Vamanam – An emetic Therapy for Treating Vitiated Kapha
by Sheela Rani Chunkath
Youngsters, especially young IT professionals, talk about 'detox' procedures they have undergone to remove the toxins from the body. These are usually done by western professionals. An elaborate detoxifying regimen called the Panchakarma therapy has been in vogue in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for thousands of years. The Panchakarma therapy comprises five main purification procedures.
1. Vamana or Emesis therapy
2. Virechana or Purgation therapy
3. Nasya or Nasal Administration
4. Basti or Medicated Enema
5. Rakthamoksha or Bloodletting
Some of these purificatory procedures have become more common while some others have become less popular. The first four purificatory procedures are done in many ayurvedic hospitals, while the last therapy, namely, bloodletting is not being done by many vaidyars.
In this article, I will concentrate on Vamanam therapy. Whenever I talk to newcomers to ayurvedic therapy, they make a face when I tell them about vamanam or emesis therapy. Basically vomiting is induced in the patient and he throws up quite a bit. It sounds quite disgusting but is an extremely effective purificatory procedure. Vamanam is usually carried out for those people whose kapha dosha is vitiated. If you have repeated coughs and colds and are prone to upper respiratory infections, vamanam therapy will help get your body rid itself of the excess kapha. Diabetes is said to be a disease of vitiated kapha and a vamanam therapy is useful for diabetics.
Vamanam has to be very carefully done under the supervision of a qualified or experienced vaidyar. Once it has been decided to do the vamanam therapy for a patient he has to undergo certain pre-vamanam treatments for about a week. The patient is given a prescribed medication, diet and abhyangam (oil massage). The night before the vamanam, the patient is made to eat food that will excite or increase the kapha such as urad dhal, curds, fish etc. The kapha is then removed during the treatment.
Recently a young friend of mine underwent the vamanam therapy. She was very happy about eating vadas made of urad dhal, pomfret fry, sesame sweets and yoghurt, especially as she had been on a strict diet for a week before. Of course she was not so ‘happy’ with the vamanam that followed where she was made to drink quantities of kanji or rice gruel and medicines mixed with honey. Some vaidyars give the patient a lot of milk instead of rice gruel. Usually about a litre to a litre and half of liquids are given till the patient feels he has to throw up. The medicines given are a mixture of Acorus calamus (Vasambu in Tamil), Glycyrrhiza glabra (adhimadhuram in Tamil), Randia dumetorum (Maruk Kalam in Tamil), rock salt, rock camphor and honey. Randia dumetorum is also called the emetic nut and is said to induce vomiting. I would be surprised if after drinking upwards of a litre of milk or gruel and a strange mixtures of herbs one doen’nt not feel like vomiting. Most patients throw up quite promptly. Along with the milk and gruel much of the fat soluble toxins and kapha from the system also come out.
Vamanam as a procedure is done in the early morning on an empty stomach. The vomiting proceeds till the bile comes out. Vamanam is therefore said to be effective in patients with vitiated kapha or pitta. Vamanam is prescribed for those who have problems in the upper chest where kapha is said to reside. It is a useful therapy for those suffering from bronchitis, tonsillitis, rhinitis, and diabetes. Diabetes is said to be a result of vitiated kapha. It is also prescribed for treating obesity. Sometimes the physician prescribes this for patients who suffer from dysmenorrohea and amenorrohea. Of course vamanam is only part of an otherwise elaborate treatment in such cases.
Charaka, many thousands of years ago has codified an elaborate detox procedure that not only cured ailments but also helped people remain young and healthy.
--- The writer was earlier Health Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and is currently Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman & Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/