Role of Nasya in Urdhwajatrugata Vikara. by Anand Kale SignUp

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Role of Nasya in Urdhwajatrugata Vikara.
by Dr. Anand Kale Bookmark and Share

Nasya or nasyam is an Ayurvedic treatment method, characterized by nasal administration of medicines. According to Ayurvedic concepts, nose is the opening of prana or life. Nasal administration of medicines easily takes the medicines to the brain and other vital parts. Nasal administration is mainly to remove excess dosha accumulated in the nose, throat and head area.

Prana vayu and udan vayu which are situated in Urdhwajatrugata (i.e above clavicle) are responsible for all mental activities including memory, thought, Energy, process and concentration, fairness, sneezing etc. so when we instilled medicated ghe or tailam or kshir via nostril it  will directly act on these 2 vayus and gives them their proper direction so that they are able to do their proper functions listed above.

Purvakarma (Pre-purification Measures):

Prior to nasya karma, sneha and sweda should be done to the patients Face, Forehead, Head, Ears and Neck. This prior snehana (oleation) and swedana (sudation or sweating) will help to loosen the adhesive doshas, thereby facilitating the subsequent elimination.

Pradhan karma (Main Procedure of Nasyakarma):

After the Purvakarma the patient is asked to lie down in a bed with his hand and legs kept straight. His head is maintained at a lower position by keeping the pillow below the neck. This position will facilitate the direct passage of the drug. Placing the medicine above hot water gently warms it and then it is made to flow in to one nostril, while the other is kept closed the same process is carried out in the other nostril also. For the administration of the drug a pichu (Cotton swab) or nadi(tube) may be used (dropper can be used).

The sole, shoulder, neck, ear and palm are gently massaged after the administration of the drug. He must pit out all the impurities and medicine that reach his mouth. The patient is then given a decotion of Triphala for gargling to remove excess cough attached to throat region. Swedakarma (sudation) should be repeated after the nasya treatment.

This process should be repeated for 7 days.

Mechanism of Nasyakarma:

The nasya dravya (medicine) acts by reaching 'Sringataka marma' (a main vital point situated on the surface of the brain corresponding to the nerve centres, which consisting of nerve cells and fibres responsible for the function of speech-Broca's Centre, vision, hearing, taste and smell).

From where it spreads into various strotasas (vessels and nerves) and brings out vitiated doshas from the bread.

Sringataka is a composite structure consisting of four siras (arteries) in connection with four sense organs-viz, nose, ear, eye and tongue. The composite structure formed by the union of these four arteries is called sringata. As per the ayurveda school of thought for the evolution of a disease the vitiated doshas should be brought to the site from its original seat. This movement will be made through the srotasas (channels) and if there is any disturbance in the integrity of the srotasas it will result in the development of disease.

With regards to the Urdhwangarogas (diseases of head) there should be some disturbance in the normal functions of urdwanga srotasas (arteries, veins, nerves in the head). Sringadaka are the most important group of srotasas in the urdhwanga (head) and drugs acting through these srotasas are certain to bring about srotosuddhi (cleaning) in urdhwanga.

Action of drugs used in Nasyakarma

* By general blood circulation, after absorption through mucous membrane.
* Direct pooling into venous sinuses of brain via, inferior ophthalmic veins.
* Absorption directly into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Many nerve endings which are arranged in the peripheral surface of mucous membrance, olfactory, trigeminal etc will be stimulated by Nasyadravya (the medicine used to give nasya) and impulses are transmitted to the central nervous system. This results in better circulation and nourishment of the organs and the diseases will subside. In our  Shalakya OPD we do nasya procedures for various diseases succesfully. Some of those are listed below:

 1. Pradhamana nasya with Katphala powder, Chinkani Pawder in Sinusitis, Kaphaj Shirorog.
2. Brihana nasya with Medicated kshir, Tail, Ghrita such as Kshirbala tail in Facial palsy, Vataj shiroroga.
3. Shamana nasya such as Anutail nasya, Panchendriyavardhan tail in Hair fall, Spondylitis, Headache.
4. Shadbindu tail nasya in Chronic sinusitis
5. Kumkumadi tail nasya for fairness over face
6. Keshar ghrita nasya for Migrain
7. Jivantyadi ghrita nasya for Refrctive error.
8. Bhringaraj tail nasya for Tinitus.
9. Bala Mocharas tail nasya for frozen shoulder.

This treatment of nasya causes dramatic result in above diseases symptomatically and for a lifetime.
Children below seven, people above 80 and pregnant women are not recommended for any kind of nasya therapies.

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