Drugs that are used to remove the mucous and other foreign materials from the upper respiratory tract are called expectorant. In
Latin language the word expectorate is meaning –drive from the chest. The expectorant are acting to decrease the production and flow of the mucous materials form the respiratory tract. The expectorant also decrease the dryness of the acute mucous that is deposited into the respiratory tract and lubricates and liquefy it so it is removed out easily.
The pharmacological action of the expectorants is mainly of two types.
They act on the Vegas nervous system and by action of the Secretary nervous system. Again the
Vegas nervous system acts upon basis of action of the central nervous system and the other actions are based upon the propulsive movement of the cilia, reflex expulsive action of cough and keeping the bronchial surface moist and diluting the foreign material. In common words the expectorant is a drug that stimulates the flow of saliva and promotes coughing to eliminate phlegm from the respiratory tract is called expectorant. There are different types of expectorants in ayurveda. According to ayurveda the expectorant category of drugs are mainly containing the Kapha shamak (suppressants of the Kapha regimes in ayurveda physiology) drugs and herbs that are having vamak (emetic) effect. Further the expectorants can be subdivided into
Nauseant expectorant, Saline expectorant, Antispasmodic expectorant and Analgesic expectorant
All these type of expectorants are having the madhur, kashaya, snigdh, mridu and pichhil properties with having prithvi (earth) and jala (water) as macro aspects in their paanch bhautik samrachana (five elemental constituency). (See basic principles of ayurveda).
The following herbs are having expectorant properties.
(1)Trivrita, (2) Sunthi, (3) Dravanti, (4) Aragvadha, (5) Tilwak, (6) Snuhi, (7) Saptala, (8) Shankhini, (9) Nilini, (10) Trifala, (11) Kampillak, (12) Vacha, (13) Indrayan, (14) Swarnakshiri, (15) Latakaranja, (16) Samudraphala, (17) Jayapala, (18) Devadali, (19) Jeemutak, (20) Shyama Trivrita (21) shleshmantka (22) unnava (23) madhuyashti (24) kashmiriphala (25) amla (26) draksha (27) kharjuur (28) brihti (29) kantkari (30) Kutz (31) patha (32) madhuk
Besides these the pipplyadi gana and sursadi gana medicines are also known to have expectorant effect.
There are several alkali and salt preparations that are used as expectorants. Yavakshaar, Vasa kshaar, Tankan-kshaar, Apamarga-kshaar, Palash-kshaar, and narsaar are few of the salt and alkali preparations.
The following calcinated preparations are used as expectorants. They are-
- Abhraka bhasma,
- Kapardika bhasma,
- Mauktik,
- Praval,
- Shringa bhasma,
- Shuktibhasma,
- Tamrabhasma,
Following combination powders are used as expectorants in ayurveda
- Haridradi choorna
- Krishnadi choorna,
- Marichadi choorna,
- Saurvachaladi choorna,
- Shringyadi choorna,
- Shunthyadi choorna
- Vidangadi choorna
- Yavakshaaradi choorna.
There are decoctions used for the expectorant purpose.
- Chiutkramuladi quath
- Kushdradai quath
- Panchmuliya quath
- Pushkaradi quath
- Tintidika patra quath
- Vasadi quath
The confectionary preparation used for the expectorant purpose are –
- Vidangadi leha
- Pipplyadi leha
- Vishaladi leha
- Mustkadi leha
- Vasavaleha
Tryausnhadhya ghrita, Rasnadhya ghrita, Kulathadi ghrita Tejhovtyadi ghrita are the ghrita-based preparations. There are mineral based preparations used for expectorating cough. They are Pittkasantak rasa, Mahalkaleshvarasa, Vijay Bhairava rasa, Chandramrita rasa, Shringrabha rasa, Pipplyadi lauha, Sarva bhaum rasa, Suryavarta rasa and Kas kartari Vati, Lavangadi Vati are also used for the expectorant purpose. These all medicines are a few from the ayurveda list of expectorant that is about 230 medicines out of these only 30 medicines are used now days.
The wide range of medicines is due to the prakruti and patient specific diagnosis described in ayurveda. That is why the eminent practitioners of ayurveda always suggest the single and multiple drug use as per the patient’s
prakruti. That is the most important fact that imparts very quick effects to the patients.
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