Vamana is one of the Ayurvedic Panchakarma procedures. It can be used to treat bronchitis, asthma, wet cough, sinusitis, congestion, wheezing, nausea, food poisoning, hay fever, edema and epilepsy. According to Ayurveda, any disorders caused by the kapha toxins accumulated in the upper body can be treated with Vamana therapy.
What is Vamana
Vamana is a therapeutic vomiting – a medicated emesis therapy. In Ayurveda, kapha is a dosha of “water” and “earth”. Kapha by natural is cold, heavy, watery (oily). When kapha is excessive in the upper body, it causes “wet” and mucousy disorders in lungs, respiratory tract, and stomach. So the patient may suffer from bronchitis, asthma, wet cough, sinusitis, congestion, wheezing, nausea, loss of appetite, chronic indigestion, etc. To treat these problems, Ayurveda suggests to use Vamana by vomiting – eliminating the vitiated kapha through the mouth. After vomiting, the excess kapha (mucous) is cleared from the upper body, which in turn provides relief from congestion, wheezing and nausea, etc.
The procedure of Vamana therapy
– The best time for vamana therapy is in the morning
– The vomiting should never be induced in empty stomach
– Before vomiting, the patient should be given sweet, heavy, cool, sticky, slimy and oily foods that stimulate kapha, such as yogurt, milk, bananas basmati rice and urad dal. For example, the patient can be given a thin, sweet tasting porridge made from wheat and milk
– After eating the food, the patient receives an emesis – induce vomiting by giving the patient a large quantity of the drink consisting of licorice and honey, or calamus root tea, or salt, or cardamom.
– After drinking the decoction, within a few minutes, the patient should feel nauseated
– If vomiting doesn’t occur, the patient should be suggested to rub the tongue to induce vomiting
– After inducing vomiting, the patient may have 4-8 vomiting
– After vomiting, the patient should take rest and fasting until 5 pm is recommended
– The patient should not consume heavy food after vomiting
Herbs or foods used in Vamana therapy
The following herbs or foods can be used in Vamana therapy to induce vomiting:
– Licorice
– Calamus root
– Salt
– Cardamom
Please note:
1. Vamana therapy should be performed under the guidance and supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic doctor.
2. Vamana therapy should not be used on infants, elderly, pregnant women and the person who is very weak.
3. If your disease is not caused by excess kapha, you should not use Vamana therapy.
4. People with high blood pressure, hepatitis should not use Vamana therapy.
5. Consult your doctor before taking this therapy.
For more information about natural therapies, go to Natural Remedies Center: http://www.naturalremediescenter.com/treat/therapy/
