Nasya
“The nostrils are the entrance to the head and the effect of the drugs administered through the nostrils spreads and alleviates the illness thereby protecting the upper as well as the lower regions of the human body,” says Vagbhata ,the great scholar.
The administration of herbal oils,decoctions and powders through the nostrils is called ‘Nasya’. The therapy is used not merely as a nasal decongestant but also to cure many serious ailments like loss of consciousness,stupor,insomnia,hysteria,hemiplegia and facial paralysis.
Nasya having following types
Virechana nasya cleanses the nasal zone using medicated oil or ghee,decoctions,herbal juices and so on. This type of nasya is good for chronic headaches,throat diseases,catarrh,epilepsy and certain types of skin diseases.
‘Marsha Nasya’ and ‘Pratimarsha Nasya’ are names that denote the two doses in Virechana Nasya,when medicated oil is used. Marsha varies according to the severity of the disease but Pratimarsha is always two drops. When a decoction or paste is used,Virechana Nasya is also known as ‘Avapeeda Nasya’ and when medicinal powder is used,it is known as ‘Dhmana Nasya’.
The drugs uased in Brumhana Nasya are the same as those used in Virechana Nasya. However , in Brumhana Nasya,nourishing ingredients are also added.
In Shamana Nasya the same substances as in Virechana and Brumhana Nasya are used but in combination with certain drugs that bring immediate relief
Nasya Indications
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Migraine
- Sinusitis/Allergic rhinitis
- Hair Loss
- Hair Gain
- Memory Loss
- Brain Diseases
- Anosmia (Loss of smell sensation)
Nasya Benefits
- Ease of breathing
- Alleviation of headache
- A feeling of lightness in the head
- Enhancement of the sensation of smell
- Improvement in the activity of nervous system
- Improvement in the acuity of all the senses, especially vision