All World
Gayatri Pariwar

Its ingredients are:   (1)Rasna leafs– 200 gms (2) Vasa– 50 gms, (3) EranDmula Chhala– 50 gms, (4) Devdara– 50 gms, (5) Nagarmotha – 50 gms, (6) Punarnava– 50 gms, (7) Giloya– 50 gms, (8) Amaltasa Pulp– 50gm, (9) Ïatavara– 50gm, (10) Aïwagandha– 50gm,  (11) Atisa– 50gm, (12) small Gokïaru– 50gm, (13) Vidhara– 50 gms, (14) Saufa– 50gm, (15) KaÚa Saraiyya– 50gm, (16) Small KanÚakari– 50gm, (17) Big KanÚakari– 50 gms, (18) Dhaniya– 50gm, (19) ChhoÚi Pippali– 50gm, (20) SonÚha– 50gm, (21) HaraDa– 50 gm, (22) Chavya– 50gm, (23) Bacha, (24) Kachura– 50gm, (25) Bala root – 50gm, (26) Dhamasa– 50gm, (27) Daïamula– 100gm, (28) B—ahat Vat Chintamañi or Yogendra Rasa– 1gm (29) B—ahat Ïutaïekhar Rasa– 1gm (30) Mukta PiSHÚi– 2gm (31) Prabala PiSHÚi– 4gm.  

Method of preparation and use: Take the herbs (plant medicines) listed in Sr. No. (1) to (27) above in prescribed quantities and make a coarse powder of all. For a dose of one day – soak about 5 to 6 teaspoon (about 30gm) of this mixed powder in half-liter water, a night before.  Warm up this solution of soaked herbal mixture on mild heat (on feeble flame of the gas burner for instance,) till it boils…. Stir the solution from time to time and continue the steady heating till it concentrates to about one-fourth of the original volume. After this, put off the burner (heater) and let it cool naturally to normal drinkable temperature. Then filter out carefully – with the help of a clean thin cloth piece – the coarse particles, if any. The filtered solution (decoction) is now ready for use. An average dose for an adult patient is:  half of this decoction in the morning around 8 to 9 am and remaining half in the afternoon, sometime between 4 to 6pm.

Also mix the above mentioned quantities of herbal drugs listed in serial numbers (28) to (31) together and grind into very fine powder using a kharal (hand grinder made up of smooth stone). Divide the powder in 15 equal parts and keep in separate puDiyas (In the terminology of Ayurvedic drug regimen, "puDiya" refers to small amount folded in a piece of paper). One of these is to be gulped or eaten with honey in the morning and one in the evening soon after having a dose of the kwatha. Having this powder enhances the patient's vitality and helps intensifying the remedial effects of the kwatha. 

Those suffering from the vata-dosha diseases like sciatica or backache are advised also to eat the catani (paste made by grinding) of 21 green leafs of parijata (night jasmine) everyday for quicker relief. The additional recommendation for those suffering from vata doSHa related problems (e.g. joints-pain, rheumatic swelling and pain, sciatica, etc) in the portion below the waist is –– to drink 1 to 5 teaspoon of caster oil in the night. This is generally mixed in warm water or milk. The amount should be kept to the minimum possible – which is sufficient in causing loose-motions. It helps cleansing the stomach and thus maximizes the medicinal effects of the kwatha.  Use of caster oil should be stopped if loose-motions continue for two days or so.             

This kwatha is an excellent remedy against the diseases caused by excess of vata – especially in rheumatoid arthritis, facial paralysis, paralysis, ailments of bones due to lubricant imbalance or general pain in bones, joints-pain, pain in thighs, body-tremors, shoulder-pain or pain between shoulder and elbow, backache, rheumatism, arthritis, stiffness, spondylitis and sciatica. It is also an effective medicine prescribed against hysteria, urinary disorders, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and Diuretic ailments.  At times, some blood or dietary infections also contribute to or aggravate some of the above diseases of vata doSHa. Therefore, at times some other herbs are also included along with rasna in this kwatha; depending upon the cause and nature of such ailments, churña (powder) of appropriate amounts of ajamoda, saunÚha and pipal is also prescribed with this kwatha. 

High blood pressure or hypertension has become quite a common complaint amongst the elderly as well as the youths in age-group 30+ these days especially in the middle and upper classes of the society. The artificial, comfort-driven and possessive lifestyle, wrong eating habits, hectic routine, extrovert attitudes, stress and polluted environment have contributed the most in the spread of this health hazard almost like an epidemic.  If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure leads to heart attack, brain stroke, etc resulting in instant death or making one paralyzed or sick for rest of the life. The allopathic medicines prescribed to prevent the rise in blood pressure are quite effective in general but these need to be continued life-long together with restricted diet, etc; prolonged use of these medicines gives rise to untoward side-effects. Because of these negative effects and risks of the allopathic medicines, an alternative, natural and healthy mode of healing is not only desired by most patients, but is also a necessity today. 

Ayurvedic decoction therapy is found very promising in this regard. The preparations investigated and prescribed by the Ayurvedic experts at Brahmvarchas, Shantikunj, Hardwar, have given excellent remedial benefits to a large number of patients.  

We are presenting below the ingredients and method of preparation and use of the kwatha which is prepared and usually prescribed (for common complaints of high b. p.) in the KaDha Lab of Brahmvarchas Centre.  In case some patients want to use it themselves, they should first get the purity of herbs and suitability of doses verified from an authentic Ayurvedic expert in their locality or contact; they may also visit Brahmvarchas, Shantikunj, Hardwar for practical guidance. 

Ingredients:  (1)Brahmi– 100gm, (2) ÏankhapuSHpi– 100gm, (3) JaÚamansi– 200gm (4) Vijaya– 200gm, (5) Kalijiri– 200gm, (6) Ajmoda– 50gm, (7) Sarpagandha– 50gm, (8) Rock Salt– 50gm, (9) Ajvayan– 50gm, (10) Âka leaf– 5gm, (11) Arjuna – 100gm, (12) Punarnava – 100gm, (13) Sajjikhara (Barilla; ash of some alkaline trees)– 25 gm, (14)  Nausadara (Ammonia salt)– 0.5gm, (15) Mukta PiSHÚi– 1gm (16) Mukta Ïukti– 2gm,  (17) Rajat Bhasm– 1gm, (18) Prabala PiSHÚi– 2gm, (19) Sankha Bhasma– 2gm, (20) Kamdudha Rasa– 2gm. 

Method of preparation and use: Take the listed amounts of herbs indicated in (1) to (13) above. Grind them to make coarse powder; mix the powders properly in case grinding is done separately for some herbs. The mixed coarse powder thus obtained should be kept in a clean airtight container of appropriate size.  Soak 4 - 5 teaspoons of this powder in about half a liter water overnight; boil it in the morning on mild fire (heat) with proper stirring till the solution concentrates up to one-fourth of its original volume.  Filter this decoction when it cools down to normal temperature. This kwatha is now ready for use.  Half of it should be drunk in the same morning about three hours after meal. The remaining amount should be drunk in the evening/night about two hours after dinner. (Care should be taken that both the meals are had early enough for proper digestion and natural harmonization of the metabolic cycle.  In ideal case, as per Ayurvedic guidelines, lunch should be eaten before 11 am and dinner before 7pm). 

Make a very fine powder of the items listed at Sr. No. (14) to (20); each taken in the respective quantities. The piSHÚis etc (as listed here and in kwatha for vata doSHa related problems) need to be grinded again and again for long hours in a kharal. No machine should be used for this purpose. This mixed powder should be packed/wrapped carefully in small folded pieces of papers (puDiyas) containing equal amounts so that one puDiya could be taken in the morning and one in the evening every day.  Apart from being good for mental soothing, this mix of special medicines is suited to eliminate acidity related problems. It is therefore recommended that the morning dose be taken empty stomach and the second dose at around 3 p.m.; (about one hour after taking the first dose of the kwatha); these are the timings when acidity causing reactions begin to take place in the body. 

The above constitution of the mixed powders amounts to the total dose for about 6 days (that means total 12 doses).  Needless to say, that more of such powder and also that for the kwatha should be prepared again if the treatment is to be continued further.  It is advised that these should be taken in fresh conditions, so no stocking should be done for long time. 

Apart from observing the other diet restraints (especially salt reduction, avoidance of fat, etc) as therapeutic or precautionary measures, the patients of high blood pressure should also avoid eating rice or rice-products in the night. In fact their meal in night should be light – say, almost half of that for the lunch.  Those, having the complaint of acidity, may also take one or two tablets of the Ayurvedic medicine "mahaïankhavaÚi" with water in the morning and in the evening. This drug would help normal functioning of their digestive system.   

The English and botanical names of the herbs or medicinal plants listed for the kwatha preparation for both the cases discussed here will be given in the next issue, where our series-article will cover four more types of kwathas for some common diseases/ health-hazards of the present times.   

  (Series to be continued in the next issue)