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Panchkarma - Vaman

VAMAN [Emesis]

Vamana is the procedure of eliminating the dosha from the body through the oral route by way of inducing vomiting.

In this process the infected doshas are thrown out of the body by medication of emetics. It is the most effective treatment in Kapha dosha.

Vaman is recommended in Vasant rutu [spring season] since there is natural increase of kapha dosha in our body. In a disease having predominance of kapha dosha, Vaman can be performed at any time after performing snehana and swedana.

To whom Vamana should be given

• The disorders of kapha predominancy
• Shavsa-Bronchial asthma & disorders characterized by breathlessness.
• Healthy person to protect from kapha diseases in future.
• Medoroga-Obesity
• Kasa-cough
• Peenasa-chronic Sinusitis
• Visuchika- Gastro-enteritis
• Avipaka-Indigestion
• Kushta-various skin diseases
• Upper respiratory tract diseases-larynaitis and pharyngitis
• Gala ganda-thyroid enlargement.
• Prameha-dieases characterized by altered character & excessive amount of urine including diabetes.
• Mandagni-Impaired appetite.
• Viruddhajeerna-Indigestion
• Vishapita-Toxic condition who has taken poisons
• Mukhapraseka-Excessive salivation
• Aruchi-Tastelessness
• Apachi-Lymphadenitis
• Granthi-Benign swelling
• Apasmar-Epilepsy
• Mental disorders
• Mukhapaka-Stomatitis
• Stanyadushti-Disorders of mother's milk
• Tumours
• Hridroga-Certain types of heart problem where kapha is predominant
• Erisepalus

How to give ?

Oral administration of sneha for a stipulated period followed by abhyanga and swedana forms the preparation  of the client for vamana karma.Then client is subjected to vamana karma.At the end of the client is advised to follow the  samsarjana(specific diet according to increasing digestive power) karma for regaining the original physical strength.This is the procedure of vamana karma. 

How It Work ?

According Maharishi Charak the emetic substance which is empowered with be ushan, tikshan, suksham, vyavyahi and vikashi qualities, reaches the hridya by its own penetrating power (swa veeryena) and from there, it gets into the dhamanees (channels) and entering the big and minute strotas (sthoola anu srotrebhyah) throughout the body (kevelam sareeragatam), liquefies the doshas lodge there, by its agneye (biochemical) quantities and breaks (vicchindati) the dosha by its tikshan qualities. The dosha thus liberated, enters the circulation broken and when the patient’s body had been sufficiently lubricated by the previous Snehan, the dosha cannot stick up anywhere, just as honey cannot stick up in a vessel, which is anointed with oil and therefore the dosha naturally comes to the koshth.

From the alimentary canal the dosha is finally vomited out by the action of udan Vayu. The emetic which starts its action in the alimentary canal enters the circulation and brings the dosha along with it, into the alimentary canal for elimination from there.

Diet Should Be Taken After Vaman Karma 

The patient should not take food immediately; he should at least fast until afternoon. When according to his jatharagni, he should be allowed to take a light meal with kulutha yoosha or mugadha yoosha or aadhaka yoosha or jaangalamaamsarasa, having taken a refreshing hot water bath.

Maharishi charak says that the patient should fast for that day or may take a thin manda and yavagu of old red saali rice on that day in the evening if he is so allowed by the physician after judging his digestive capacity. He should repeat the same at the time of the two meals on the next day also; on the third day, he should take the vilepi or thick kanjee of the same rice preferably without salt or with very little salt (if it is so desired by the (patient). The same is too repeated on the third day evening and fourth day forenoon (only two meals are to allowed). On the evening of the fourth day, he may take same old rice well boiled with the mudga yoosha. The same is to be repeated on the fifth day both forenoon and evening. On the sixth day, in the morning, he may take the same food with jaangalamaamsarasa added to it (according top satmyam of the body) the same food is to be repeated in the evening and on the seventh day both in the morning and evening. On the eight day onwards, the patient may gradually indulge in his usual food but with good care.

The principal to be noted here is that the consideration of jatharagni (digestive fire)is most important. The Shodhana karma (Vaman) makes the jatharagni weak by its nature and any food hastily given after such Shodhana Kama only weakens the jatharagni further which means further vitiation of the tridoshas eventfully. Hence, if his jatharagni is alright the patient may be allowed to take light meals: otherwise manda, peya etc should be given prior to the administration of the usual food for some days till his jatharagni becomes proper. In this connection, Maharishi Charak has mentioned that just as the fire in the outside world is kindled by the bits of dry straw, hay, dry cow dung cakes, small dry twigs, etc. and gradually develops into a large fire, when it will be able to consume powerful by graded and planned diet, hence it should be kindled by peya etc, and made firm before normal indulgence in ordinary foods.

It is very important to mention here that during the whole course of treatment of Vaman karma, a person should follow all the rules and regulation of brahmacharya (non indulgence in sexual affair) as mentioned by Maharishi sushurut.

Things to be avoided

In chronic diseases where systematic Vaman karma is done after sneak and swedan, the patient, in addition to the regulation of diet mentioned already, should rest in the room free from draughts and should not indulge in overwork, fasting, excessive walking, walking in night, sexual intercourse, sleep, heavy and in compatible food etc.

Vaman in rasayan treatment

Person who desires to take rasayan treatment (though they do not suffer from any disease) should first undergo panchkarma, Vaman being the first karma in the sequence of five methods of treatment. Patient should carefully and patiently undergo all the procedures for the duration each and every process.