All World
Gayatri Pariwar

There are several modes of preparation and therapeutic regimen of medicinal drugs prescribed by Ayurveda. Accordingly the Ayurvedic medicines are classified as –– rasa or rasayanas, bhasma, curña – in the powder categories; vaÚº – tablet; avleha, asava, ariÌÚa and kwatha. – in the syrup and decoction category. Of these, asava, ariÌÚa and kwatha induce quicker healing effects. Kwatha (decoction) is found to be the best in terms of effectiveness, minimal risk of side effects, fast remedy and flexibility in composition as per the suitability to the patient. It is prepared from fresh herbs/medicinal plants and administered orally soon after the preparation so there is no risk of adulteration, stalement or degradation and untoward reactions.  

Most of the herbal medicinal plants used in kwatha drugs in a large number of diseases can be easily grown in the farms, kitchen gardens or even in pots. Many of them could also be taken as part of daily intakes in appropriate quantities as vital tonics for maintenance of vigorous health and increase in body-stamina and immunity against diseases.   It is a pity that we often remain ignorant of such marvelous gifts of Nature and tend to rely more and more on synthetic medicines; ample availability (though at expensive prices) and easy use of these chemically synthesized drugs in tablets, capsules, syrups and i.v. injectable forms have virtually wiped out the natural healing modes like the Ayurvedic kwatha therapy.   

The acute negative effects of antibiotics and chemically synthesized drugs and the inability of modern (allopathic) therapies in healing several kinds of psychosomatic disorders and diseases have created an alarming need for multidimensional research in alternate and complementary modes of healing. Several institutions across the world have been engaged in reviving the ancient system of Ayurveda for the past over two decades. Most of these research efforts are focused at phytochemical analysis of herbal medicines and extraction of drug-chemicals from medicinal plants; only some institutions/labs are reinvestigating the diagnostic aspects and the bhasma, rasa or rasayana-based medicines and dry herbal powders. The Brahmvarchas Research Centre, Shantikunj, Hardwar has ventured into pioneering research in Ayurvedic kwatha-chikitsa (herbal decoction-therapy) in new scientific light. The dedicated research work of the Ayurvedic doctors and scientists (many of whom also happen to be dedicated sadhakas) has shown significant benefits of kwatha-chikitsa. 

The studies of healing effects on a large number of patients treated at this centre by kwatha medicines affirm the assertion of the Ayurvedic scriptures that this therapy has the potential of kayakalp – complete transformation of the psychosomatic system from a sick, weak or dull state to a healthy, strong and vibrant state. Kwatha (or kaDha in Hindi language) means decoction prepared by boiling fresh (green or dried), cleansed plant-medicines (prescribed parts of the plant, e.g. leaves and/or stem-section, bark-skin, etc) in appropriate combination at controlled temperatures. It is found to be a natural, soft mode of healing which functions in total harmony with the metabolic system, because of the appropriate doses of the specific kwatha(s) of one or more medicines as per the disease state and patient's prak—ati (natural constitution). Several otherwise intractable and chronic diseases have been cured by this simple therapy within a few weeks to several months time.  

The Ayurvedic experts at the Brahmvarchas Research Centre have devised the formulae and methods of preparation through reinvestigation (based on the Ayurvedic scriptures) of the botanical identification, morphology, phytochemical and medicinal properties of a large number of commonly found and rare species of Himalayan and other Indian herbal plants.  Excerpts of some of their findings are displayed at the centre along with samples of many herbs for creating mass awareness. One can visit the herbal-samples exhibition hall of the centre. One can also visit their kaDha lab to have a glance at the method of preparation. Several species of herbal plants can be seen planted in the herbal gardens of this centre and at Shantikunj Ashram premises, Hardwar. Larger extension of the research facilities and Ayruvedic clinic at Brahmavarchas will be established in the campus of the Dev Sanskriti University, of Gayatri Tererth, Shantikunj. Here we present the introductory information (with relevant details) on kwatha-therapy. 

Kwatha or kaDha is also referred as ï—ata, nirpuha and juïanda in the vedic scriptures. These are counted among "PanchakaÌaya" (five 'subtlized' medicines). The five members of this group of five types of medicines are — Kwatha, Hima, PhaóÚa, Kalka and Swaras (or arka). These are relatively lighter in terms of the (subtlized) extracted concentration of the medicine; for example, kwatha is lighter than swaras, kalka is lighter as compared to kwatha, hima to kalka and phaóÚa to kalka. All these forms of medicines are to be drunk orally in a fresh form (preferably no later than an hour after preparation). The method of preparation and the proportion of water account for this difference, as described below (the amount of raw medicine mentioned here corresponds to one dose for an adult patient, on an average):

(1) Kwatha: According to Ayurvedic pharmaceutical instructions – Pañºya ÏoDaÌa Guña® Kïuññe Dravya Pale Kïipet; meaning: take about one pala (one pala = four tola = 48 gms) of jaukuÚa (coarsely grinded dry herb or grated cleaned plant-part) medicine of interest. Boil it in sixteen times volume of water (= 1648 gms in this case) till the boiled decoction is reduced to one-fourth of the original solution. Wait till it cools down up to lukewarm temperature; then filter it through a clean cloth-piece. Needless to say that all utensils should be properly cleaned before use. The filtered decoction is the kwatha ready for use. 

(2) Hima: In this case 24 gms of the raw medicines' powder is soaked from the evening till the next day morning in six times volume of water (= 624 gms). In the morning, it is crushed through clean hands, mixed and then filtered through a clean cloth-piece. The filtered hima is ready to be drunk instantly. 

(3) PhaóÚa: Water amounting to four times that of the herbal medicine is boiled separately. Then the powdered medicine is soaked in it for sometime (till the powder absorbs maximum amount of water and becomes sufficiently soft). Then the soaked medicine-powder is further triturated (to make a watery paste). It is then filtered and is ready for drinking.

(4) Kalka: Desired amount of dry or wet (herbal/plant) medicine is triturated on the grinding stone by mixing a little amount of water so as to prepare a wet smooth paste. This paste is the kalka, which is to be gulped (with slight chewing, if necessary) soon after preparation.

(5) Swaras: It is also called arka. It is prepared by crushing the pieces of fresh plant medicines on a grinding stone then taking out the juicy part by pressing the paste so prepared. The juice is filtered before use. Like the other four preparations of kwatha group, swaras is also used in a fresh state (preferably, instantly after preparation).

There are seven major types of kwatha varying in drug-potency; these are — pachana, dºpana, ïodhana, ïamana, santaparña, kledana and ïoÌaña kwatha.  The one described above is the kledana kwatha. Milder than this is the pachana kwatha, which is prepared the same way except that the decoction is boiled till the water solution remains half of the original volume. This is recommended in case of high fever, etc to first control the deficiencies or excess in the doshas (namely vata, pitta and kapha); initially, it even aggravates the doshas that have caused the ailment in order to make the disease manifestation clearer. Mildest is the santaparña kwatha, in which the heating of the solution is continued only till it begins to boil. This type of kwatha is often used like a general tonic given for balancing the concentration of specific vital elements in the body. 

The potency of a drug becomes successively higher in the other types of kwatha of a particular medicinal herb/plant. Ïamana Kwatha is boiled till the solution is reduced to one-eighth of original volume; as the name suggests, it calms (pacifies) the intensity of the disease by suppressing the corresponding doshas that are the root-cause.  Often, if the symptoms are not confirming the diagnosis, first the pachana kwatha is given; the desired regimen of the ïamana kwatha starts only after necessary 'ripening' of the specific doshas.  Dºpana Kwatha is a more concentrated decoction, prepared by boiling the medicine's solution till it becomes only one-tenth of the original volume. Depending upon the type and state of the disease, the dºpana kwatha of specific herbal/plant medicine(s) is prescribed to cleanse the stomach, enhance appetite and/or regulate metabolism.  

Ïodhana kwatha is still higher in the potency of the medicine as it is boiled till the solution is reduced to one-twelfth of the original volume. It cleanse out the mala (the accumulated dirt inside the body, infections, etc).  ÏoÌaña kwatha is the richest extract of the boiled medicines. It is obtained by boiling the herbal/plant medicine's solution (decoction) till only one- sixteenth of the original volume remains. This type of strong kwatha destroys the cause(s) of the acute or aggravated ailments/sickness completely.

According to general therapeutic principles of Ayurveda, pachana kwatha should be taken in the night (before sleep); ïamana kwatha before noon (after breakfast, as guided by the doctor); dºpana kwatha is prescribed to be taken late in the afternoon (post lunch). Santaparña and ïodhana kwathas are taken early in the morning (empty stomach). 

We introduce below the constitutions and uses of some of kaDhas (kwathas) that are extensively studied and prescribed at the Brahm Varchas Research Centre. These are found to have significant positive healing effects in a number of frequently occurring ailments/diseases and disorders – including those, which are hereditary and/or chronic in nature and are usually considered incurable through modern medicinal therapies. 

In the descriptions below, the unit of measurement is one teaspoon (tsp), which is about 5gms. The quantities of ingredients would proportionally increase or decrease, depending upon the dose. In each case, the constituents are separately crushed (grinded) as coarse powder and then mixed as per the given measurements.  The method of preparation will be specified in the next article in this series, together with the constituents of some more kwathas. The common English names and botanical names of the herbs mentioned here are given in the Table at the end of the article. 

(1) Kalmegha Kwatha: It is beneficial in Malaria, Jaundice, Fever, and Liver ailments. Ingredients:  Kalmegha – 1 tsp, KuÚakº– 1/4 tsp, Chirayata – 1 tsp, Giloya– 1 tsp,  Punarnava– 1/2 tsp, Sariva– 1 tsp, Kalº Jºrº– 1/2 tsp, MulahaÚhº– 1 tsp, Ïarpunkha– 1 tsp, BayaviDanga– 1/2 tsp, Khadira – 1 tsp.

(2) Vasa Kwatha: It is an effective remedy for cough and cold, common cold, acidity, flu, and sinusitis.

Ingredients: Vasa– 1 tsp, KanÚakarº– 1 tsp, Bharangº– 1 tsp, Tejapatra– 1/2 tsp, MulahaÚhº– 1 tsp, Tulasº– 1/2 tsp, TrikaÚu– 1/4 tsp, Chitraka– 1/4 tsp, Nausadara (Ammonia salt)– 1/8 tsp, Atºsa– 1/12 tsp, Talºsa Patra– 1 tsp, Gulabanphïa– 1 tsp. (Note: the coarse powder of a mix of sonÚha, pºpala and kalºmircha in equal proportions is called trikaÚu).   

(3) Kutaja Kwatha: It is very effective medicine to cure dysentery, loose motions, and chronic or infection-driven amoebiasis.

Ingredients: KuÚaja– 1 tsp, Bilva– 1 tsp, Kalamegha– 1/2 tsp, TrikaÚu– 1/4 tsp, Ïarpunkha– 1/2 tsp, Vasa– 1 tsp, Nagarmotha– 1 tsp, MulahaÚhº– 1/2 tsp, Chirayata– 1/2 tsp, Giloya– 1 tsp, Daru Haldº – 1 tsp, Haldº – 1/2 tsp.

Alphabetic list of the Hindi Names (of the herbs/medicinal plants) referred above; other popular Hindi names, if any, are also shown in the first column.  

Hindi Name(s) English Name Botanical Name

Aïwagandha Rap seed plant, Winter cherry Withania somnifera Dunal

Âtisa, Ativisha Indian Atees Aconitum heterophyllum Wall.

BayviDanga, Vidang Barbreng Embellia ribes Burn.

Chitrak, Cheeta White leadwort Plumbago zeylanica Linn.

Chirayata, Kirat tikta Chireta Swertia chirayata Roxb.

Daru Haldº, Kilmora Indian Berberry Berberis aristata DC.

Giloya, Amrata, Guduchi Tinospora, Guduchi Tinospora cordifolia ( wild) Miers.

Gugal, Dev-Dhup Indian Bedellium tree Commiphora mukul Hook

Gulbanphïa, Banfasha Sweet Viola Viola odorata Linn.

Haldi, Haridra Turmeric Curcuma domestica Val

KanÚkarº, Kateli, Vyaghri Kantakari Solanum Xanthocarpum

Kalº Jºrº, Somraji,Banjeeta Purple Flobane Vernonia anthelmintica (wild)

Kalº mircha, Marich Black pepper Piper nigrum Linn.

Kalmegha, Bhunimb The Creat Andrographis paniculata, Nees. 

Khadira, Khair, Kattha Black Catechu Acacia catechu willd

Kutaja, Koora Tellicherry Bark Holarrhena antidysenterica Wall.

KaÚukº Black Hellebore Picrorrhiza Kurroa Royle ex Benth.

MulahaÚhº, Madhuyeshthi Liquoric Root Glycyrrhixaglabra Bois.

Nagarmotha, Mustak Nutgrass Cyperus rotundus Linn.

Pºpala, Asavatha Poplar leave Fig Tree Ficus religiosa Linn.

Punarnava (Rakta) Hogweed Horsse Purslene Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.

SaunÚha, Adarak, Shunthi Dry Zinger Zingiber officinale Roscoe.

Sarºwa, Aasfota, Kapuri Indian sarsaparilla Hemidesmus indicus R.Br.

Ïalparñº, Sarivan Sarivan Desmodium gangericumD.C.

Ïarpunkha, Pleehari Wild Indigo Tephrosia purpurea Linn.

Talisapatra, Dhatripatra -- -- Abies Webbiana

Tejpatra, Tamalpatra Tamala tree Cinnamomum tamala Nees

Tulasº, Gauri, Varnda Holy basil, Sacred basil Ocimum sanctum Linn.

Vasa, Adusa Malabarnut Adhatoda vasica, Nees

Vilva, Bael Bengal Qunice Aegle marmelos, Corr.

(Series to be continued).

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