Shir Khisht

What is Shir Khisht?

Shir Khisht is a sweet, sticky sap that dries on the twigs of a shrub, Cotoneaster nummularia. It is a single herbal drug, not a blend. People pick it by hand and sell it as pale grains or a thick syrup.

It is best known as a mild laxative (a remedy that helps you pass stool). Persian and Unani healers give it to soften hard stools. They also give it to newborns with jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) to help them pass more stool.

Proof from modern studies is thin. We could not confirm a published human trial, so its effect in people stays unproven. Long use in a tradition is not the same as proof that it works.

How does Shir Khisht work?

The sugars in this sap pull water into the gut. That extra water softens stool and helps it move. Mannitol, a sugar alcohol, is thought to do most of this work.

The same kind of sugar is used in some modern stool softeners. So the idea makes sense. But it has not been tested well in people.

For newborn jaundice, the thought is that more stools carry off more bilirubin (the yellow pigment that builds up in the blood). That idea is not proven. Treat it as a guess, not a fact.

What forms does Shir Khisht come in?

It comes as small, pale, sticky grains scraped off the twigs. Shops also sell it as a thick syrup or a strained liquid.

Some Iranian pharmacies sell a filtered baby syrup with a set amount in each spoon. Raw grains can hold bits of twig, bark and insects. Buy from a seller who strains and tests the product.

Where it comes from:

Shir Khisht has been used in Persian medicine for many hundreds of years. Old Persian and Unani texts group it with the sweet, gentle "manna" drugs.

It was the usual choice when a healer wanted a soft, safe push for the bowels in a child, an elderly person or someone weak from fever. It is still sold in Iranian and South Asian herb shops today.

What does Shir Khisht help with?

• Mild constipation (hard, infrequent stools): This is the main traditional use and the one with the clearest reasoning behind it. The mannitol in the sap pulls water into the gut, much like modern sugar-based stool softeners. We could not confirm a human trial of Shir Khisht itself for constipation. So the support here is tradition plus a plausible mechanism, not proof.
• Constipation in children: Persian and Unani practice favours it for children because it tastes sweet and acts gently. Doses for children are much smaller than adult doses. No trial we can verify has tested it in children. Ask your child's doctor before giving any laxative to a child under two.
• Newborn jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), as a traditional add-on only: In Iran this manna is a well-known folk add-on for jaundiced babies. The idea is that more stools carry off more bilirubin (the yellow pigment in the blood). This is the use that worries us most. Newborn jaundice can rise fast and harm the brain, and it needs blood tests and sometimes light therapy. Never treat a yellow baby at home instead of seeing a doctor.
• Dry, hard stools during fever: Old texts describe it as cooling and moistening, and give it when someone is dried out by fever. It was seen as safe for weak patients. There is no modern study behind this. Fluids and medical care matter far more than the herb.
• Dry cough and sore throat, as a soothing sweetener: The syrup coats the throat and tastes sweet, so it was mixed into cough drinks. Any comfort is likely from the sweet, thick liquid itself. We found no human study showing it treats a cough. Do not use it in place of care for a cough that will not go away.

Which foods are rich in Shir Khisht?

1. Taranjabin (Alhagi manna): a different plant manna used the same sweet, mild way in Persian practice
2. Bid Khisht (willow manna): another Persian manna with a similar sugar content
3. Sugar-free mints and gums: many contain mannitol, the same sugar alcohol, and can loosen stools
4. Mushrooms, celery and some seaweeds: natural sources of small amounts of mannitol

Practical Tips:

If sugar-free sweets already give you loose stools or gas, this manna is likely to do the same.

What are the side effects of Shir Khisht?

• Loose stools
• Diarrhoea (frequent watery stools) if you take too much
• Stomach cramps
• Gas and bloating
• Loss of body water and salts if diarrhoea keeps going, which is a bigger risk for babies and older people
• Rare rash or itching from an allergy to the plant

Good to know:

Most side effects are mild and settle when you stop or cut the dose. Loose stools and cramps are the common ones.

The real risk is loss of body water. A baby or frail older person with ongoing watery stools can get dry and unwell quickly, so stop the herb and get help.

How much Shir Khisht should you take?

• Recommended daily: No official dose has been set for Shir Khisht. Old Persian sources for adults suggest roughly 10 to 30 grams of the raw manna. It is soaked in warm water, then strained before drinking. Doses for children are far smaller and should be set by a practitioner, not guessed at home. Ready-made baby syrups differ by brand, so follow the label. Start at the low end and stop if stools turn watery.
• Best time of day: Most traditional texts give it at night, so it works by morning. Some give it in the morning on an empty stomach instead.
• With or without food: It is usually taken between meals, mixed into warm water or milk. Drink plenty of water with it, or it may not soften the stool at all.
• Time to effect: When it works, it usually acts within 6 to 12 hours. Some people see an effect the next morning after a bedtime dose.
• How long to take it: Use it for a short time only, a few days at most. If constipation has not eased in about three days, stop and see a doctor. Long daily use of any laxative can make the bowel lazy and can hide a problem that needs testing.