Vayu gutika: a travel aid

Dhanvantaram gutika and kasthuriyadi gutika (called vayu gutika in Kerala) are often taken together for a variety of ailments such as cough, cold, wheezing, fever, general weakness, gastric discomfort, vayu disturbances and flatulence. For viral fevers a combination of 3 sudarshan gutikas, 2 dhanvantaram and one vayu gutika taken 2 to 3 times a day seems to be very effective. Details regarding the first two formulations are available in my earlier articles.

I take 2 dhanvantaram gutikas and 1 vayu gutika if I have eaten a big meal especially at a wedding reception or a party and am feeling uncomfortable and or feeling the beginnings of a heartburn. It helps settle the stomach and prevents complications of vayu. The reason it is so effective is that it contains sarjaksharam (sodium carbonate an alkali) and yavaksharam, (another alkali, carbonate of potash) made from dissolving barley ash in water and recrystallizing it by evaporation. Yava is the Sanskrit name for a type of Indian barley and hence called barley alkali. . Barley alkali is carminative, laxative, antacid, diuretic, and blood purifier and useful in diseases of the liver and spleen.

In the early part of the 20th century spas with alkaline waters were very popular in England for its numerous health benefits. Partaking of the waters was what the rich and famous used to do in their leisure time. Bath in England was one such famous spa town.

Vayu gutika contains in addition to some of the most effective herbs in the ayurvedic pharmacopeia (28 of them) lodestone, red orpiment (arsenic sulphide) and black antimony. When I first looked up the ingredients I was also quite fearful and wondered whether it was safe to take the tablets. I called up the chief physician at Kottakal and asked him about the safety of the medicines. He assured me that they had been using vayu gutika for many many years and they have had no issues with the drug nor did it have any side effects.

Dr B. Vaidyanathan a foremost exponent of ayurveda, who served as Secretary of the Indian Medical Practioners Cooperative Society (IMPCOPS) for many years and principal of the Venkatarmana Ayurvedic College, Chennai rates vayu gutika as one of the most important drugs in the ayurvedic arsenal. The detailed drug composition is given in the Sahasarayogam compiled between the 15th and 18th century. It summarises many of the treatment protocols given in the Ashtanga Hridaya and other ancient texts. The book, in two volumes, is a household name in Kerala and has been translated into Tamil from Malayalam in 2006 and 2008.

I was curious about the inclusion of red orpiment in the formulation and learnt that it is used in Chinese traditional medicine also. Latest research shows that it inhibits the proliferation of leukaemia cells and is now a focus for leukaemia research.

Ayurveda uses these ingredients after they are properly purified and hence the ayurvedic vaidyars consider them safe and effective. The herbal ingredients include triphala (kadukkai, thandrikkai and nellikai in tamil) and trikatu (chukku, milagu, tippili in tamil). Jathikkai, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, black cumin seeds, ajwain or omam, adhi madhuram, sandalwood, dill seeds and cubeb pepper are some of the other ingredients.

Vayu gutika is prescribed along with dasamula arishtam and arjuna arishtam for improving the functioning of the heart, with nayopayam kashayam for relieving muscle catch, with kanakaasavam and vasa arishtam for cough cold and breathlessness. In case the accompanying drugs are not available vayu gutika can be taken by itself. It is an invaluable travel aid. I personally know of a very popular and seasoned allopathic doctor in the United States who always keeps a stash of vayu gutika both in her handbag and car for emergency use.