Vaman Karma is first among the five types of operations which together form Panchakarma System in Ayurvedic medicine. This technique is tried on people with kapha dosha. The technique mainly involves giving emetic substances to the patient. A substance is called emetic if it can cause vomiting. By this process all the intoxicating or poisonous substances get expelled from the body. This article tries to gain further insight on this ancient medicinal practice.
Benefits of this Treatment Technique:
- It is basically categorized in Ayurveda as a cleaning process. The whole stomach gets cleaned.
- When the kapha dosha exceeds normal levels of severity, this technique is adopted.
- It is a life saver in conditions like food poisoning, indigestion, cholera and intake of poisonous substances.
The following are the list of herbs which as used as Emetics in Vaman Karma:
- Bitter gourd
- Randia dumentorum
- Licorice
- Azadirachta indica
- Citrullus colocynthis
- Bitter cucumber
- Ivory wood
- Bristly luffa
- Embelia ribes
- Ceylon leadwort
- Bonduc nut
- Acorus calamus
- Indian Ginseng
Selection of Herbs and Vaman Karma:
- The emetic given to the patient is based on the nature of his body and type of dosha he complains of.
- If the person complains of kapha dosha, the herb given to him should be chilly in taste, sharp in quality and hot in potency.
- Patients suffering from pitta dosha should be given herbs which are sweet in taste and cold in potency.
- Vata dosha patients are given herbs which are sweet, sour and salty in taste and hot in potency.
According to Maharishi Charak, the chemical components present in the emetic herbs self penetrate in to the nerves and tissues of the body. They reach the doshas which are the main causes of the ailment. The chemical components break the doshas in small sizes and liquefy them. These doshas then enter the circulation system of the body instead of being stuck in a particular location of the body. The patient’s body by this time is well lubricated. The chemicals of the herbs do not allow the lubricated doshas to remain in side the body. This is how, they are easily vomited out from the body.
