Swedopaga Gana: Adjuvant Herbs For Sweating: Review, Benefits

By Dr M S Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD.
Swedana refers to Sudation therapy in Ayurveda. Swedopaga means that promotes or which acts as adjuvant to enhance the sudation process. The medicament used in this respect are altogether known as Swedopaga medicament which means that the medicaments which eases the job of sweating. 

Most of these drugs have diaphoretic action followed with hot and channel clearing nature (srotorodhahara) and softening the channels (srotomardavakaraka).

Due to this particular property the drugs explained under this group are helpful to induce the sweat in lesser time and in most effective way.

Svedopaga Gana

Let us review the quality and action of these drugs one by one in brief-

Shobhanjanaka- Moringa (Moringa oleifera)-Seeds and leaves
Diaphoretic, anti inflammatory, analgesic, anti pyretic, digestive, nutritive, eye tonic etc.

Eranda – Castor (Ricinus communis Linn.)-Seeds and roots
Anti inflammatory, aphrodisiac, laxative, minute channel mobilize, anti flatulent etc.

Arka – Calotropis gigantia-Leaves and roots
Digestive, carminative, severe penetrative, diaphoretic, anti imnflammatory etc.

Vrischira (white variety of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.)-Roots or whole plant
Diuretic, diaphoretic, rejuvinative, lithotripsic, anti oxidant, uterine tonic etc.

Punarnava (red variety of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn.)-Roots or whole plant
Lithotripsic, anti oxidant, uterine tonic,diuretic, diaphoretic, rejuvinative etc.

Yava – Barley (Hordeum vulgare)-Seeds
Bowel quantity /bulk enhancer, nutritive, energizer, body bulk enhancer etc.

Tila – Sesame (Sesamum indicum)-Seeds
Dipaphoretic, skin replenisher, neuro muscvular stimulant, energizer, emmenogogue, etc.

Kulattha (Dolichos biflorus Linn.)- Horse gram Seeds
Lithotripsic, diuretic, anti tussive, broncho dilator, nasal decongestant, energizer, potent diaphoretic etc.

Masha (Phaseolus mungo Linn.) -Seeds
Bulk enhancer, nutritive, muscular tone developer, energizer etc.

Badara – Zizyphus jujube-Fruits and seeds
Energizer, diaphoretic, tissue replenisher, diuretic etc.

Qualities, Actions

Qualities in general and actions of Swedopaga Gana drugs:
The drugs of Swedopaga gana are hot-minute-light and penetrative in nature. Most of the drugs are hot in potency and undergo pungent kind of metabolic change (Katu vipaka).

These drugs are scraping, tissue replenishing, digestive and carminative in character.

Therapeutic uses

Therapeutic uses of Swedopaga Gana drugs:
They are indicated in heftiness/obesity of the body, heaviness of the body parts, long persisting morbidity, metabolic disorders etc. In Vatakapha predominant diseases these drugs have significant benefits. In arthritis, inflammatory conditions and muscular pain or whole body ache-generalized etc this combination is highly effective.

Ayurvedic medicines

Formulations containing Svedopaga drugs :
Kolakulatthadi kashaya, Kolakulattha choorna, Erandamoola kashaya, Punarnavashthaka kwatha, Kulatthadi kashaya, Punarnavadi kashaya etc are the important formulations of this group.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of Swedopaga Gana drugs:
These drugs are not recommended in severe debilitated patients and in the individuals with severe cachexia, debility, chronic emaciating disorders, severe gastric disturbances etc as it may further decline the body strength.

Simple formulations

Simple formulations that can be made from the above drugs and their application in routine practice:
Badara and Kulattha choorna is used for Ruksha Udwartana (dry massage) in cases of obesity, fatigue, laziness and excess body morbidity etc. Barley decoction (Barley water) is considered be the best simple and effective formulation to gain the strength in cases of fatigue and laziness.

Formulation development opportunities:
Suitable drugs are selected from the above group and concentrated Kashaya or Ghana (aqueous extract into tablet) can be formulated from the above drugs. This can be used as instant formulations especially to manage the stiffness, generalized body ache etc caused during journey or hectic schedules etc. Good scope can be estimated for self fermented alcohol (Asava arishtas) also from these drugs as the self fermented alcohols themselves are potent diaphoretics.
Click to consult Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD