Whenever we listen to a word “fitkari”, “phitakaree” or “phitkari” it reminds us of barber shop and shaving. Fitkari in English is known as “Alum,” it’s a type of chemical compound, which has wonderful uses as well as health benefits.

The most commonly used of fitkari is for water purification, for leather tanning, in preparation of food like baking powder and pickling, in cosmetics products like deodorant,as antitranspirants and for making fire-proof paper and cloth.

There are varieties of alum but most commonly used for household purposes is potassium alum. It is no wonder that alum has been used since ancient times for its many wonderful uses. Today Alum is available in various sizes, shapes as fine powder or even in blocks.

What is Alum?

Alum or so called ‘alumen’ is odourless, colorless, transparent, which are found in crystalline blocks or granular powder with have the sweetish astringent taste. It when heated melts at about 200º; it loses water of crystallization with the formation of the anhydrous salt.

Although ‘alumen’ is a substance that was found was found naturally in the earth for centuries but word ‘alumen’ was first described by Pliny in book called “Pliny’s Natural History” he calls it ‘salsugoterrae’ Alum is also known as Potash alum (Potassium Aluminium Sulphate) it is an inorganic salt.

What is Fitkari?

Fitkari is the regional Indian word called for the substance name is alum, which is in addition recognised by many names such as Potassium Alum or Potassium Aluminum Sulphate. Fitkari is also called as phitkari or saurashtri in Ayurveda which has frequently been used topically and internally in traditional systems of Unani medicine, including Ayurveda.

In Unani medicine, Fitkari was used for various treatments due to its astringent, analgesic, haemostatic, desiccative, expulsive for foetus and placenta, antipyretic, detergent, corrosive, expectorant, emetic and irritant property.

It was believed to be every-in-one solution for health-related problems in our daily life. Beside this Fitkari has also been of great importance in Traditional Chinese Medicine they called it “Ming fan”.

Other Names Of Alum

•    English: Alum,Potash, Sulphate of Aluminium, Ammonium, Aluminous Sulphate.
•    Arabic: Zaj abyaz, Shibe yamani.
•    Persian: Zak safed,Zamah.
•    Bangali: Phatphadi, Phatkiri.
•    Marathi: Phatki.
•    Sindhi: Patki.
•    Urdu: Phitkari.
•    Hindi: Phitkari, Fitkari.
•    Tamil: Patikaram, Padikharam, Shinacarum, padikara kal.
•    Telgu: Pattikaramu, Patika.
•    Kannada: Phatikara, Patika.
•    Sanskrit: Sphatikari, Surashtraja, Kamakshi, Venmali.
•    Malayalam:Fatakadi or Phatakadi
•    Gujarati: Phatakadi.

What Are The Different Types Of Alum?

Generally when you hear about alum, it is referred to potassium alum, that is the hydrous form of potassium aluminium sulfate the chemical formula KAl(SO4)2•12H2O. However, there are other compositions with the formula AB(SO4)2•12H2O that are also considered to be an alum. Below are the best examples of them.

Potash Alum

Aluminum potassium sulphate is also recognized as potash alum it is used as an astringent and antisepsis in different food preparation methods such as pickling and fermentation and as a flocculent for water purification together with other things.

Molecular formula: KAl(SO4)2•12H2O

Soda Alum

Soda alum mainly occurs in nature as the mineral mendozite. It is very soluble in water, and is extremely difficult to purify. It is used in the acidulent of food as well as in the manufacture of baking powder.

Molecular formula: NaAl(SO4)2•12H2O

Ammonium Alum

Ammonium alum is also known as Ammonium aluminium sulfate. It  a white crystalline and have double sulfate of aluminium. It have varieties of uses such as ,in vegetable glues, for water purification, in deodorants, in porcelain cements  beside this it is more commonly used in in fireproofing textiles, tanning and dyeing.

Molecular formula: NH4Al(SO4)2•12H2O

Chrome Alum

Chrome alum is also known as Chromium(III) potassium sulfate it is the potassium double sulfate of chromium. It is produced from chromate salts or from Ferro’s chromium alloys. It is used in the whipping of leather as Chrome alum regulates the leather by connecting the collagen fibers within the leather.

Molecular formula: KCr(SO4)2•12H2O

Selenate-Containing Alums

Alums are also known that contain selenium in place of sulfur in the sulfate anion, making selenate instead. They are called selenium- or selenate-alums. They are strong oxidizing agents.

Molecular formula: (SeO42-)

Aluminium Sulfate

Aluminium sulfate is sometimes termed as alum in an informal way, but it is very distinct form alum and its usage is not considered as technically correct. Its properties are comparatively different from those of the set of alums described over.

Molecular formula: Al2(SO4)3

Best Uses And Health Benefits Of Alum ( Fitkari )

Alum or Fitkari is very useful in day to day life; it can help us to prevent enormous health issues. From beauty care to serious or light injuries  so every home should have it.Below are some of the best uses of alum.

1. Best Treatment For Head Lice

Getting rid of lice is a long and difficult task, unfortunately lice infects many people. The people are always looking into the methods to get rid of the lice such as cream’s shampoo, medicine or any home-based remedy they suppose will work.

It doesn’t matter which method you adopt; however, Alum can be the best natural and effective way to get rid of hair lice. Alum (Phitkari) is also well known remedy mention in Ayurveda for lice.

How To Use:

• Take 4 grams of Alum powder with ½ liter of water, mix them well.
• Now apply this mixture on your scalp and leave it for 30 minutes.
• Then rinse off your scalp and hair with herbal shampoo.
• If you apply this regularly, you will definitely see the reduction in the head lice.

2. Best For Pimples & Acne

Acne or pimples is common during the teen years and upsets around 85 percent of people for some time during their lives. If you are suffering from acne, you might have tried out various treatments and tend to have similar kinds of questions about its treatment.

The answer is quite simple use alum for Acne or pimples, as it is rich in astringent with antiseptic properties; it can clean and disinfects the skin.  Astringents also contain a kind antiseptic effect, applying to your skin can give your skin a grain-free complexion, pimples and blackheads. The Astringents properties also remove the dead skin cells from your skin’s surface.

How To Use:

• Take 1 spoon of Alum powder, 2 spoons Multani mitti (Fuller’s earth) and 2 spoons Rose water.
• Mix all the three ingredients thoroughly and make it into a fine paste.
• Now apply this paste over the acne or pimples and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Then wash your face with lukewarm water.
• As alum is a good healing agent, it will aid in lessening in pimples, and Multani mitti is a very effective remedy for shining on skin tan and pigmentation as well.

3. Good For Canker Sores

They go by various names canker sores, mouth ulcers, aphthous ulcers, etc., whatsoever you call them, but if you get canker sores, you experience the true meaning of pain. It nearly affects about 20% of the population so you might also have come across at the certain time.

They hurt a lot and keep you from eating normally and even talking like a human being. They’re uncomfortable and serious issue to get ridge if it immediately. In this Alum, powder can be the best it is an effective home remedy for the healing of canker sores or mouth ulcers.

How To Use:

• Take a ½ spoon of Alum powder you can also use Alum block by crushing it to powder.
• Apply this powder over the canker sore or mouth ulcer.
• Keep it for 10 minutes and then rinse off your mouth.
• Repeat this for about 2 to 3 times a day for 3 to 4 days
• You to see good improvement in the canker sores.
• You can also mouth rinse with alum water simply take 2 spoons of the Alum powder mix in Glass full of water and gargle.

Note Caution: Small kids might find this remedy intolerable so avoid using alum powder directly over the canker sores in kids. Adults can bear burning sensation as it gives good results in cures of the canker sores. Also make sure that you do not to swallow it while applying over the canker sore use only a bit for applying.

4. Best For Eye Abscesses

Generally, eye illnesses occur when unhealthy microorganism’s bacteria, fungi and viruses penetrate any part of the eyeball or nearby area.  Styes are also one that is caused by a bacterial infection it mostly appears when the bacteria grow from the root (follicle) of an eyelash.

A style or hordeolum is a tiny painful lump that grows inside or outside of the eyelid. It is, in fact, an abscess filled with pus which is normally caused by a staphylococcus bacterium. Styes are familiar to most people and have been experiencing one or two at some stage during his or her life. Alum is also magnificent for dealing with eye abscess.

How To Use:

•Take 1 spoon of alum powder make a paste of it
•Now add 1 spoon of sandalwood powder and 2 spoons of rose water.
•Apply this paste over the style or eye abscess.
•Wait for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water.
•Repeat this at least once a day for 3 to 4 days and you will see a reduction in the size of the style.

5. Best For Cracked Heels

The people who experienced or having cracked heels really knows how distressful they feel while waking they consider the situation that they wouldn’t want to get into.  Cracks in the skin on heels are generally known as heel fissures they occur when skin becomes dry and aggravates the thick, brittle calluses on heels.

Fissures on the heels can also develop from the bottom of your foot or at either side of the foot. Once the skin of the foot gets worsened it can result on the surface to bleed. Bleeding can cause to disease and other skin complications. Using Alum powder can be the best solution for treating cracked heels. Alum acts as a good exfoliator which helps in removing dead cells over the heels

How To Use:

•Take 2 spoons of Alum powder
•1 spoon of Coconut oil and 1spoon of honey
•Apply this mixture on the cracked heels or feet.
•Massage it for 4-5 minutes and leave it for 10-15 minutes
•Finally wash it off with lukewarm water
•Repeated this for least 2 to 3 times a week to get rid of cracked heels naturally.
•You will find in few days your heels will become soft and smooth without any cracks.
Note: You can use any other oil availed to you such as olive oil, Lavender, rosemary etc.

6. Best Thing For Shaving Cuts

Many people might have person experience cutting of skin  while shaving of beard or other body hair with a bladed material like a razor. Using Alum block is a simple technique to control bleeding from minor cuts after shaving.

It has existed in practiced by many barbers around the world in the hair salons. As Alum acts as an astringent, it aids in the blockage or sealing the blood vessels supplying the skin. Generally bleeding from shaving cuts very fast and Alum is an antihemorrhagic substitute who controls bleeding.

How To Use:

•Just rub Alum block over the cuts or wounds for 5 minutes.
•Wait for 10 minutes and wash your face with lukewarm water.
•If bleeding appears again repeat same procedure again.

7. Best For Water Purification

Drinking pure water benefits our body in various so to be healthy it is very important that water we drink is purified. These days you can easily find a large number of sophisticated water purification technologies into the market. Day by day, new water purification technology is also getting improved with advanced features and techniques.

However, to purify the muddy water is not so easy task even for latest technology. In that circumstance, Alum works as an amazing for water treatment. It is also very useful where there is no water purifier or going on a camping trip simply carry alum powder and use whenever needed.

How To Use:

•Add about 1 gm of alum powder in a liter of muddy water.
•Let the muddy particles settling down wait for 10 to 15 minutes.
•You will see that mud settles down at the bottom with clear water on the top of the bucket or your vessel.

Note Caution: Don’t overuse Alum than the recommended dose as it can cause side effects like vomiting, abdominal pain or cramps.

8. Best Way For Hair Removal

Unwanted hair on the body is a common problem affecting most women to varying degrees throughout their lives. It causes great distress, with feelings of poor self-esteem, a sense of isolation and low self-worth.  The present there are several sophisticated technologies such as laser hair removal that can work wonderful.

However, it is costly so people are always looking for distinct methods to get a ride of it. However, not everybody is aware that Alum can be effectively used to remove unwanted body hair, with a long-lasting effect.

How To Use:

• Take Two to three tablespoons of rose water in a bowl
• Now put half teaspoon of alum powder in it.
• Now mix them well with the help of a spoon.
• Take a cotton ball and dip into the mixture
• Apply it on the areas where you have unwanted hair.
• Allow it to dry off completely repeat this procedure for half an hour.
• Wash it off completely and then wipe some sesame oil or olive oil to moisturize the area.
• Repeat this process three to four times within a week or few weeks you will find unwanted hair gone.

Note Caution: If you have sensitive skins do not apply it for more than 10 to 15 minutes.

9. Best For Wrinkles On Face

Wrinkles, fine lines or sagging of skin can occur due to various factors such as sun exposure, aging process, repeated facial expressions and sudden weight loss. There are lots of alternatives for diminishing or getting rid of wrinkles. The available choices may include surgery, filler injections, Botox injections, dermabrasion, which is very expensive and may also have side effects.

Using Alum can be the best chosen as it is a naturally-occurring ingredient that has astringent properties. It has been used in many anti-wrinkle and anti-aging skin creams to make the skin tight and remove wrinkles on its own.

How To Use:

•Take Alum powder mix it with honey and make a paste.
•Apply this mixture over your face like a face pack or face mask.
•Wait for 15 minutes and rinse off your face.

10. Best Deodorant For Odor

Today all deodorants available in a market have Alum as main ingredients accompanied by other chemicals so why not use natural. Alum is a very good antiperspirant in comparison to shop bought deodorants. Alum powder kills all the harmful bacteria that produce a bad odor. It is a very powerful natural deodorant in getting rid of body odor.

How To Use:

• Wet your underarms and rub the Alum block over the underarms.
• Wait for few minutes and the wash your underarms.

Note Caution:  Do not use Alum daily as it may affect your skin. Use it on alternate days or once every two days.

The traditional writings of Unani and Ayurveda medicine shows wide uses of alum for the treatment of distinctive ailments. Today scientifically only few of them are screened out. We will find more potential uses of alum in coming years.