Nasa Shosha Nasa Putaka – Meaning, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

By Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S

Nasa Shosha is a nasal disorder in which there is dryness of the nasal cavity. It is also called as Nasa Parishosha. Nasa = nose, Shosha = dryness
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Pathogenesis, Symptoms of Nasa Shosha

The kapha located in the nasal cavity gets dried and solidified due to increased dryness of vata and increased heat of pitta. Due to this, the patient feels difficulty in breathing. This condition is difficult to treat and is called as Nasa Parishosha.

Master Sushruta considers only vata in the pathology. According to him ‘Nasa Parishosha is the dryness caused in the nasal passages due to vitiated vata. The patient feels difficult to breathe’.

According to Master Videha – ‘Vitiated vata and pitta dries up kapha and blood in the nasal passages. The patient finds it difficult to breathe in (inspiration). The nasal passage gets dried up and dry powder like substance is formed in the nose and it keeps get eliminated from the nose. This condition is called as nasa shosha’.  

According to Master Charaka – ‘Aggravated Vata causes dryness of kapha, nose, Srngataka Marma located in the nose and the nasal passages’.

According to Master Vagbhata – ‘Vitiated Vata dries up the passages of the nose and kapha therein. The patient feels as if the nasal cavity is filled up with dry and pointed husk and finds difficult to breathe in’.
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Sanskrit verses

Treatment of Nasa Shosha

Nasa Shosha shall be treated on the lines of treating Pinasa.

Specific treatment of nasa shosha

• Snehapana – oleation
• Snigdha dhuma – unctuous fumigation
• Nasal instillation of Bala Taila drops or drops of Anu taila or Vyaghri Taila oils
• Measures to mitigating vata
• Drinking of Cow’s ghee
• Drinking milk mixed with sugar
• Drinking milk mixed with ghee
• Jangala Mamsarasa – meat soup of animals and birds living in dry areas or desert like regions should be given as a part of diet
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Probable Modern Correlation

Nasashosha has been compared to ‘Rhinitis Sicca’.

Nasa Putaka

Nasa Putaka is one of the nasal disorders explained by Master Vagbhata.

Pathogenesis, Symptoms

Pathogenesis and symptoms of nasa putaka is similar to that of nasa shosha. This might be the reason of this condition not being explained by any other authors.

‘The vata gets obstructed by vitiated pitta and kapha in the nasal passages. This vata gradually dries up the kapha. As a consequence crusts or flakes are formed in the nose. This condition is called as Nasaputaka’.
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Sanskrit verses

Treatment of Nasa Putaka

Tikshna Nasya – Nasal instillation of medicines should be done to remove the crusts formed in the nose. To prevent re-formation of crusts, medicated oils are applied inside the nose and kept oleated regularly.

Shuntyadi Taila / Ghrta Nasya – Ghee or oil prepared with the below mentioned herbs shall be used as nasal drops to remove crusts in the nose and also to cure nasa putaka –

• Ginger
• Kushta – Saussurea lappa
• Pippali – Piper longum
• Vidanga – Embelia ribes
• Draksha – Vitis vinifera

Kesaradi Sneha Nasya – Mixture of saffron, camphor and ghee used for nasal drops.
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Probable modern comparison

Even in modern texts we do not get to see such condition independently explained. It may be considered as an important sign of atrophic rhinitis. It can be considered as obstructive crusts formed in the nose.

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