Shirovirechanopaga Gana – Herbs useful in Nasya treatment (nasal drops)

By Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD.
Shirovirechana is the unique classical procedure employed in Ayurvedic therapeutics to expel out the doshas (blemishes) accumulated in the scalp and above the chest level especially from the neck and throat.

Even though Kapha is mainly expels out its significant role can be appreciated while taking out the excess Vata and Pitta too through this particular therapy. Thus based upon the madicaments used all the three doshas can be pushed out of the lesion through the Shirovirechana therapy.

Shiro Virechanopaga Gana

Let us review the quality and action of these drugs one by one in brief –
Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus ) – Seeds, Leaves

Memory enhancer, deep penetrative, stimulant, intellectual promoter, carminative etc.

Kshavaka (Centipeda minima A. Br. Et. Aschers. ) – Whole plant
Stimulant, neuro muscular stabilizer, anti histaminic, expectorant etc.

Maricha – Black pepper – Piper nigrum – Fruits
Deep penetrative, adaptogenic, decongestant, anti histaminic, expectorant, broncho dilator, carminative, digestive etc.

Pippali – Piper longum -Fruits
Digestive, carminative, liver stimulant, appetizer, anti spoasmodic etc.

Vidanga – False Black Pepper (Embelia ribes Burm. f. ) – Seeds
Anti helmenthic, rejuvinative, digestive, anti microbial etc.

Shigru – Moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera Lam. ) – Seeds and Stem bark
Anti microbial, anti inflammatory, eye tonic, aphrodisiac, analgesic, wound healing etc.

Sarshapa (Brassica nigra Koch. ) – Seeds
Anti helmethic, anti microbial, rubificient, anti inflammatory etc.

Apamarga (Achyranthes aspera Linn. ) – Seeds
Scraping, anti microbial, anti inflammatory, lipolytic, lithotripsic, wormicide etc.

Shveta (white variety of Clitoria ternatea Linn. ) – Seeds and Roots
Anti inflammatory, analgesic,abortificient,rubificient etc.

Mahashveta (a variety of Clitoria ternatea Linn. ) – Seeds and Roots
Anti helmenthic, anti inflammatory, wormicide, analgesic, abortificient, rubificient etc.

Qualities and actions

Qualities in general and actions of Shirovirechanopaga gana drugs:
Above said ingredients are hot, deep penetrative and wormicide in action. Most of the drugs are hot in potency and undergo pungent kind of metabolic change. The mentioned drugs are anti inflammatory, analgesic, deep penetrating and expectorants.

Therapeutic uses

Therapeutic uses of Shirovirechanopag gana drugs:
They are useful in head ache, neuralgia, stiff neck, radiating pain in the shoulders, rhinitis, cold, nasal polyps etc.

Ayurvedic medicines

Formulations containing Shirovirechana drugs :
Maricha choorna, Pippalyadi taila, Jyotishmati taila, Apamarga taila, Vidangadi choorna, Krimighna choorna are the formulations derived out of these herbs.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of Siro virechana gana drugs:
As the drugs are hot and severe penetrative the drugs referred here should not be prescribed in young children and among the patients who are having the history of bleeding from the nostrils.

Simple formulations

Simple formulations that can be made from the above drugs and their application in routine practice:
The drugs like Sarshapa, Shigru etc can be made into fine paste and applied over the fore head or to the scalp. This reduces the severity of the head ache. Pipplai,Vidanga and Kshavaka are the drugs which are useful in Pradhamana nasya or as Choorna nasya.

Formulation development opportunities:
The medicated fine powder or medicated oils can be designed out of these drugs which are having the efficacy to treat various diseases of head, neck, shoulder, ear, throat etc. If some good suppositories are made they can be utilized as Dhoomra vartis (inhalation suppositories) also.
Click to consult Dr MS Krishnamurthy MD(Ayu), PhD