Din charya (Daily Regimen)
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Dhumapanam (Medical Smoking)
Ayurveda has mentioned that after performing kaval and Gandusha one should perform Dhumapanam (medical smoking) and application of aromatic and soothing herbs like kasturi and chandan etc. by performing Dhumapanam , udharv jatru gata roga (above neck organs including trachea) gets disease free from vata and kapha disorders.
According to usage it is classified into four types
- Prayogika
- Vairechanika
- Snehika
- Kasaghna
Prayogika smoking is of moderate intensity and is advised for regular use by persons of kapha prakruti (constitution), rest three are used in diseases foe which physician has to be consulted.
Preparation of medicated cigarette
A grass stick of about 3 to 12 anguli (finger units) is selected and kept immersed in water for about 24hours, ones should use ones middle finger for measuring the stick.
Then it is coated 5 times with the thick paste prepared after examining the person and his prakruti and herbs are chosen accordingly. It is to be remembered that the second coat is to be applied only after the first has dried. The stick is then coated to assure the girth of ones toe in the center and ends are tapered. After all this when it becomes dried, the grass stick should be removed. Now this supposedly cigarette is coated with ghee and is dried is shade. This is placed in a pipe for smoking.
The smoking tube or pipe should be strait and made up of metal or wood or bamboo. It consists of three parts with an opening that would admit ones toe or thumb at the broader end and ones smallest finger at the narrower end.
Dhumapanam vidhi (Methods of smoking)
A person should sit strait, keep his mouth open and start drawing in the smoke through the nostril alternately, three times through each nostril, if the disease or doshas are in the head or nose e.g. sinusitis. For diseases of the throat, pharynx, larynx and lower respiratory tract, the smoke should be drawn through mouth. The smoke should be exhaled through the mouth and not through the nose because this can irritate the eyes.
Dhumapanam kaalam (Timings of smoking)
Dhumapanam can be done after bath, after lunch or dinner, after brushing the teeth, after applying Anjanam (collyrium) to eyes or just after getting from bed in morning.
Dhumapanam nishedaham (contraindications)
- People below 18 years
- Pregnant ladies
- People with head injuries
- People with eye diseases like timir (cataract)
- Pandu (anemia) and bleeding tendencies
- After excessive virechan (purgation) and enema
- Moorcha (fainting), trishna (excessive thirst and dryness of throat
- Person who is injured
- After excessive work and overexertion
- People who are emotionally disturbed
- Person who has consumed fish, Madd (alcohol), or any poisonous substance
Dhumapanadinam sharer prabhavh (effect of Dhumapanam on body)
- It prevents vata and kapha disorder of nose, mouth, throat, and air passage situated above the clavicle
- It exerts its tonic effect on larynx, sense organs and sinuses.
- It prevents premature graying and falling of hairs
- It is very effective in excessive salivation, itching in the mouth, cold, sneezing, sinusitis, halitosis, pain in the ear, discharge from the nose, ears and eyes, weakness of teeth, toothache, enlargement of tonsils and uvula, stiffness of jaw and neck, cough, breathlessness, hiccups, drowsiness, excessive sleep
- It exerts soothing action on the sense organs, speech and the mind
Signs of adequate smoking
- Feeling of cleanliness in the nose, ears, throat, air passage and heart.
- feeling of lightness on head, throat and chest
- Melting of sticky phlegm
Sign of excessive smoking
- Hyper stimulation of sensory and motor organs, mouth and throat become warm and dry
- The person becomes giddy, confused, drowsy, thirst and develops abdominal distension
- Hoarseness of voice, hyperacidity, tinnitus, deafness and bleeding disorders
- Increase hest damages the mucous membrane resulting in the lowered resistance to infection, which vitiates vata and kapha doshas.
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