). Boron is a naturally occurring element
widespread in nature. Fruits and vegetables are the primary sources of boron. It is an essential element
for dietary intake for human and animals. Shuddha tankana has great therapeutic/medicinal value as a
potent expectorant, anti-inflammatory, digestive, diuretic, antimicrobial and is considered as an antidote
for Aconite .The present study focuses on the therapeutic value of tankana in stree roga.

Keywords: Tankana, Borax, Gynecological use, Ayurveda.

Introduction
Female health is of prime concern nowadays.
The common gynecological issues of
occurrence are those related to abnormal
menstruation (scanty, excessive and painful
menstruation), abnormal vaginal discharges,
vaginitis, ovarian cysts and carcinomas of
cervix, uterus. Ayurveda is a rich ancient
science having a number of herbs and
minerals for preventive and curative aspect
in stree rogas.
The one commonly available mineral
compound of gynecological importance is
Tankana.
It is categorized among kshar dravyas and
one finds reference of its use in Charak
Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtang
Sangraha and in various texts of Rasa
Shastra. Besides for its medicinal uses it has
been used in various detoxification/
purification and calcination processes for
metals and minerals and various alchemical
Anubha Chandla | August 2017| Vol.2| Issue 8|01-05
procedures related with mercury. Tankana is
a very popularly used ingredient of various
kaasa shwasahara herbo/mineral
preparations and also those which contain
vatsanabha (tankana is considered antidote
of vatsanabha).
Tankana should be purified by certain
methods enumerated in ayurvedic classics
before bringing it into medicinal use.
Consumption in impure form can result in
toxic reactions. Tankana bhasma is an
ayurvedic calcined formulation prepared
from borax powder.
Aims and Objectives
 To review the available literature of
tankana(borax); both ayurvedic and modern
aspect.
 To focus on the therapeutic use of tankana
bhasma in stree roga
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Materials and Methods
Classical texts of Ayurveda especially rasa
shastra, research journals and internet were
taken as the source of present study.
Literary Review
Tankana (borax) has been in use since the
Samhita kaal. It is one among ksharatrya
and is also known by other names e.g. tanka,
shweta kshara, kshara raj, suhaga,
saubhagya[1].
Purification of Tankana
Tankan is recommended for internal as well
as external use. Depending on usage; it is
purified in different ways:
For external use: Tankan is dissolved in 24
parts of water, filtered and subject to intense
heat till little water is left and then dried
completely. This is used for preparation of
tankanamla and in external applications [2].
For internal use: There are few methods of
purification but in the commonly used one,
raw tankana is first powdered, heated over a
low flame in an iron vessel and stirred till it
looses water and tankana particles swell up
in the form of kheel. It is then allowed to cool,
made into a fine powder to obtain shuddha
tankana[3]. The same is called tankana
bhasma.
Properties of Tankana bhasma: Rasa:
katu, Guna: ruksha, teekshna, Veerya:
ushna, Vipaka: katu, Dosha karma:
kaphaghna, vata shamaka, Karma: kapha
vishleshaka(mucolytic), hridya, vata vikara
naashaka, agni deepaka, pitta krita,
aadhamaan naashaka, stri pushpa janana,
balya, vividh vrana naashaka , sthavara
visha hara and mudha garbha pravartaka[4].
Dose: 125-250 mg [5]
Uses: After purification it is used in the form
of tankana bhasma (borax powder),
tankanamla (boric acid) or tankanamla drava
(diluted boric acid) either internally or
externally.
Use in Stree Roga:
Internal use (Aabhyantar): For internal use
tankana is usually used in combination with
other herbs or minerals. Its common uses
are:
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 In Aartava dosha (Menstrual Disorders):
In stree roga it is used in anaartava
(pathological amennorrhoea), alpa artava
(oligo/hypomennorhoea), kashta aartava
(dysmenorrhoea) as tankana is stree
pushpa janana. Rajapravartini vati is
one preparation of tankana commonly used
drug in rajo rodha(amenorrhoea), kashta
raja (Dysmenorrhoea) and associated
pains[6].
 In Yoni gata roga: It is also an ingredient
of Nashtpushpantaka rasa which is used
for various gynecological disorders like
nashta pushpa, nashta shukra, yoni shoola,
ritu shoola, kleda yoni[7]
 Garbha nirodhaka: Tankana is one of
the main ingredients of Pippalyadi yoga;
prescribed for contraception and is given
during menstrual phase with milk[8]
 Mudhagarbha pravartaka (relieves
obstruction in obstructed labour): In
prolonged and tedious labors due to weak
uterine contractions 30 grains (1.94gm) of
borax with 10 grains of powdered cinnamon
in a little warm conjee may be given every
1-2 hrs upto 3-4 doses [9].
External use (bahya prayog)
 Haemostatic: Fine powder of tankana when
sprinkled over vrana(wound), immediately
causes haemostasis[10].
 In Yoni pidka (small eruptions in genital
tract) and ruja (pain); tankana water is
used in the form of yoni basti (vaginal
douche) [11]. In distressing irritation of the
genital organs in both male and females,
tampon/gauze saturated with a strong
solution of borax (1:16) kept to the parts
affords much relief [12].
 In aupsargika mehauth vrana(ulcers of
genitourinary area in Sexually transmitted
diseases) tankanamla(boric acid) is used for
vrana prakshalana [13].
 In chronic shweta pradara, tankana amla
drava(diluted boric acid) is commonly used
in the form of yoni basti(vaginal douche) for
seven days[14]. For preparing tankana
amla drava 10 ratti(1.25gm) tankana
amla(boric acid powder) is dissolved in 5
tola parisruta jala (60ml distilled
water)[15].
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In case of women a solution of 1:5 in the
form of vaginal injection proves useful in
cystitis, leucorrhea, gonorrhea and lithic
acid deposits[16].
 Vrana ropaka: Tankana is used in the
process of repair of vividha vrana (various
types of wounds) [17] either in diluted form
to wash the wounds or in the form of
malhar. In stree roga it is popularly used
for yoni prakshalana to treat garbhashya
greevamukha gata vrana (cervical erosion).
 In lactating mothers having sore nipples
and other forms of skin eruptions a solution
of borax (1:8) is applied locally before and
after breast feed[18].
 In chloasma and frecklles acne, a dilute
solution of borax 1:10 is used to wash the
face[19]
Contraindications: As tankana is ushna,
teekshna, it is used judiciously and in low
doses in bala(children) and vriddha(old age).
Its use in contraindicated in garbhini.
Modern View: The term borax is used for a
number of closely related chemical
compounds that differ in their crystal water
content, but usually refers to the
decahydrate. It is an important boron
compound. Borax contains 11.34% boron.
Boron is a naturally occurring element
widespread in nature.
The average concentration in the earth’s
crust has been estimated to be 10 ppm and in
seawater, 4.6 ppm. Fruits and vegetables are
known to be primary sources of boron. Among
vegetables, leafy greens have the highest
boron levels. Boron is always chemically
bound to oxygen forming borates (e.g borax or
boric acid).
When administered to humans inorganic
borates are bio transformed to boric acid and
are absorbed from mucosal surfaces. Boric
acid shows affinity for cis-hydroxyl groups,
and such affinity may account for the
mechanism by which boric acid produces
some of its biological effects [20].
Recent studies on biological significance of
boron in various metabolic, nutritional,
hormonal and physiological processes
indicate that Boron is essential for humans
and animals [21].
Anubha Chandla | August 2017| Vol.2| Issue 8|01-05
Therapeutic Value of Boron and its
Compounds
Bone Growth and Maintenance: Boron
plays an important role in osteogenesis and
its deficiency has been shown to adversely
impact bone development and regeneration
[22].
Wound healing: boron has been shown to
significantly improve wound healing.
Application of 3% boric acid solution to deep
wounds reduced the time required in
intensive care by two third [23].
Hormonal action: studies have proved that
dietary intake of boron produces effects
similar to estrogen supplementation in
women who suffer from postmenopausal
osteoporosis. In human males, an orally
administered daily dose of 10mg/day of boron
as sodium tetra borate for seven days
produced a significant decrease in sex
hormone binding globulin and increases the
mean free testosterone level in blood plasma
[24].
Anti-inflammatory effects: A number of
studies have indicated that boron reduces
levels of inflammatory biomarkers [25].
Antimicrobial Action: Various research
studies have proved antibacterial and
antifungal action of borax and boric acid,
specifically against bacterial strains E.coli,
P.aeruginosa, S.aureus, S.pyogenes and
fungal strains C.albicans, A. niger [26].
Anticancer effects: Certain studies have
indicated that boron possesses
anticarcinogenic properties. Boron rich diets
and regions where soil and water are rich in
boron present with lower risk of several types
of cancer like breast, cervical and lung
cancers. HPV-16 and HPV-18 cause
approximately 95% of all cervical cancers and
boron interferes in the life cycle of HPV.
Serine protease inhibitors reduce the
immortalizing and transforming capacity of
the HPV E7 oncogene [27]. Boron exists in
the human body mostly in the form of boric
acid, a serine protease inhibitor [28].
Toxic effects: Micronutrient elements may
be toxic at some dose, duration of exposure
time and application method.
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Laboratory and animal studies have been
extensively conducted to determine the
toxicity of borate compounds. It was reported
that 17.5 mg boron/kg per day affected
fertility in rats. In humans acute toxicity
symptoms of excessive boron exposure are
nausea, vomiting diarrhea and lethargy [29].
Discussion
Tankana is a kshara. Kshara has the
property of ksharan (cutting). It is Katu in
rasa and katu rasa is kleda naashaka, kandu
naashaka (pacifies pruritis), vrana
avsaadaka (depresses wound), krimi
naashaka (kills microorganism), maansa
vilekhana (scrapes muscle tissue), shonita
sanghata bhedaka (brings lysis of clotted
blood)[30]. Because of these properties and
actions it is used in yonigata vrana chikitsa
(wound management) either for vrana
prakshalana or applied as malahara .It is
ushna in veerya and vipaka, pitta
krita(increases pitta dosha). Because of these
properties it is stri pushpajanana as aartava
is aagnya [31].
It is kaphaghna vata shamaka, teekshna and
thus cures anaartava (amenorrhoea) as
aggravated kapha and vata obstruct the
aartava vaha srotas and destroy aartava[32].
It is ushna and thus relieves pain in
kashtaartava. It also has balya property thus
strengthens body. In higher doses it
References
1. Sharma Sadanand, Ras Tarangini, prasadani
vyakhya by Haridutt Shastry, Kshartrik
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Anubha Chandla | August 2017| Vol.2| Issue 8|01-05
stimulates uterine contractions and thus is
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Role of boron and its compounds (borax, boric
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Conclusion
Going through the ayurvedic literature of
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