What is "kshara"

Kshara is an extract of the ashes of Achyranthes aspera used in Ayurveda; it is very alkaline. It is given to people to drink in a highly diluted form as a remedy for worms, indigestion, kidney stones, skin diseases, and obesity. It is also administered topically in a less diluted form, especially for problems of the anus and rectum like haemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, and to try to control infection after fistulectomy, after cutting away pilonidal sinus, and after draining abscesses in that region; it is also used on infected wounds more generally.