Overview
Nasya Chikitsa is one of the major therapies of Panchakarmas. During this therapy, the herbal oils and medicines are placed in the nostrils. The Nasya Chikitsa provides solution to a number of complications easily. There are a lot of benefits of carrying out Nasya Chikitsa.
These are given below:
Important Benefits of Nasya Chikitsa
- It improves the process of oxygenation and helps in maintaining the functioning of the brain.
- It opens the channel and has a cleansing action on the various blockages of the head.
- It delays the early process of graying of the beard and hairs.
- It prevents the occurrence of the diseases related to urdhwanga (head).
- It helps to treat disorders related to vitiated doshas.
Severe Complications Treated By Nasya Chikitsa
- Bronchitis
- Aphonia
- Facial paralysis
- Cataract
- Chronic coryza
- Disorders related to nose, mouth, eye, head and ear
- Dryness of nose
- Frozen Shoulder
- Voice hoarseness
- Hemi crania
- Hysteria
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Migraine
- Parkinson’s disease
- Shoulder pain
- Sinusitis
- Stiffness in neck, head, jaw and teeth
- Stammering
- Tetanus
- Toothache
- Tonsilitis
- Uvulitis
Classifications of Nasya Chikitsa
The Nasya Chikitsa is further classified into the following types:
- Pradhamana Nasya – Dry powders are given in the nose with a tube. Brahmi is used as powders to carry out the therapy. This is used to provide relief from nasal congestion, headache, voice hoarseness, headache and sinusitis. Epilepsy, Parkison’s disease, drowsiness, greed and inflammation are the various disorders which are treated by Pradhamana Nasya.
- Shaman Nasya – This treatment is also known as the Sedative Nasya. This provides relief from the pitta type complications. Conjunctivitis, hair thinning are some of the major complications, which are treated by this therapy. Herbal teas are generally used in this type of Shaman Nasya therapy.
- Navana Nasya – This healing therapy is used to treat kapha-pitta and vata-pitta related disorders. The herbal oils are put through the nostrils of the patients, who are being given the treatment.
- Marshya Nasya – Ghee or oil is used in this therapy. This therapy is mainly applied to treat the discomfort due to a particular disorder and not the disorder itself.
Some other types of Nasya Chikitsa are Bruhana Nasya, Pratimashya and some others. These treat anxiety, nervousness, dizziness, fear, bursitis, fear, dry sinuses, stiffness of the neck and many more.
Procedure of Nasya Karma
It Comprises 2 Stages:
Purvakarma
Prior to carrying out Purvakarma, the patient needs to undergo snehana and swedana therapies. These will loosen the doshas. This will help to eliminate the subsequent waste materials effectively.
Pradhan Karma
During the Pradhan Karma, the head is kept down below the pillow and legs and arms kept straight. The warm medicine flows through one of the nostrils and the other one is kept closed. The same procedure is done with the other nostril. The neck, shoulder, palms and ears are massaged gently after the drug is applied. This whole process is repeated two to three times on a daily basis for a week.
Mechanism of Nasyakarma
The medicines reach the main point on the brain connected to the centre of the nerves. This is also known as the ‘Sringataka marma‘. From the pivotal point, it spreads into several strotasas, which are the nerves and the vessels. This expels out the vitiated doshas from the body of the individuals.
Thus, the doorway to brain and consciousness is the nose. Also, life or Prana gets an entry to the body by the inhalation of air through nose. The Nasya karma or Nasya chikitsa aids in providing relief from the various physiological disorders, which affect the lives of the individuals. Thus, in the field of Ayurveda, “Nasahi Shirasodwaram” is very famous. This means nose forms the pharmacological gateway to the head. Thus, Nasya Chikitsa in Ayurveda forms one of the basic activities of Panchakarma, which helps in maintaining the proper functioning of the body effectively.
