Ayurveda the divine science of life -21

Ayurveda the divine science of life

Dosage:

● Cu¯rn.

a: freshly ground dried rhizome, 1–5 g

b.i.d–t.i.d; higher doses as an emetic

● Pha¯n.t.

a: dried rhizome, 30–90 mL b.i.d–t.i.d.

● Kva¯tha: dried rhizome, in milk, 60–90 mL

b.i.d–t.i.d

● Kalka: applied externally for headaches,

toothache, and in the nasal cavities to treat nasal

polyps and sinus congestion; used to promote suppuration

in indolent ulcers

● Tincture: fresh rhizome 1:2, 95% alcohol; dried

rhizome 1:5, 60% ethanol; 1–3 mL t.i.d.

● Ghr. ta: as nasya, 1–3 gtt. in each nostril.

REFERENCES

Bensky D, Gamble A 1993 Chinese herbal medicine materia

medica, revised edn. Eastland Press, Seattle, p 415

Das PK, Malhotra CL, Dhalla NS 1962 Spasmolytic activity of

asarone and essential oil of Acous calamus, Linn. Archives

Internationales de Pharmacodynamie 135:167–177

Dash B 1991 Materia medica of Ayurveda. B. Jain Publishers, New

Delhi, p 148

Duke JA 1985 Handbook of medicinal herbs. CRC Press, Boca

Raton, p 14–15

Duke JA (accessed 2003) Chemicals. In: Acorus calamus L.

(Acoraceae): Calamus, Flagroot, Myrtle Flag, Sweet Calamus,

Sweetflag, Sweetroot. Dr. Duke’s phytochemical and

286 PART 2: A¯ yurvedic materia medica

ethnobotanical databases. Agricultural Research Service

(ARS), United States Department of Agriculture. Available:

http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/plants.html

Frawley D, Lad V 1986 The Yoga of herbs: an Ayurvedic guide to

herbal medicine. Lotus Press, Santa Fe, p 106

Gilmore MR 1919 Uses of plants by the Indians of the Missouri

River Region. SI-BAE Annual Report 33:69–70. In: Moreman,

Daniel (accessed 2003) Native American ethnobotany: a database

of plants used as drugs, foods, dyes, fibers, and more, by

native peoples of North America. University of Michigan,

Dearborne. Available: http://herb.umd.umich.edu/

Grinnell GB 1905 Some Cheyenne plant medicines. American

Anthropologist 7:37–43. In: Moreman, Daniel (accessed 2003)

Native American ethnobotany: a database of plants used as

drugs, foods, dyes, fibers, and more, by native peoples of North

America. University of Michigan, Dearborne. Available:

http://herb.umd.umich.edu/

Gross MA, Jones WI, Cook EL, Biine CC 1967 Carcinogenicity of oil

of calamus. Proceedings of the American Association for

Cancer Research 8:24

Hart JA 1981 The ethnobotany of the Northern Cheyenne Indians

of Montana. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 4:1–55. In:

Moreman, Daniel (accessed 2003) Native American ethnobotany:

a database of plants used as drugs, foods, dyes, fibers,

and more, by native peoples of North America. University of

Michigan, Dearborne. Available: http://herb.umd.umich.edu/

Kapoor LD 1990 CRC handbook of Ayurvedic medicinal plants.

CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 18

Kirtikar KR, Basu BD 1935 Indian medicinal plants, 2nd edn, vols

1–4. Periodical Experts, Delhi, p 2626–2627

Lander V, Schreier P 1990 Acorenone and gamma-asarone: indicators

of the origin of Calamus oils. Flavour and Fragrance

Journal 5:75–79

Larry D 1973 Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of betaasarone,

a component of oil of calamus, in flavors and beverages.

Journal of the AOAC 56:1281–1283

Madan BR, Arora RB, Kapila K 1960 Anticonvulsant, antiveratrinic

and antiarrhythmic actions of Acorus calamus Linn – an

Indian indigenous drug. Archives Internationales de

Pharmacodynamie 124:201–211

Mehrotra S, Mishra KP, Maurya R et al 2003 Anticellular and

immunosuppressive properties of ethanolic extract of Acorus

calamus rhizome. International Immunopharmacology

3(1):53–61

Miller RA 1993 The magical and ritual use of herbs. Destiny Books,

Rochester, p 58

Nadkarni KM 1954 The Indian materia medica, with Ayurvedic,

Unani and home remedies, revised and enlarged by AK

Nadkarni. Popular Prakashan PVP, Bombay, p 36, 37

Opdyke DJL 1977 Calamus oil. Food and Cosmetics Toxicology

15:623–626

Pancal GM, Venkatakrishna-Bhatt H, Doctor RB, Vajpayee S 1989

Pharmacology of Acorus calamus L. Indian Journal of

Experimental Biology 27(6):561–567

Parab RS, Mengi SA 2002 Hypolipidemic activity of Acorus

calamus L. in rats. Fitoterapia 73(6):451–455

Rafatullah S, Tariq M, Mossa JS et al 1994 Antisecretagogue,

anti-ulcer and cytoprotective properties of Acorus calamus in

rats. Fitoterapia 65:19

Sharma PV 2002 Cakradatta. Sanskrit text with English translation.

Chaukhamba, Varanasi, p 15, 55, 88, 114, 199, 200,

236, 246, 263, 283, 294, 302

Sharma RK, Dash B 1988 Agnivesa’s Caraka Sam. hita¯: text with

English translation and critical exposition based on Cakrapani

Datta’s A¯yurveda Dipika, vol 3. Chaukhambha Orientalia,

Varanasi, p 447

Shukla PK, Khanna VK, Ali MM et al 2002 Protective effect of

Acorus calamus against acrylamide induced neurotoxicity.

Phytotherapy Research 16(3):256–260

Smith GW 1973 Arctic Pharmacognosia. Arctic 26:324–333.

In: Moreman, Daniel (accessed 2003) Native American

ethnobotany: a database of plants used as drugs, foods,

dyes, fibers, and more, by native peoples of North America.

University of Michigan, Dearborne. Available: http://herb.umd.

umich.edu/

Sugimoto N, Goto Y, Akao N et al 1995 Mobility inhibition and

nematocidal activity of asarone and related phenylpropanoids

on second-stage larvae of Toxocara canis. Biological and

Pharmaceutical Bulletin 18(4):605–609

Taylor JM, Jones WI, Hagan EC et al 1967 Toxicity of Oil of

Calamus (Jammu variety). Toxicology and Applied

Pharmacology 10:405

Vashist VN, Handa KL 1964 A chromatographic investigation of

Indian calamus oils. Soap, Perfumery and Cosmetics 37:135–139

Warrier PK, Nambiar VPK, Ramankutty C (eds) 1994 Indian

medicinal plants: a compendium of 500 species, vol 1. Orient

Longman, Hyderabad, p 51

Weiss R 1988 Herbal medicine. AR Meuss, translator. Beaconsfield

Publishers, Beaconsfield, p 44

Williamson EM (ed) 2002 Major herbs of Ayurveda. Churchill

Livingstone, London, p 16–18

Vam.

´sa 287

Botany: Vam.

´sa is a tall thorny bamboo that attains

a height of up to 30 m, with a stout tufted rhizome

from which many stems or culms arise, each between

15 and 18 cm in diameter. The characteristic growing

pattern of bamboos, in which several large culms

arise from the same rhizome may be reflected in a

possible meaning of Vam.

sa’s Sanskrit name, ‘giving

out a family’. The stem nodes are prominent, from

which both branch complements and stem sheaths

arise in an alternating fashion. The lowest node is

often found rooting, and usually has two to three

short recurved spines approximately 2.5 cm in

length. The internodes are between 30 and 45 cm in

length, the stem sheath leathery, orange-yellow in

colour when young, pubescent outside, shining and

ribbed inside. The leaves are borne on secondary

branch complements that arise from the node and in

turn subdivide, leaflets are linear-lanceolate, linear

venation, tip acute, margins entire, glabrous above

and pubescent below, up to 20 cm long; the leaf

sheaths hairy and small. The flowers are borne in a

very large panicle that often occupies the entire stem,

the branchlets containing loose clusters of pale,

glabrous spikes, giving rise to oblong grains.

Vam.

´sarocana¯ (‘bamboo eye’) or ‘bamboo manna’

refers to a whitish to bluish coloured siliceous concretion

that progressively accumulates in the internodes

until a crack appears in the wood, exposing a part of

the secretion, thought to look like an ‘eye’. The specific

epithet arundinacea means ‘reed-like’. Vam.

´sa is

found throughout the subcontinent of India up to

2100 m in elevation, as well as in other parts of Asia,

and is often cultivated (Kirtikar & Basu 1935,

Krishnamurthy 1991, Warrier et al 1994).

Part used: Roots, leaves, sprouts, seeds, manna.

Dravygun. a:

● Rasa: madhura, ka´sa¯ya (roots, leaves); kat.u, tikta,

ka´sa¯ya (shoots); kat.u, madhura (seeds); madhura,

kat.u, ka´sa¯ya (manna)

● Vipa¯ka: madhura (root, leaf, manna); kat.u (shoot,

seed)

● Vı¯rya: ´sita, ru¯ks.

a (root, leaf, manna); us.n.

a, ru¯ks.

a

(shoot, seed)

● Karma: bhedana, mu¯travirecana, raktaprasa¯dana,

kus.t.

haghna, pittakaphahara (root); stambhana,

jvaraghna, chedana, a¯rtavajanana, caks.us.ya, sadhaniya

pittahara (leaf); bhedana, kr. mighna,

mu¯travirecana, vida¯hi, kaphahara (shoot); bhedhana,

kr. mighna, mu¯travirecana, kaphahara (seed);

stambhana, jvaraghna, chedana, ka¯sahara,

sva¯sahara, da¯hapra´samana, raktaprasa¯dana,

mu¯travirecana, kus.t.

haghna, br. mhan. a, vajı¯karan. a,

tridos.aghna (manna) (Dash 1991, Kirtikar &

Basu 1935, Srikanthamurthy 2001, Warrier

et al 1994).

Constituents:Researchers report a cyanogenetic glycoside

in the young shoots. Vam.

´sarocana¯ (bamboo

manna) consists mostly of silica or a hydrate of silic acid,

with traces of iron peroxide, potash, lime, alumina,

sodium and other minor constituents including organic

plant material (Kapoor 1990, Yoganarasimhan 2000).

Medical research:

● In vitro: insecticidal (Kapoor 1990).

● In vivo: anti-inflammatory (Muniappan & Sundararaj

2003), antifertility (Vanithakumari et al 1989).

Vam.

s´a

BOTANICAL NAMES: Bambusa arundinacea, B. bambos, Bambusaceae

OTHER NAMES: Vam.

´sarocana¯ (bamboo manna) (S); Bans, Kantabans (H);

Veduruppu, Mullumangila, Mungil (T); Thorny Bamboo, Bamboo manna (E)

288 PART 2: A¯ yurvedic materia medica

Toxicity: No data found.

Indications: Skin diseases and parasitic skin infections,

burning sensations, urinary tenesmus, arthritis,

debility (root); diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, fever, skin

diseases, ophthalmia, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea,

lumbago, wounds (leaf); nausea, dyspepsia, ulcers,

flatulence, intestinal parasites (shoot); intestinal parasites

(seed); vomiting, haematemesis, ulcer, diarrhoea,

jaundice, fever, cough, bronchitis, asthma, haemoptysis,

tuberculosis, heart disease, burning sensations,

haemorrhage, ophthalmia, debility (manna).

Contraindications: Vam.

´sarocana¯ is contraindicated

in constipation and should be used with caution

in va¯takopa conditions due its ´sita and ru¯ks.

a vı¯rya.

Note, however, that this quality is offset with its

more generalised anabolic or br. mhan. a activities.

Formulating Vam.

´sarocana¯ with dı¯panapa¯cana

medicaments and using snigdha anupa¯na, such as

milk and ghr. ta, are recommended in va¯takopa

conditions.

Medicinal uses: All parts of Vam.

´sa are used medicinally,

but the most commonly used part of the

Thorny Bamboo are the siliceous concretions called

Vam.

´sarocana¯, found accumulating within the

internodes of the hollow bamboo stem. While it is possible

to obtain Vam.

´sarocana¯ commercially, Dr K. R.

Srikanthamurthy (2001) states that much of what is

available in the marketplace is artificial, and thus care

should be taken to ensure that the natural product is

obtained. Crude Vam.

´sarocana¯ can be found as small

hard white ‘rocks’ that are very brittle and easy to

reduce to a powder. The taste is unremarkable and

rather bland (‘sweet’), with a slight astringency.

Vam.

´sarocana¯ is a drying herb with a trophorestorative

and anti-inflammatory activity in connective

tissues and mucus membranes, like other siliceous

plants such as Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), which is

similarly used in Western herbal medicine for consumptive

conditions, connective tissue weakness and

tissue deficiency. Research has shown that silica is

important in the development and mineralisation of

connective tissues, and when deficient promotes bone

defects and a decline in bone minerals including calcium,

phosphorus, and zinc (Reffett et al 2003,

Seaborn 2002). Another interesting study showed

that silica hydrate (SiOH) initiates calcium phosphate

formation in developing bone by providing an acidic

surface upon which apatite is nucleated from calcium

phosphate solutions found in body fluids (Li et al 1995).

The majority of texts indicate that Vam.

´sarocana¯ is

used in pitta and kapha disorders, and in some

va¯ttika diseases such as dysuria (Srikanthamurthy

2001, Warrier et al 1994). Perhaps the most commonly

found formula that contains Vam.

´sarocana¯ is

Sitopaladi cu¯rn.

a, consisting of 16 parts Sitopala

(powdered sugar), 8 parts Vam.

´sarocana¯, 4 parts

Pippalı¯, 2 parts Ela¯ and 1 part Tvak bark.

Sitopaladi cu¯rn.

a can be taken by itself, mixed with

water or milk, or taken with honey and/or ghr. ta in

the treatment of poor appetite, fever, dyspnoea, cough,

consumption, haemoptysis and burning sensations

(Sharma 2002). There are several other complex

formulations that contain Vam.

´sarocana¯ and are

used in the treatment of consumptive diseases

(yaks.ma¯), including Ela¯di mantha, Sarpigud.a and

Cyavanapra¯´sa. In the treatment of colic the

Cakradatta mentions a few recipes that include

Vam.

sarocana¯, along with herbs such as Na¯rikela,

Dha¯nyaka, Pippalı¯, Jı¯raka and Mustaka (Sharma

2002). Prepared as a medicated ghr. ta Vam. ´sarocana¯

is used in combination with Citraka, Sa¯riva¯, Bala¯,

Ka¯la¯nusa¯riva¯, Dra¯ks.

a¯, Vi´sa¯la, Yas.t.

imadhu and

A¯

malakı¯ in the treatment of dysuria and infertility

(Sharma 2002). Evidence of its reputed aphrodisiac

properties can be found in the Cakradatta, in which

Vam.´sarocana¯ is mixed with fresh yoghurt, sugar,

honey, Ela¯ and Marica, and is eaten with rice and

ghr. ta (Sharma 2002). Vam.

´sa roots are used in eruptive

conditions, and are burnt and then applied topically

in ringworm, bleeding gums and joint pain

(Kirtikar & Basu 1935). The Cakradatta includes

Vam.

´sa in a list of ingredients for a formula called

Varun.

a ghr. ta, used in the treatment of urinary calculi

and dysuria (Sharma 2002). The leaves are traditionally

used as an emmenagogue, as an eyewash, and

as a pittahara remedy in conditions such as fever, biliousness,

bronchitis, and haemorrhoids (Kirtikar &

Basu 1935, Nadkarni 1954). The young shoots are

pickled and given in agnima¯ndya, and are used topically

as a poultice or the fresh juice in the treatment of

parasitic skin infections (Kirtikar & Basu 1935,

Nadkarni 1954). The seeds are stated to have been

used as a food by the poorer classes in India, and have

antihelminthic activities (Nadkarni 1954, Warrier

et al 1994).

Vam.

´sa 289

Dosage: Vam.

´sarocana¯

● Cu¯rn.

a: 3–5 g b.i.d.–t.i.d.

● Kva¯tha: in milk, 60–120 mL b.i.d.–t.i.d.

REFERENCES

Dash B 1991 Materia medica of Ayurveda. B. Jain Publishers, New

Delhi, p 127–128

Frawley D, Lad V 1986 The Yoga of herbs: an Ayurvedic guide to

herbal medicine. Lotus Press, Santa Fe

Kapoor LD 1990 CRC handbook of Ayurvedic medicinal plants.

CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 66

Kirtikar KR, Basu BD 1935 Indian medicinal plants, 2nd edn, vols

1–4. Periodical Experts, Delhi, p 2724–2726

Krishnamurthy KH 1991 Wealth of Su´sruta. International

Institute of Ayurveda, Coimbatore, p 452

Li P, Ye X, Kangasniemi I et al 1995 In vivo calcium phosphate formation

induced by sol-gel-prepared silica. Journal of

Biomedical Materials Research 29(3):325–328

Muniappan M, Sundararaj T 2003 Anti-inflammatory and antiulcer

activities of Bambusa arundinacea. Journal of

Ethnopharmacology 88(2–3):161–167

Nadkarni KM 1954 The Indian materia medica, with

Ayurvedic, Unani and home remedies, revised and enlarged

by AK Nadkarni. Popular Prakashan PVP, Bombay,

p 173–174

Reffitt DM, Ogston N, Jugdaohsingh R et al 2003 Orthosilicic acid

stimulates collagen type 1 synthesis and osteoblastic differentiation

in human osteoblast-like cells in vitro. Bone

32(2):127–135

Seaborn CD, Nielsen FH 2002 Dietary silicon and arginine affect

mineral element composition of rat femur and vertebra.

Biological Trace Element Research 89(3):239–250

Sharma PV 2002 Cakradatta. Sanskrit text with English translation.

Chaukhamba, Varanasi, p 135, 259, 262, 279, 316, 322,

650–651

Srikanthamurthy KR 2001 Bha¯vapraka¯´sa of Bha¯vami´sra, vol 1.

Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi, p 176–178, 252, 376

Vanithakumari G, Manonayagi S, Padma S, Malini T 1989

Antifertility effect of Bambusa arundinacea shoot extracts in

male rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 25(2):173–180

Warrier PK, Nambiar VPK, Ramankutty C (eds) 1994 Indian

medicinal plants: a compendium of 500 species, vol 1. Orient

Longman, Hyderabad, p 244–246

Yoganarasimhan SN 2000 Medicinal plants of India, vol 2: Tamil

Nadu. Self-published, Bangalore, p 69

290 PART 2: A¯ yurvedic materia medica

Botany: Va¯saka is a dense evergreen shrub

between 1.2 and 2.4 m high, with long ascending

branches covered in a yellowish bark, oppositely

arranged. The glabrous leathery leaves are borne on

short petioles, elliptic-lanceolate, tip acute, minutely

hairy when young. The flowers arise in short, dense

terminal pedunculate spikes with large bracts, the

corolla white, streaked pink or purple within. The

fruit is a small club-shaped capsule with longitudinal

channels, containing four to six seeds. Va¯saka is

found wild and cultivated in a diverse range of habitats

throughout tropical India and S.E. Asia up to

1300 m in elevation. A. beddomei is found primarily

in the hilly forest regions of Kerala (Kirtikar & Basu

1935, Warrier et al 1995, Williamson 2002).

Part used: Root, bark, leaf, flower.

Dravygun. a:

● Rasa: tikta, ka´sa¯ya

● Vipa¯ka: kat.u

● Vı¯rya: ´sita, laghu, ru¯ks.

a

● Karma: chardinigrahan. a, bhedana, jvaraghna,

chedana, ka¯sahara, sva¯sahara, ´son. itastha¯pana, raktasprasadana,

mu¯travirecana, ´sotahara, kus.t.

haghna,

sandha¯nı ¯ya, pittakaphahara (Dash 1991, Kirtikar &

Basu 1935, Srikanthamurthy 2001, Warrier et al

1995).

Constituents: The most widely studied constituents

in A. vasica are the quinazoline and pyrroloquinazoline

alkaloids, of which vasicine (peganine) is the

major. Other related alkaloids include vasicinone,

adhatodine, adhatonine and vasicoline in the leaves,

and vasicinol, vasicinolone, vasicinone, adhatonine

and vasicol in the roots. Va¯saka also contains

flavonoids (e.g. apigenin, astragalin, kaempferol and

quercitin), the phytosterols -sitosterol and daucosterol,

triterpenes -amyrin and epitaraxerol, an essential

oil containing at least 36 different components

including the ketone 4-heptanone, as well as fatty

acids and hydrocarbons (Kapoor 1990, Williamson

2002, Yoganarasimhan 2000).

Medical research:

● In vitro: anti-inflammatory (Cakraborty &

Brantner 2001).

● In vivo: antitussive (Dhuley 1999); immunostimulant

(Grange and Snell 1996), anti-allergenic

(Paliwa et al 2000).

● Human trials: an azepinoquinazoline isolated

from Va¯saka was determined to have a potent

bronchodilatory effect in humans (Malhotra

et al 1988); the alkaloid vasicine isolated from

Va¯saka was found to exert an oxytocic and uterostimulant

effect in human volunteers, without

negative effects, when injected as a saline solution

from the second to eighth day after childbirth

(Wakhloo et al 1980).

Toxicity: The compound 7,8,9,10-tetrahydroazepino

(2,1-b)-quinazoline-12(6H)-one, isolated from A. vasica

was determined to have no negative effect upon fertility

and reproduction in rats (Pahwa & Zutshi 1993).

Indications: Nausea and vomiting, hepatitis, bleeding

diarrhoea, fever, catarrh, cough, asthma, consumption,

haemoptysis, menorrhagia, passive haemorrhage,

rheumatism, inflammatory joint disease,

ophthalmia.

Contraindications: va¯takopa; Va¯saka is contraindicated

in pregnancy due to its oxytocic effects,

Va¯saka

BOTANICAL NAMES: Adhatoda vasica (syn. Justicia adhatoda, A. zeylanica),

A. beddomei, Acanthaceae

OTHER NAMES: Vasa (S); Adosa, Adarsa, Adulasa, (H); Adadodi, Kattumurungai

(T); Malabar nut (E)

Va¯saka 291

although it may be safely used as a parturient and

post-parturient.

Medicinal uses: Va¯saka is among the most commonly

used medicaments in the treatment of respiratory disorders

in A¯ yurvedic medicine, favoured especially in cases

marked by haemoptysis, dyspnoea and wasting. The

simplest application of Va¯saka is to simply pluck off a

flower bud or the leaves and chew them. As a remedy for

cough and bronchitis the fresh juice can be taken in

doses of between 10 and 25 mL, mixed with a smaller

amount of fresh ´Su¯n.t.

hı¯ juice and honey. An infusion of

the leaf or decoction of the root may also be taken with

Pippalı¯ cu¯rn.

a and honey for coughs, bronchitis and

asthma. The fresh juice mixed with honey and sugar is

used in the treatment of fevers caused by pitta and

kapha, as well as in jaundice (Sharma 2002). In the

treatment of hoarseness, haemoptysis and asthma the

fresh juice can also be taken with Ta¯lı¯´sa leaf and honey

(Sharma 2002). In the treatment of cough, dyspnoea,

haemoptysis, chest wounds, and consumption the

Cakradatta recommends Va¯sa¯khan.da, prepared by

decocting 4 kg of Va¯saka in eight times its volume of

water and reducing this to one quarter of its original volume.

To this are added sugar (4 kg) and the powders of

Harı¯takı¯ (2.56 kg) and Pippalı¯ (80 g). This is decocted

further, after which honey (160 g) and Caturja¯ta (40 g,

comprising equal parts Ela¯, Tvak bark, Patra leaf and

Na¯gake´sara) are added when cool (Sharma 2002).

Decocted with A´svagandha¯, ´Sata¯varı¯, Da´samu¯la

(‘ten roots’ formula), Bala¯, Pus.karamu¯la and

purified Ativis.a¯, Va¯saka is used in wasting caused by

consumptive conditions, taken along with a diet rich

in meat and dairy (Sharma 2002). For conditions

marked by catarrh Va¯saka is also recommended in

dhu¯ma, and as an emergency remedy for asthma

attacks can be smoked in combination with parasympatholytics

such as Dhattu¯ra. In the treatment of vomiting

the Cakradatta recommends a paste of Va¯saka,

Candana, U´sı¯ra, Bala¯ka, and ´Su¯n.t.

hı¯, taken with rice

water (Sharma 2002). A poultice of the leaves and

decoction of the root is also used in rheumatic afflictions

and joint pain. Decocted with Gud.u¯cı¯ and A¯ragvadha,

and taken with castor oil, the Cakradatta states that

Va¯saka is taken as a general remedy for va¯tarakta

(gout) (Sharma 2002).

Noted for its oxytocic effects Va¯saka root is highly

regarded as a parturient in stalled labour, and can help

to check post-partum haemorrhage. The antihaemorrhagic

properties also indicates Va¯saka in other diseases

marked by passive hemorrhage (rakta pitta), including

bleeding diarrhoea, menorrhagia and epistaxis, taken in

various forms as well as a medicated ghr. ta (Sharma

2002). In combination with Harı¯takı¯, Nimba,

A¯

malakı¯, Mustaka, Bibhı¯taka, and Kupı¯lu, Vaidya

Mana Bajracharya (1997) indicates that Va¯saka is useful

in formulations used to treat dacryohaemorrhoea

and dacryoblenorrhoea. In the treatment of wounds,

insect and snake bites the fresh plant poultice is applied

externally, the fresh juice or infusion taken internally at

the same time (Kirtikar & Basu 1935). Va¯saka has also

been traditionally used as an insecticide, and can be

applied as a medicated oil of the root with Nimba and

Haridra¯ in the treatment of scabies, and when mixed

with ´Sañka bhasma the fresh juice is used to remove

foul body odours (Nadkarni 1954).

Dosage:

● Svarasa: 10–25 mL b.i.d.–t.i.d.

● Cu¯rn.

a: 2–5 g b.i.d.–t.i.d.

● Kva¯tha: 30–120 mL b.i.d.–t.i.d.

● Tincture: root and bark, 1:3, 50%; 2–5 mL

b.i.d.–t.i.d.

REFERENCES

Bajracharya M, Tillotson A, Abel R 1997 Ayurvedic ophthalmology:

a recension of the Shalakya Tantra of Videhadhipati

Janaka. Piyushabarshi Aushadhalaya Mahabouddha,

Kathmandu, p 66–67

Cakraborty A, Brantner AH 2001 Study of alkaloids from

Adhatoda vasica Nees on their anti-inflammatory activity.

Phytotherapy Research 15(6):532–534

Dash B 1991 Materia medica of Ayurveda. B. Jain Publishers,

New Delhi, p 127

Dhuley JN 1999 Antitussive effect of Adhatoda vasica

extract on mechanical or chemical stimulation-induced

coughing in animals. Journal of Ethnopharmacology

67(3):361–365

Grange JM, Snell NJ 1996 Activity of bromhexine and ambroxol,

semi-synthetic derivatives of vasicine from the Indian shrub

Adhatoda vasica, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology 50(1):49–53

Kapoor LD 1990 CRC handbook of Ayurvedic medicinal plants.

CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 216

Kirtikar KR, Basu BD 1935 Indian medicinal plants, 2nd edn, vols

1–4. Periodical Experts, Delhi, p 1899–1902

Malhotra S, Koul SK, Sharma RL et al 1988 Studies on some biologically

active azepinoquinazolines: Part I, an approach to potent

bronchodilatory compounds. Indian Journal of Chemistry

27B:937–940

Nadkarni KM 1954 The Indian materia medica, with Ayurvedic,

Unani and home remedies, revised and enlarged by AK

Nadkarni. Popular Prakashan PVP, Bombay, p 42

292 PART 2: A¯ yurvedic materia medica

Pahwa GS, Zutshi U 1993 Short communication effect of 7,8,9,10-

tetrahydroazepino(2,1-b)-quinazoline-12(6H)-one, a new antiasthmatic

compound on reproduction in rat and rabbit. Indian

Journal of Pharmacology 25(2):101–102

Paliwa JK, Dwivedi AK, Singh S, Gutpa RC 2000 Pharmacokinetics

and in-situ absorption studies of a new anti-allergic compound

73/602 in rats. International Journal of Pharmaceutics

197(1–2):213–220

Sharma PV 2002 Cakradatta: Sanskrit text with English translation.

Chaukhamba, Varanasi p 19, 123, 127, 131, 134, 168, 233

Srikanthamurthy KR 2001 Bha¯vapraka¯´sa of Bha¯vami´sra, vol 1.

Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi, p 241

Wakhloo RL, Girija K, Gupta OP, Atal CK 1980 Short communication

safety of vasicine hydrochloride in human volunteers.

Indian Journal of Pharmacology 12(2):129–131

Warrier PK, Nambiar VPK, Ramankutty C (eds) 1995 Indian

medicinal plants: a compendium of 500 species, vol 3. Orient

Longman, Hyderabad, p 268–271

Williamson EM (ed) 2002 Major herbs of Ayurveda. Churchill

Livingstone, London, p 20

Yoganarasimhan SN 2000 Medicinal plants of India, vol 2: Tamil

Nadu. Self-published, Bangalore, p 22

Vid.

an.ga, ‘skilful’ 293

Botany: Vid.

an.ga is a large climbing shrub with long

slender branches, long internodes, and the bark studded

with lenticels. The leathery leaves are simple,

alternate, elliptic-lanceolate, obtusely acuminate,

shiny green and glabrous above, silvery below, with

scattered, minute sunken glands. The small white to

greenish white flowers are borne in terminal and axillary

panicled racemes, the calyx five-lobed, the corolla

hairy with five stamens. The fruit is a smooth globose

berry, consisting of a thin reddish coloured pericarp

containing a single seed. Vid.

an.ga is found in forested

hilly areas, from the Himalayas southwards into Tamil

Nadu, Kerala and Sri Lanka, as well as throughout S.E.

Asia (Kirtikar & Basu 1935 Warrier et al 1994).

Part used: Fruit, leaves, root.

Dravygun. a: Fruit

● Rasa: ka´sa¯ya, kat.u

● Vipa¯ka: laghu

● Vı¯rya: us.n.

a, ru¯ks.

a, laghu

● Karma: dı ¯panapa¯cana, bhedana, kr . mighna, jvaraghna,

mu¯travirecana, raktaprasa¯dana, kus.t.

haghna, vedana¯-

stha¯pana, sandha¯nı ¯ya, kaphava¯tahara (Dash 1991,

Kirtikar & Basu 1935, Srikanthamurthy 2001,

Warrier et al 1994).

Constituents: The most studied chemical in Vid.

an.ga

is embelin (embolic acid), or rather, potassium embelate

(2,5-dihydroxy,3-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone).

Arelated quinone found in Vid.

an.ga is vilangin, a structure

of two embelin mocules attached with a CH2

bridge. Other constituents include the alkaloid christembine,

a volatile oil, quercitol, tannins and fatty

acids (Kapoor 1990, Yoganarasimhan 2000).

Medical research:

● In vitro: antibacterial (Chitra et al 2003).

● In vivo: antifertility (Agrawal et al 1986, Seth et al

1982); analgesic (Atal et al 1984, Zutshi et al

1989); hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic (Bhandari

et al 2002); antitumour (Chitra et al 2003).

● Human trials: Vid.

an.ga has been found to be safe

and effective as a female contraceptive, with

encouraging results in phase-I clinical trials

(Sharma et al 2001); a 400 mg tablet of Vid.

an.ga

given each morning for 10 days beginning on the

fifth day of menstruation in fertile women was

found to be an effective contraceptive agent, without

side-effects (Shah 1971).

Toxicity: Embelia ribes has been reported to possibly

cause optic atrophy among the Ethiopian population.

Researchers examined this potential by feeding newly

born chicks the crude herb in both high doses

(5 g/kg per day) and low doses (0.5 g/kg per day),

along with regular chick feed. Treatment with E. ribes

was found to dose-dependently reduce the peripheral

field of vision, and interfered with visual discrimination

tasks. Researchers compared these effects with

the administration of purified embelin isolated from

E. ribes, and found that these effects were mimicked,

suggesting that embelin may be responsible for the

visual defects. Anatomical evidence of degeneration of

ganglion cells was found in retinae exposed to high

doses of E. ribes but no retinal lesions were detected in

chicks following treatment with cumulative doses of

less than 5 g/kg per day (Low et al 1985). Potassium

embelate, or 2,5-dihydroxy,3-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone,

isolated from Embelia ribes was subjected to

toxicity evaluation which included subacute, chronic,

reproductive toxicity testing and teratological investigations

in laboratory mice, rats and monkeys. The

results did not indicate adverse effects, suggesting that

potassium embelate is a safe compound (Johri et al

Vid.

an.ga, ‘skilful’

BOTANICAL NAME: Embelia ribes, Myrsinaceae

OTHER NAMES: Vellah (S); Baberang, Viranga (H); Vayuvilanga, Vilal,

Kattukodi (T); Embelia (E)

294 PART 2: A¯ yurvedic materia medica

1990). Researchers report that equal parts powders of

Embelia ribes, Piper longum and borax fed to pregnant

rats resulted in low birth weights, with cases of herniation

of the intestines into the umbilical cord and

mothers gaining less weight during gestation

(Chaudhury et al 2001).

Indications: Poor appetite, tooth decay, dyspepsia, flatulence,

colic, constipation, intestinal parasites, fever,

cough, asthma, cardiac debility, skin diseases, skin

infection, tumour, psychosis, debility and weakness.

Contraindications: Pittakopa; pregnancy, diarrhoea,

bowel inflammation.

Medicinal uses: Vid.

an.ga has many uses in

A¯

yurvedic medicine but most importantly is used to

dispel intestinal worms and fungal pathogens such as

ringworm. It is, however, a comparatively pleasant

remedy, and the dried fruit could even be chewed like

pumpkin seeds if it were not for the acrid, burning sensation

that occurs in the back of the throat shortly

after ingestion, reminiscent of black pepper. In most

instances about 8–12 g of the seed will be powdered

and administered with honey, followed with a little

warm water, taken first thing in the morning on an

empty stomach. No food is taken for the entire day, and

the next morning castor oil is taken to expel the dead

worms. One recipe that is reputed to ‘destroy all

worms as a thunderbolt does demons’ is Vid.

an.ga

ghr. ta, prepared by decocting 24 parts Triphala,

eight parts Vid.

an.ga and one part Da´samu¯la in 128

parts water until the quantity of water is reduced to

one-fourth of its original volume. The decoction is

then strained and mixed with eight parts ghr. ta and

some saindhava added in for good measure, and

decocted until there is no water remaining (Sharma

2002), 3–6 g b.i.d.–t.i.d., taken with warm water. In

the treatment of heart pain caused by parasitic infection

the Cakradatta recommends a fermented gruel

of barley mixed with the powders of Vid.

an.ga and

Kus.

t.

ha (Sharma 2002). In the treatment of ringworm

Vid.

an.ga can be prepared in mustard oil or

applied as a paste, and applied topically. Beyond its use

in parasitic infections, however, Vid.

an.ga is an important

remedy in both va¯ttika and kaphaja conditions,

used in dryness of the bowels, constipation, colic and

flatulence as well as in kaphaja polyuria and obesity.

Due to its pungent properties Vid.

an.ga is an effective

sialagogue and digestive stimulant, both the roots and

fruit used in anorexia as well as a powder in the treatment

of dental caries as a dentifrice. As a digestive

stimulant used especially in inflammatory joint disease

(a¯mava¯ta) the Cakradatta recommends a combination

of Vid.

an.ga, ´Satapus.pa¯, Marica and

saindhava taken with warm water (Sharma 2002).

In the treatment of severe colic the dehusked Vid.

an.ga

seed is reduced to a powder and taken along with

equal parts powders of Trikat.u, Trivr.

t, Dañtı¯ and

Citraka, mixed into balls with jaggery, taken in the

morning in doses of 3–5 g with warm water (Sharma

2002). In the treatment of constipation marked by

hardness of the bowels, flatulence, colic and abdominal

pain the Cakradatta recommends a cu¯rn.

a composed

of five parts Vid.

an.ga, four parts svarjika

ks.a¯ra (an alkali containing sodium bicarbonate),

three parts Kus.

t.

ha, two parts Vaca¯ and one part

Hin.gu (Sharma 2002). Mixed with equal parts

Trikat.u, Citraka, Bhalla¯taka, Tila and Harı¯takı¯,

Vid.

an.ga is used in the treatment of haemorrhoids,

skin diseases, oedema, constipation, intestinal parasites,

anaemia and poisoning (Sharma 2002). In the

treatment of abdominal tumours (gulma) the

Cakradatta recommends a medicated ghr. ta prepared

by decocting Vid.

an.ga with equal parts

Trikat.u, Triphala, Dha¯nyaka, Cavya, and

Citraka, in milk and ghr. ta until only the ghr. ta

remains (Sharma 2002). In the treatment of

splenomegaly (plı¯han) the Cakradatta recommends

Vid.

an.ga diks.a¯ra, composed of equal parts Vid.

an.ga,

Citraka, Vaca¯ and flour, mixed with ghr. ta and

reduced to ash, taken with milk (Sharma 2002).

Mixed with equal parts Harı¯takı¯, ´Su¯n.t.

hı¯, Trivr.

t,

Marica and saindhava, Vid.

an.ga is mixed with cow’s

urine and used as a purgative in virecana therapy

(Sharma 2002). Although used mostly for its bhedana

properties, Vid.

an.ga mixed with purified Ativis.a¯,

Mustaka, Devada¯ru, Pa¯t.ha¯ and Indrayava, with six

parts Marica, is used in the treatment of diarrhoea

with oedema (Sharma 2002). The root and bark of

Vid.

an.ga are used similarly to the seed, applied topically

as a counter-irritant in joint disease, rheumatism

and lung congestion. The freshly chopped leaves or

leaf juice can be applied topically in the treatment of

skin diseases and wounds.

Dosage: fruit, root, bark

● Cu¯rn.

a: 3–12 g b.i.d.–t.i.d.

Vid.

an.ga, ‘skilful’ 295

● Kva¯tha: 1:4, 30–90 mL

● Taila: topically, as needed.

REFERENCES

Agrawal S, Chauhan S, Mathur R 1986 Antifertility effects of

embelin in male rats. Andrologia 18(2):125–131

Atal CK, Siddiqui MA, Zutshi U et al 1984 Non-narcotic orally effective,

centrally acting analgesic from an Ayurvedic drug. Journal

of Ethnopharmacology 11(3):309–317

Bhandari U, Kanojia R, Pillai KK 2002 Effect of ethanolic extract

of Embelia ribes on dyslipidemia in diabetic rats.

International Journal of Experimental Diabetes Research

3(3):159–162

Chaudhury MR, Chandrasekaran R, Mishra S 2001

Embryotoxicity and teratogenicity studies of an Ayurvedic

contraceptive: pippaliyadi vati. Journal of Ethnopharmacology

74(2):189–193

Chitra M, Devi CS, Sukumar E 2003 Antibacterial activity of embelin.

Fitoterapia 74(4):401–403

Dash B 1991 Materia medica of Ayurveda. B. Jain Publishers, New

Delhi, p 149

Johri RK, Dhar SK, Pahwa GS et al 1990 Toxicity studies with

potassium embelate, a new analgesic compound. Indian

Journal of Experimental Biology 28(3):213–217

Kapoor LD 1990 CRC handbook of Ayurvedic medicinal plants.

CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 174

Kirtikar KR, Basu BD 1935 Indian medicinal plants, 2nd edn, vols

1–4. Periodical Experts, Delhi, p 1478

Low G, Rogers LJ, Brumley SP, Ehrlich D 1985 Visual deficits and

retinotoxicity caused by the naturally occurring anthelmintics,

Embelia ribes and Hagenia abyssinica. Toxicology and Applied

Pharmacology 81(2):220–230

Seth SD, Johri N, Sundaram KR 1982 Antispermatogenic effect of

embelin from Embelia ribes. Indian Journal of Pharmacology

14(2):207–211

Shah NK 1971 A study of an indigenous drug Maswin as an oral

contraceptive. Current Medical Practice 15(2):614–616

Sharma PV 2002 Cakradatta. Sanskrit text with English translation.

Chaukhamba, Varanasi, p 47, 83, 112, 249, 270, 286,

296, 305, 350, 672

Sharma RS, Rajalakshmi M, Jeyaraj DA 2001 Current status of fertility

control methods in India. Journal of Biosciences 26(4

Suppl):391–405

Srikanthamurthy KR 2001 Bha¯vapraka¯´sa of Bha¯vami´sra, vol 1.

Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi, p 177

Warrier PK, Nambiar VPK, Ramankutty C (eds) 1994 Indian

medicinal plants: a compendium of 500 species, vol 2. Orient

Longman, Hyderabad, p 368–371

Yoganarasimhan SN 2000 Medicinal plants of India, vol 2: Tamil

Nadu. Self-published, Bangalore, p 211

Zutshi U, Johri RK, Atal CK 1989 Possible interaction of potassium

embelate, a putative analgesic agent, with opiate receptors.

Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 27(7):656–657

296 PART 2: A¯ yurvedic materia medica

Botany: Yava¯nı¯ is an erect annual herb that attains

a height of between 60 and 90 cm, with striate stems,

the leaves pinnately divided two to three times. The

white flowers are borne in compound umbels, the

fruits small, ridged and compressed. Yava¯nı¯ is found

throughout the subcontinent of India, mostly as a cultivated

herb, a natural range that extends westwards

into the Middle East and Europe (Kirtikar & Basu

1935, Warrier et al 1996).

Part used: Seeds.

Dravygun. a:

● Rasa: kat.u, tikta

● Vipa¯ka: kat.u

● Vı¯rya: us.n.

a, laghu, ru¯ks.

a

● Karma: dı ¯panapa¯cana, anulomana, kr . mighna,

sva¯sahara, kaphava¯tahara (Srikanthamurthy 2001,

Warrier et al 1996).

Constituents: Yava¯nı¯ seeds contain an essential oil

comprising p-cymene, dipentene, - and -pinenes, -

terpinene, thymol, camphene, myrcene, –3-carene,

limonene, carvascrol and others. In 2001 Ishikawa

et al isolated 25 different water-soluble constituents,

including two monoterpenoids, eight light monoterpenoid

glucosides, one alkyl glucoside, three aromatic

glucosides, two nucleosides and eight glucides.

Yava¯nı¯ also contains a fixed oil containing resin

acids, palmatic acid, petroselenic acid, oleic acid and

linoleic acid, and nutrients riboflavin, thiamin, nicotinic

acid, carotene, calcium, chromium, cobalt,

copper, iodine, iron, manganese, phosphorus, and

zinc (Ishikawa et al 2001, Williamson 2002,

Yoganarasimhan 2000).

Medical research:

● In vitro: antiviral (Hussein et al 2000), antithrombotic

(Srivastava 1988).

● In vivo: antispasmodic, antihistamine (Boskabady

& Shaikhi 2000); antibacterial (Singh et al 2002).

Toxicity: Duke states that Yava¯nı¯ contains between

3633 and 33 000 p.p.m. of thymol, which is stated to

have an oral LD50 of 0.98 g/kg in rats and 0.88 g/kg in

guinea pigs. Yava¯nı¯, however, is a commonly used

culinary spice and is generally recognised as safe

(Duke 2005, Williamson 2002).

Indications: Dyspepsia, flatulent colic, intestinal parasites,

cough, bronchitis, asthma, rheumatism, urinary

tenesmus.

Contraindications: pittakopa.

Medicinal uses: Yava¯nı¯ is a popular household remedy

for poor digestion, and when taken in sufficient

quantities imparts a pleasant sensation of warmth

and relaxation in cases of dyspepsia and flatulent

colic. For this purpose a simple infusion can be made,

along with ´Su¯n.t.

hı¯ and Dha¯nyaka, or the seed can

be ground into a powder and consumed with onequarter

part saindhava. The essential oils in Yava¯nı¯

act as an antispasmodic, and thus the herb finds use

in intestinal and urinary spasm, and is often added

along with virecana dravyas to inhibit spasm.

Combined with herbs such as Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)

and Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus), Yava¯nı¯

is an effective remedy in cholecystalgia. Yava¯nı¯ is the

chief constituent in Yava¯nı¯ cu¯rn.

a, a formulation

Yava¯nı¯

BOTANICAL NAMES: Trachyspermum ammi, T. copticum, Carum copticum,

C. ajowan, Ptychotis ajowan, Apiaceae

OTHER NAMES: Yava¯nı¯, Agnivardhana (S); Ajmud, Ajwain (H);

Ashamtavomam, Omam (T); Bishop’s Weed (E)

SIMILAR SPECIES: Ajamoda¯ (Trachyspermum roxiburghianum, Apiaceae)

Yava¯nı¯ 297

mentioned by the ´Sa¯ran . gadhara sam. hita¯ in the

treatment of colic, oedema, sciatica and rheumatoid

arthritis. Taken with equal parts freshly powdered

Harı¯takı¯ and one half-part powder each Pippalı¯

seed, Hin.gu resin, and saindhava, Yava¯nı¯ is fried in

ghr. ta, and eaten with a little rice over a period of

weeks in the treatment of intestinal parasites and to

improve digestion. In infantile colic a weak decoction

is made from the seeds and sweetened with a little

sugar, in much the same way as gripe water made

from Dill seed. To this end Yava¯nı¯ is commonly prescribed

in lactating women, drunk as a decoction

along with other similar herbs (e.g. Ginger, Fennel,

Coriander seed) to prevent infantile colic, and as a

galactagogue. Nadkarni (1954) mentions a decoction

of equal parts Yava¯nı¯ seeds, Va¯saka leaves, Pippalı¯

seeds and Poppy capsules (Papaver spp.) as an effective

antitussive and expectorant in the treatment of

chronic bronchitis and lung congestion. Applied topically,

both the freshly ground seed and the essential

oil act as counter-irritants, best used in va¯ta or

kapha forms of arthritis and rheumatism, as well as

over the chest in bronchitis marked by coldness and

debility.

Dosage:

● Cu¯rn.

a: 3–5 g b.i.d.–t.i.d.

● Kva¯tha: 1:4, 30–90 mL b.i.d.–t.i.d.

● Tincture: 1:5, 50% alcohol, 3–5 mL

REFERENCES

Boskabady MH, Shaikhi J 2000 Inhibitory effect of Carum copticum

on histamine (H1) receptors of isolated guinea-pig tracheal

chains. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 69(3):217–227

Duke JA (accessed 2005) Chemicals. In: Trachyspermum ammi (L.)

SPRAGUE ex TURRILL (Apiaceae): Ajwan. Dr. Duke’s

phytochemical and ethnobotanical databases. Agricultural

Research Service (ARS), United States Department of

Agriculture. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/

plants.html

Hussein G, Miyashiro H, Nakamura N et al 2000 Inhibitory effects

of sudanese medicinal plant extracts on hepatitis C virus (HCV)

protease. Phytotherapy Research 14(7):510–516

Ishikawa T, Sega Y, Kitajima J 2001 Water-soluble constituents of

ajowan. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin (Tokyo)

49(7):840–844

Kirtikar KR, Basu BD 1935 Indian medicinal plants, 2nd edn, vols

1–4. Periodical Experts, Delhi, p 1204–1205

Nadkarni KM 1954 The Indian materia medica, with Ayurvedic,

Unani and home remedies, revised and enlarged by AK

Nadkarni. Popular Prakashan PVP, Bombay, p 1030

Singh G, Kapoor IP, Pandey SK et al 2002 Studies on essential oils:

part 10; antibacterial activity of volatile oils of some spices.

Phytotherapy Research 16(7):680–682

Srikanthamurthy KR 2001 Bha¯vapraka¯´sa of Bha¯vami´sra, vol 1.

Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi, p 170–171, 202

Srivastava KC 1988 Extract of a spice shows antiaggregatory effects

and alters arachidonic acid metabolism in human platelets.

Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids

33(1):1–6

Warrier PK, Nambiar VPK, Ramankutty C (eds) 1996 Indian

medicinal plants: a compendium of 500 species, vol 5. Orient

Longman, Hyderabad, p 299–303

Williamson EM (ed) 2002 Major herbs of Ayurveda. Churchill

Livingstone, London, p 306–309

Yoganarasimhan SN 2000 Medicinal plants of India, vol 2: Tamil

Nadu. Self-published, Bangalore, p 551

The following is a list of dietary and lifestyle recommendations

that can be used to balance and pacify

increased or vitiated dos.as; for two or more dos.as the

appropriate regimens may be combined. The following

regimens, however, are not meant to be applied rigidly

in otherwise healthy and balanced individuals – such

persons may select from a cornucopia of healthy and

beneficial influences, in context with their age, the season

and the climate.

DIETARY AND LIFESTYLE REGIMEN

FOR va¯taja CONDITIONS

General guidelines

The nature of va¯ta is cold, dry, light, unstable and erratic

and therefore herbs, foods, beverages and lifestyle habits

used to pacify va¯ta should be opposite in nature, i.e.

warming, moistening, heavy, stable and grounding.

Foods to emphasise

Fruits: most local seasonal fruits, in moderation; baked

fresh fruits (e.g. apples, pears) and cooked dried fruits

(e.g. prunes, figs, raisins etc.); tropical fruits including

mango, papaya, pineapple, banana, sweet oranges.

Vegetables: all cooked vegetables, especially root vegetables

and squash, preferably steamed, boiled or baked;

well-cooked onions and garlic; leafy green vegetables

prepared with spicy herbs and fat.

Grains and cereals: oats, basmati rice, jasmine rice,

brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, khus khus (couscous),

whole-wheat pasta, whole-wheat chapati or tortilla.

Legumes: adzuki, mung, tofu, tempeh miso; in small

amounts, cooked well with herbs such as ginger and

garlic and consumed with warm broth.

Nuts and seeds: most nuts and seed in moderation,

including sesame, almonds, pumpkin, walnut, cashew,

sunflower, coconut, pecan, filbert, brazil, hemp, flax.

Dairy: butter, ghr.ta, yogurt, full fat cream, goat

cheese, in small amounts.

Meat and animals products: most animal products,

including eggs, chicken, beef, pork, goat, lamb, fatty

fish, buffalo, ostrich, wild game.

Oils and fats: most oils and fats, including olive oil, butter,

ghee, coconut oil, sesame oil, hemp oil.

Spices and condiments: most spices in moderation,

including cardamom, nutmeg, hing (asafoetida), ginger,

cumin, cinnamon, garlic, saindhava, basil, rosemary,

oregano, tamari, five-spice, black bean, soy

sauce, nutritional yeast, vinegar.

Beverages: warm water, herbal teas that have a sweet,

warming and spicy flavour (e.g. licorice, cinnamon

and ginger), fresh vegetable juices, almond milk, wine,

dark beers.

Sweeteners: fresh honey, maple syrup, jaggery, molasses.

Foods to avoid

Fruits: dried fruit (uncooked); bitter-tasting fruits such

as cranberries, lemon, limes; unripe fruits.

Vegetables: raw vegetables.

Grains and cereals: granola, muesli, corn, millet, bread,

popcorn, rice cakes, potatoes.

Legumes: most legumes should be avoided.

Nuts and seeds: none, except in excess.

Dairy: ice cream, cold milk.

PART 3

Appendix 1

DIETARY AND LIFESTYLE

REGIMENS

301

302 PART 3: Appendices

Meat and animal products: none.

Oils and fats: margarine, lard, corn, canola, peanut.

Spices and condiments: chili, black pepper, mustard,

horseradish, salt to excess.

Beverages: cold water, ice water, soy milk, coffee, spirits.

Sweeteners: white sugar; any sweetener to excess.

Lifestyle habits to emphasise

As the nature of va¯ta is unstable, erratic and changeable

it is important to emphasise ritual and routine,

with regular hours for eating, sleeping and working.

Slow meditative exercises such as hatha yoga and tai

chi are helpful, as are anaerobic, muscle-building exercises.

Time should be spent in the natural world, in the

mountains and forests, with children and animals,

investigating creative and healing abilities. The home

and work space should be well-ventilated, warm, safe,

quiet, comfortable and nurturing.

Lifestyle habits to avoid

Excessive travel, excessive media influence (TV, radio,

newspapers), excessive exposure to electromagnetic radiation

(e.g. computer monitors), inadequate sleep, irregular

hours, exposure to wind and cold, excessive sexual

activity, exposure to noxious or stimulating odours.

Aromatherapy

Fragrances and scents to balance va¯ta should be warming,

soothing and clearing, such as chamomile, lavender,

rose, geranium, neroli, vetivert, rosemary, lemon

balm, peppermint, basil, sweet marjoram, bergamot,

hyssop, lemon, clary sage, myrrh, frankincense, sandalwood,

aniseed, cinnamon, eucalyptus and camphor.

Colours

Most colours are good for va¯ta but natural pastel

colours should be emphasised, not overly stimulating,

bright (neon), dark or metallic colours. Examples

include small amounts of yellow, orange, red, with

moderate amounts of maroon, purple, blue, green,

hazel, tan, khaki and ivory.

Meditation

The goal of meditation in va¯ttika conditions is to create

an internal balance between the male and female

energies, reconnect the spirit and soul to the physical

body and develop an aura of spiritual protection. This

can be realised by the use of psychophysical techniques

such as pra¯n.ayama, meditating upon and ritually

using sacred objects, and visualising beneficent

deities to ask for their assistance. Modern day examples

of paths that utilise these techniques include

vajraya¯na and bhakti yoga.

DIETARY AND LIFESTYLE REGIMEN FOR

pittaja CONDITIONS

General guidelines

The nature of pitta is hot, light, ascending and fast,

and therefore herbs, foods, beverages and lifestyle

habits used to pacify pitta should be opposite in

nature, i.e. cooling, heavy, descending and relaxing.

Foods to emphasise

Fruits: all local fruits, in season, especially cooling

fruits such as pear, grapes and melon; tropical

fruits.

Vegetables: most vegetables, consumed raw and

steamed, especially leafy green and cruciferous vegetables;

cooling vegetables such as cucumber and cilantro.

Grains and cereals: most cereals and grains, including

oats, basmati rice, jasmine rice, brown rice, quinoa,

amaranth, khus khus (couscous), chapati.

Legumes: all legumes in moderation.

Nuts and seeds: cooling nuts and seeds including

coconut, pumpkin, and melon; small amounts of other

seeds, including almond, brazil, cashew, filbert.

Dairy: milk, unripened cheeses, buttermilk, ghee,

butter.

Meat and animal products: most animal products, consumed

in small to moderate amounts, including eggs,

poultry, cold-water fish, rabbit, wild game; small

amounts of goat, mutton and lamb.

Oils and fats: flax, hemp, ghee, butter, coconut, sunflower,

olive.

Spices and condiments: cooling or neutral spices such as

turmeric, mint, cumin, coriander, fennel, cilantro, cardamom;

saindhava in moderation.

Beverages: cool spring water daily, kukicha (twig) tea,

any herbal tea except those made with spicy herbs

such as cinnamon and ginger, fresh vegetable and fruit

juices, rice and almond milk.

Dietary and lifestyle regimens 303

Sweeteners: most sweeteners, in small amounts, jaggery,

maple syrup and treacle.

Foods to avoid

Fruits: all sour-tasting fruits, including sour citrus

fruits (e.g. lemons, grapefruit, sour oranges);

warming fruits including papaya, sour mango and

strawberry.

Vegetables: raw onions and garlic; chilies, tomatoes,

peppers, potatoes, eggplant (aubergine), radish,

daikon, watercress, mustard greens.

Grains and cereals: fermented grains, e.g. sourdough

bread, idli.

Legumes: peanut; fermented soy products.

Nuts and seeds: most nuts tend to be warming in nature

and should be avoided to excess.

Dairy: sharp and pungent cheeses, yogurt, sour cream.

Meat and animal products: tropical fish, red meat, pork,

shellfish.

Oils and fats: canola, peanut, sesame.

Spices and condiments: warming spices, including chili,

black pepper, mustard, horseradish, ginger, clove and

cinnamon; vinegar, catsup (ketchup).

Beverages: coffee, alcohol.

Sweeteners: molasses, old honey.

Lifestyle habits to emphasise

As the nature of pitta is hot, light and sharp, emotions

such as impatience, ambition, aggression and anger

tend to dominate. It is thus important to emphasise

a balanced, calm and relaxing lifestyle to counter these

qualities, cultivating patience, friendliness, empathy

and compassion. Exercise can be helpful to discharge

excess energy, but should be performed with a routine

of mental discipline that promotes self-control, such as

the martial arts or hatha yoga. Such activities should

be balanced with social pursuits, contributing to the

welfare of society, enjoying social outings, listening to

music, laughing and telling stories with friends. Time

should be spent next to rivers and lakes, in gardens of

flowers and other delightful places, bathing in the

moonlight, and in the company of women and gentle

individuals. The home and work space should be wellventilated

and cool, decorated in cooling colours and

fresh cut flowers.

Lifestyle habits to avoid

Excessive expression of anger, sarcasm and criticism,

competitive relationships, excessive physical activity in

warm weather and direct exposure to the hot sun.

Aromatherapy

Fragrances and scents to balance pitta should be cooling,

soothing and grounding in nature. Floral fragrances

are particularly useful for pitta. Examples

include chamomile, lavender, rose, gardenia, honeysuckle,

ylang-ylang, vetivert, jasmine and sandalwood.

Colours

Emphasise colours that have a cooling energy, including

white and off-whites, pale colours, pastels, and

blues and greens. Overtly bright colours should be

avoided, as should many in the red to yellow spectrum

as they are too heating and aggravating to pitta.

Black, greys and browns can also be used, but to

a lesser extent.

Meditation

Meditation techniques to pacify pitta increase and

balance the lunar qualities of the psyche, emphasising

as introspection, intuition, forgiveness and compassion.

Techniques should be chosen for their

directness and simplicity, rather than elaborate rituals.

The most effective approaches include mindfulness

of breath (a¯napa¯nasati bha¯vana¯), the

development of insight (vipassana¯) and self-inquiry

(veda¯nta), coupled with compassion for all living

beings (metta¯ bha¯vana¯).

DIETARY AND LIFESTYLE REGIMEN FOR

kaphaja CONDITIONS

General guidelines

The nature of kapha is cold, heavy, smooth, moist and

dull and therefore herbs, foods, beverages and lifestyle

habits used to pacify kapha should be opposite in

nature, i.e. warming, light, rough, dry and sharp.

304 PART 3: Appendices

Foods to emphasise

Fruits: sour and mildly sweet fruits, including apple,

cranberry, grapefruit, lemon, lime, papaya, pineapple;

dried fruits in small amounts.

Vegetables: most vegetables, eaten steamed or baked.

Cereals and grains: grains and cereals with a dry and

light quality, including millet, long grain brown rice,

quinoa, amaranth, granola, buckwheat, barley, corn,

popped grains.

Legumes: most legumes, cooked with spicy and warming

herbs such as ginger, including mung, lentil, split

pea, soy and kidney bean.

Nuts and seeds: dry and light seeds in moderation,

including sunflower and pumpkin.

Dairy: old ghee, aged cheese, goat cheese: all in small

amounts.

Meats and animal products: lean animal products, in

small to moderate amounts, including fish, poultry,

rabbit, mutton, goat, ostrich, and wild meat.

Oils: mustard oil, olive oil, sesame oil, used in small

amounts.

Spices and condiments: all spices are indicated; vinegars;

small amounts of salt.

Beverages: warm water squeezed with lemon or lime,

any herbal tea, green tea, coffee.

Sweeteners: old honey.

Foods to avoid

Fruits: most fruits are generally avoided because of

their excessive water content and cooling nature.

Vegetables: raw vegetables, fried vegetables, avocado.

Cereals and grains: flour products; heavy and moistening

grains such as wheat and oats.

Legumes: oily and heavy legumes, such as peanut and

black gram.

Nuts and seeds: most nuts and seeds, including cashew,

filbert, walnut, macadamia and almond.

Dairy: dairy should be avoided because of its heavy and

congesting nature, including milk, ice cream, cream,

unripened cheeses, yogurt.

Meat and animal products: most meats are too heavy

and greasy for kapha, including beef, fatty fish, pork,

and shellfish.

Oils and fats: most oils, due to their heavy and congesting

nature.

Spices and condiments: table salt, toppings, dressings,

mayonnaise.

Beverages: excessive water, cold water, rice and almond

milk.

Sweeteners: white sugar, molasses, raw sugar, jaggery,

maple syrup, treacle.

Lifestyle habits to emphasise

As the nature of kapha is cold, heavy and wet, there is

a tendency towards dullness, apathy and lethargy. It is

thus important to emphasise lifestyle patterns that are

active, energetic and stimulating to break up the stagnation

of kapha. This includes regular saunas, vigorous

exercise and manual labour, as well as busying

oneself with volunteering and charitable work,

enabling others to find fulfillment. Time should be

spent in open, dry locations, under the influence of the

warm sun and breeze, in the company of men, children

and dynamic individuals. The home and work

space should be a well-ventilated, warm, and dry, decorated

in warm, stimulating colours.

Lifestyle habits to avoid

Inactivity, laziness, excessive sleeping, day sleep, sleeping

until late morning, exposure to cold and damp.

Aromatherapy

Essential oils for kapha should be warming, stimulating

and clearing in nature. Balsamic, pungent and

musky odours are best, including cedar, pine, rosemary,

basil, frankincense, myrrh, eucalyptus, cajeput,

camphor, ginger and clove.

Colours

Colours that have a warming energy such as yellow,

orange, gold or red are useful for kapha, as is brown,

grey and black. Soft, pale, cool and pastel colours

should be avoided.

Meditation

Meditation techniques to pacify kapha increase and

balance the solar qualities of the psyche, enhancing

motivation, will power and independence. Techniques

should be chosen for their energetic and active qualities,

rather than techniques that involve extended periods

of sitting and stillness. The most effective approach

is typified by bhakti and karma yogas, which

encourage active forms of worship and humanitarian

service.

The following is a list of some of the more important or

commonly used formulas in A

-

yurveda, including

kva¯ tha (decoctions), cu¯ rn. a (powders), guggulu

(resins), gut.ika¯ and vat.

ı¯ (pills), avalehya (confections),

taila (medicated oils), ghr. ta (medicated clarified

butters), asava/aris.t.

am (natural fermentations)

and bhasma (purified calcinations). A listing of the

ingredients is provided, as well as the praks.epa

dravyas that are added during the course of preparation

and the anupa¯na taken with each medicament.

These are the original formulas in the extant literature,

which may or may not be representative of commercially

produced products with the same name. In a few

cases where the original ingredient listed in the formula

is unclear substitutes will often be used.

Kva¯tha (DECOCTION)

A¯

ragvadha¯di kva¯tha

Ingredients: A¯ ragvadha fruit, Indrayava seed,

Pa¯t.

ala¯ root, Ka¯ katikta root, Nimba stem bark,

Gud.u¯ cı¯ stem, Mu¯ rva¯ root, Sruvavr. ks.a herb, Pa¯t.

ha¯

root, Bhu¯ nimba herb, Sairyaka herb, Pat.

ola leaf,

Karanja seed, Saptacchada stem bark, Citraka root,

Ka¯ la¯ ja¯ lı¯ fruit, Madanaphala fruit, Sahacara herb,

Ghon. ta¯ seed.

Indications: vomiting, intoxication, fever, diabetes,

ulcer, itching, skin disease; reduces kapha.

Dosage: 48 g.

Ca¯turbhadra kva¯tha

Ingredients: Gud.u¯ cı¯ stem, purified Ativis.a¯ root,

S´

un.t.

hı¯ rhizome, Mustaka rhizome.

Praks.epa dravyas: S´ un.t.

hı¯ rhizome, Jiraka seed.

Indications: a¯ma, digestive weakness.

Dosage: 48 g.

Das´amu¯ la kva¯tha

Ingredients: S´ a¯ laparn.

i root, Pr. ´sniparn.

ı¯ root,

Br. hatı¯ root, Kan.

t.

aka¯ ri root, Goks.ura root, Bilva

root, Agnimañtha root, S´ yona¯ka root, Gambha¯ rı¯

root, Pa¯t.

ala¯ root.

Praks.epa dravyas: Pippalı¯ cu¯ rn. a.

Indications: colic, fever, cough, dyspnoea.

Dosage: 48 g.

Dra¯ks.

a¯di kva¯tha

Ingredients: Dra¯ ks.a¯ fruit, Madhu¯ ka flower,

Yas.t.

ı¯madhu root, Rodhra stem bark, Gambha¯ rı¯

fruit, Sa¯ riva¯ root, Mustaka rhizome, A¯ malakı¯ fruit

pulp, Hr. ı¯bera root, Padma stamens, Padmaka wood,

Mr.n.

a¯ la stem, Candana wood, Us´ ı¯ra root, Nı¯lotpala

flower, Paru¯s.

aka fruit, Ja¯ tı¯ flower.

Praks.epa dravyas: honey.

Indications: vomiting, burning sensations, fever, passive

haemorrhage, fainting.

Dosage: 48 g.

Ghandharvahasta¯di kva¯tha

Ingredients: Eran.d.

a root, Ciribilva seed or leaves,

Huta¯ ´sa root, S´ un.t.

hı¯ rhizome, Punarnava¯ root,

Dura¯ labha¯ herb, Ta¯lamu¯ la root.

Praks.epa dravyas: saindhava, jaggery.

Indications: digestive weakness, anorexia, constipation.

Dosage: 48 g.

PART 3

Om Tat Sat

                                                        

(Continued...) 

(My humble salutations to   Sreeman Todd Caldecott, Elsevier’s Health Sciences and others other eminent medical scholars and doctors   for the collection)