Vamana is a therapeutic procedure to eliminate the vitiated Kapha Dosha through vomiting.
Kapha is the main target in Vamana. Increased Kapha always leads to slowness in the body. Because this dosha is slow, unctous and sticky. So are the diseases caused by this.
Aggravated Kapha can cause simple problems like- cough and cold. And can be complicated like Asthma, Allergies and Obesity. When aggravation is of small scale, prescription is- oral medicines. But in complicated conditions, Vamana is preferred.
The main idea of Vaman is to expel extra and vitiated Kapha. But along with Kapha, Vaman helps in balancing the Pitta Dosha too.
This is one of the part of the Shodhana, method of treatment. Certainly it sounds very strange when we say, it removes or expels one dosha. Here reference of Dosha is not in terms of Dosha alone. Sharangdhara, an author of Ayurvedic book- Sharangdhara Samhita quotes, when Doshas are vitiated and these cause turbidity in the body. These doshas are- Malas (Waste products). Therefore in process like Vamana and Virechana we expel more of mala part of Doshas.
These malas cause immense damage to the body. Therefore it is important to remove these from the body.
Vamana karma works in many diseases. Besides this, Vamana can be done to manage health. This is part of the seasonal shodhana. In spring season- when kapha is on a surge. Vamana helps in bringing back the doshas in normal. So Vamana helps in cure as well as in prevention of diseases.
Among all the five panchakarma therapies. Vamana is the most precarious. Because in Vamana damage to the nerve reflexes can take place. And along with this, Vamana impacts body overall. When we induce human body to vomit- your cardiac and nervous system, everything activates. Therefore you should never try Vamana by your own.
Vamana or any of the panchakarma procedure should not be done at home. Without a properly trained physician, these can cause permanent complications to you.
The whole procedure of Vamana completes in three steps-
This is the preparatory phase of Vamana. Where a physician prepares the body of patient for Vamana. This phase includes the following steps-
This is main phase or main part of the process, where Vaman takes place. This process completes in different steps-
Mode of action of Vamana herbs:
As Vamaka Drugs posses the qualities like ushna (hot), Tikshna (irritating), sukshma (deep penetrating) Vyavayi (spreading speedily). These medicines act by their potency. Vamana medicines spread throughout the body channels immediately. Medicines break up the hard masses of toxins. Toxins, which are already soft by the purva karma (snehana and swedana) producers.
These Vamana drugs make toxins to move out drop by drop without any further adherence. It happens just like water moves inside a pot smeared with oi. Now these toxins gather inside stomach. The Vamana medicines give rise to reflex vomiting.
The completion of procedure depends on the following points-
Once the process of Vamana completes. Patient needs rest first of all. And because, body needs complete rest. There are restrictions on food. These restrictions are decided according to the final results of the Vamana procedure.
There are certain changes which come through Vamana. Here are these-
These are few of the basic changes process of Vamana brings. There are many benefits of this procedure of Panchakarma. And you can avail complete wellness through this.
When your Ayurvedic Physician recommends you to go for Vamana, only then- this is the best answer to this question. But when you are looking for details. Let’s discuss this in different parts.
With seasonal change and faulty lifestyle, human body stores many toxins regularly. These toxins are the root cause for most of the diseases. Conditions like- increase of cholesterol in body, excessive phlegm in respiratory system- are impact of polluted diet and polluted lifestyle- consecutively. Now when we have these conditions. We need to cleanse the body. And this happens well through Vamana.
Vamana helps in cleansing the upper respiratory tract, stomach, oesophagus, duodenum and all nasal sinus.
Vamana is panchakarma procedure of choice in- Asthma, Allergies, Skin Diseases, Poor digestion and obesity too. When I say Skin diseases, it covers all conditions like psoriasis, eczema and urticaria.
The main purpose of the Vamana is not just to expel the extra Kapha. These are certain conditions like Asthma and hyperacidity, where the main dosha is pitta. But here pitta is polluting the main place of Kapha therefore it is important to cleanse the base.
So either you want treatment of certain conditions or you are looking for health management- Vamana will help you.
Two types of Vamana herbs exist:
Vamana is not recommended for
Besides these there are many other conditions in which Vamana is not a procedure of choice.
In any case when you want to go for Vamana, you should consult your Ayurvedic Physician- Vaidya. He can answer properly whether you should go for Vamana or not.