Ashtavargam kashayam is an Ayurvedic medicine for many conditions of Vaatakopa due to obstruction in channels. It is effective from many joint diseases to hypertension.
This yogam is specially made by traditional Kerala vaidyas
Benefits of Ashtavargam kashayam
It cures Vaata kopa due to channel obstructions in the body. It relieves signs of Ama like heaviness of the body, lethargy, fatigue, sluggish digestion, excessive sleep etc.
It is used in the treatment of Hypertension. Helps to reduce atherosclerotic changes.
It is beneficial in diseases of joints where pain and stiffness present. It is used in some cases of Frozen shoulder, Bell’s palsy, Hemiplegia, etc.
It is used in the treatment of heart diseases especially kapha-vaata vitiated conditions.
It can be used in upper respiratory tract diseases with productive cough.
Vaatanulomyam (regulating the movements of Vaata) makes the cough and breathing difficulties get relieved.
It relieves constipation and corrects the movement of Apaana vayu. By regulating peristaltic movements, it helps in the functioning of all pelvic organs.
Indications of Ashtavargam kashayam
Anilapaha means it balances all Vaata imbalance in the body.
Ingredients of Ashtavargam kashayam
| Country mallow/Flannel weed | Bala | Sida cordifolia Linn. |
It is anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory, contraceptive and has anti-fungal activity. It is a tonic for strengthening nerves and muscles in various neuro motor diseases.
| Strobilanthes | Sahachara | Nilgirianthus ciliatus(Nees) Bremek /Strobilanthes ciliatus Nees. |
It is used in neurological disorders, sciatica, glandular swellings and oedema.
| Castor bean plant | Eranda | Ricinus communis |
It has evident antimicrobial activity and is a strong laxative. Its leaf, root and seed oil are used as anti-inflammatory antioxidant. Also, its antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities are evident.
| Dried ginger | Sunthi | Zingiber officinalis |
It is unctuous and hot in potency with pungent taste but becomes sweet after digestion. It is an aphrodisiac and balances Vata and Kapha.
It improves ability to taste and promotes digestion. Relieves cough cold and other respiratory problems. It is not a laxative, rather causes constipation.
| Siamese ginger | Rasna | Alpinia galanga (L.) WILLD |
It is known to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. It is one of the main ingredients of various formulations alleviating pain.
| Himalayan cedar | Suradruma | Cedrus deodara |
It is useful as an expectorant in cough. It relieves asthma and other respiratory diseases by clearing the airways and enhancing the movements of respiratory tract.
| Chinese chastetree | Sinduvara | Vitex negundo L. |
It has anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, expectorant, tranquilizer, anti-spasmodic, rejuvenating, anti-arthritic, anti-fungal, anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-pyretic properties.
| Garlic | Lasuna | Allium sativum L. |
It is used for several conditions linked to the circulatory system and heart, including atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, coronary heart disease and hypertension. It has anti-tumour, anti-microbial and anti-diabetic actions.
Details of the manufacturing
As already discussed, Ashtavargam kashayam has 8 ingredients in equal parts.
Lasuna should be taken fresh and all the other ingredients should be washed well and dried up in shade.
Take all the ingredients in crushed form in an earthen pot. For your special attention, Sunthi and Lasuna should be crushed and tied up separately in a white clean cotton cloth as a Potali. This is to prevent the excess dissolution of the contents and to maintain the exact consistency of the kashayam. Now add 16 times clean water into it. Make it boil and then cook in the open vessel with low fire. Reduce the quantity into one by eighth of the initial quantity. Make sure to mix it in between with a ladle without breaking the potli. Also, the fire should be kept low to make sure that all the active ingredients in the herbs needed are absorbed well into the water. Once the quantity is reduced to one by eighth of the initial amount of water, remove the vessel from the fire. Squeeze and drain through a clean white cloth. Collect the decoction in a clean vessel and discard the solid waste. Drink the mild warm decoction.
Dosha Dooshya Predominance with roga margas.
Ashtavargam kashayam is Kapha-Vaatahara and Anulomana
It acts on abhyantara and madhyama rogamarga
Dosage and Usage of Ashtavargam kashayam
Dosage: two Pala.
Usage:
Kashayam is advised to take in empty stomach, once the ingested food is digested well and aahaararasa is formed well.
Usage of kashayam with prescribed prakshepadravyas according to the condition of disease and the patient gives the best results mostly.
Exercises and Yoga.
As Ashtavargam kashayam targets mainly removing obstructions in channels, heavy exercises are advised for profuse sweating. In diseases of heart etc, regular stretching and mild cardio exercises are advised. Also, specific yogacharya including naadisuddhi pranayama, bhujangaasana, pavanamuktasana, suryanamaskara is recommended.
Regular exercise helps improve bioavailability of the medicine and food ingested and leads to positive health.
Yoga can maintain harmony within the body and with the surrounding system.
suryanamaskara
Pavanamuktasana
Nadisudhi pranayama
Bhujangasana
Simple exercises for lungs and heart health
All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.
Recommended diet and behaviour
Diet:
- To be avoided
Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.
junk foods- cause disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine
carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion
refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening Agni (digestive fire)
Milk and milk products – increase kapha and cause obstruction in channels.
curd – causes vidaha and thereby many other diseases
- To be added
Light meals and easily digestible foods.
Green gram, soups, sesame oil.
freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain etc
Behaviour:
Protect yourself from cold climate.
Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight wind rain or dust.
Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.
Avoid holding or forcing the urges like urine, faeces, cough, sneeze etc.
Avoid sedentary lifestyle.
Side effects and contraindications
No known side effects reported.
Contraindications
People with IBS or a sensitive stomach may develop diarrhoea when not supervised by a qualified Ayurveda physician.
People allergic to Ricinus communis may develop some discomforts like vomiting or diarrhoea with abdominal pain.
Classical reference
SAHASRAYOGA VAATAVYADHI SHLOKA 2
Equivalent medicines.
Rasonadi kashayam
Brands Available
AVS KOTTAKAL
Vaidyarathnam Oushadhasala
Nagarjuna Ayurveda
AVP Coimbatore
AVN Madurai
Research papers
Bala
Sahachara
Acute and chronic inflammation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22983841/
Gandharvahasta/Eranda
Suradaru
anti-inflammatory and analgesic
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10350366/
Naagara/Sunthi
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