Table of Contents
The 22nd chapter of Sutrasthanam of Ashtanga Hridayam is named as Gandusha Vidhi Adhyayam. In this chapter, we learn about a few oral, ear and head therapy, their benefits, procedures etc. The chapter is called Gandushadi Vidhi Adhyaya, because it starts with an explanation of Gandusha – mouth gargling.
अथातो गण्डूषविधिमध्यायं व्याख्यास्याम: इति ह स्माहुरात्रेयादयो महर्षय:॥
Atreya and other sages pledge that henceforth they will be explaining the chapter named Gandusha vidhimadhyaya (pertaining to inhalation of herbal therapeutic smoke).
Types of Gandusha (liquid medicine held in the mouth to its full)
चतुः प्रकारो गण्डूषः स्निग्धः शमनशोधनौ ।
रोपणश्च
Full mouth gargle is of four types –
Snigdha – lubricating
Shamana – palliative
Shodhana – purifying
Ropana – healing
Usage of four types of gandusha
त्रयस्तत्र त्रिषु योज्याश्चलादिषु ॥ १ ॥
अन्त्यो व्रणघ्नः
Among the four types of gandusha, the first three should be used for balancing the three vata etc. doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) and the last one should be used for healing the wounds.
Note:
– The lubricating gargle, wherein oils and fats are used, is administered to balance vata disorders
– The palliative gargle should be used for balance pitta disorders and
– The purifying gargles shall be used for balancing kapha disorders
– The healing gargles are used for healing the wounds and ulcers
Snigdha gandusha
स्निग्धोऽत्र स्वाद्वम्लपटुसाधितैः ।
स्नेहैः
Among these, the Snigdha gandusha is done by using the oil processed with herbs of sweet, sour and salt tastes.
Shamana Gandusha
संशमनस्तिक्त-कषाय-मधुरौषधैः ॥ २ ॥
The shamana gandusha is done with herbs having bitter, astringent and sweet tastes.
Shodhana gandusha
शोधनस्तिक्तकट्वम्लपटूष्णै
The shodhana gandusha is made with herbs having bitter, pungent, sour and salty tastes and hot properties.
Ropana gandusha
रोपणः पुनः ।
कषाय-तिक्तकै:
The ropana gandusha is done with herbs having astringent and bitter tastes.
Gandusha Dravya (medicines used)
तत्र स्नेहः क्षीरं मधूदकम् ॥ ३ ॥
शुक्तं मद्यं रसो मूत्रं धान्याम्लं च यथायथम् ।
कल्कैर्युक्तं विपक्वं वा यथास्पर्शं प्रयोजयेत् ॥ ४ ॥
Below mentioned medicines are commonly used for gandusha procedure –
sneha – fats, oil, ghee, etc
ksheera – milk
madhoodaka – honey mixed water
shukta- fermented liquid, fermented gruel
madya – wine
rasa – meat juice
mootra – urine of animals
dhanyamla – wash of grains fermented by keeping overnight for several days
The gargle liquids may be mixed with herbal pastes, the liquids may be cooked or raw, the liquids shall be used such that it is comfortable to touch and hold in the mouth.
Benefits of gandusha with Tila kalka udaka (sesame seed paste mixed in water)
दन्तहर्षे दन्तचाले मुखरोगे च वातिके ।
सुखोष्णमथवा शीतं तिलकल्कोदकं हितम् ॥ ५ ॥
गण्डूष धारणे
Water mixed with sesame seed paste, either in lukewarm or cold form, is useful for gandusha in conditions mentioned below –
dantaharsha – tingling sensation in the teeth
dantachala – loose / shaking teeth
Vatika mukharoga – diseases of the mouth caused by vitiated vata
Liquids beneficial for daily gandusha
नित्यं तैलं मांसरसोऽथवा ।
For daily use (for full mouth gargle), sesame oil or meat soup shall be used (they are the best for daily use)
Benefits of holding ghee and milk full mouth gargles
ऊषादाहान्विते पाके क्षते चागन्तुसम्भवे ॥ ६ ॥
विषे क्षाराग्निदग्धे च सर्पिर्धार्यं पयोऽथवा ।
Doing gandusha with ghee or milk is beneficial in the below mentioned conditions –
Oosha dahanvite – local or general burning sensation
paka – ulcerations of the mouth
kshate agantu sambhave – injuries and wounds caused by foreign materials
visha kshara agni dagdha – wounds caused by contact with poisons, alkalis and burns caused by fire
Benefits of Madhu Gandusha (full mouth gargles with honey )
वैशद्यं जनयत्याशु सन्दधाति मुखे व्रणान् ॥ ७ ॥
दाहतृष्णाप्रशमनं मधुगण्डूषधारणम् ।
Madhu gandusha brings about cleanliness of the mouth and removes sliminess, quickly heals mouth ulcers and pacifies burning sensation and relieves thirst.
Benefits of Dhanyamla gandusha (full mouth gargle with fermented grain water)
धान्याम्लमास्यवैरस्य मलदौर्गन्ध्यनाशनम् ॥ ८ ॥
तदेवालवणं शीतं मुखशोषहरं परम् ।
Dhanyamla gandusha removes distaste, dirt accumulated in the mouth, teeth and tongue and foul smell from the mouth. The same fermented grain wash, if used without addition of salt and in cold form, is best to remove the dryness of the mouth.
Benefits of ksharambu gandusha (full mouth gargles with alkaline water)
आशु क्षाराम्बुगण्डूषो भिनत्ति श्लेष्मणश्चयम् ॥ ९ ॥
Ksharambu gandusha quickly destroys / breaks the accumulated kapha.
Benefits of sukha ushna udaka gandusha (full mouth gargles with warm water)
सुखोष्णोदकगण्डूषैर्जायते वक्त्रलाघवम् ।
Sukha ushna udaka gandusha brings about lightness and cleansing of the mouth (causes freshness of mouth).
Procedure of gandusha
निवाते सातपे स्विन्नमृदितस्कन्धकन्धरः ॥ १० ॥
गण्डूषमपिबन् किञ्चिदुन्नतास्यो विधारयेत् ।
The person who wishes to do gandusha should be seated in a place devoid of breeze but should be seated where there is sunlight. And his shoulders and neck should be massaged and fomented (provided with heat through steam or hot compresses). He should hold the gandusha dravya (gargle medicament) by keeping his face slightly lifted up.
Time duration of gandusha
कफपूर्णास्यता यावत् स्रवद्घ्राणाक्षताथवा ॥ ११ ॥
Liquid should be held until the mouth gets filled with kapha or until there are secretions from nose and eyes.
Difference between Kavala (partial mouth gargle) and Gandusha (full mouth gargle)
असञ्चार्यो मुखे पूर्णे गण्डूषः कवलोऽन्यथा ॥ ११-a ॥
Filling the mouth with fluids upto full capacity, not permitting any movement of the fluid inside the mouth is called gandusha. Whereas kavala is opposite to gandusha, taking the liquid into the mouth and moving it all around by gargling for specific duration.
Benefits of Kavala (partial mouth gargle)
मन्याशिरःकर्णमुखाक्षिरोगाः प्रसेककण्ठामयवक्त्रशोषाः ।
हृल्लासतन्द्रारुचिपीनसाश्च साध्या विशेषात् कवडग्रहेण ॥ १२ ॥
By doing kavala, the below mentioned conditions will be cured
diseases of the neck, head, ears, mouth and eyes, excessive salivation, diseases of the throat, dryness of the throat, nausea, stupor, drowsiness, anorexia, tastelessness and rhinitis.
Pratisarana and its benefits (Coating the mouth with medicaments)
कल्को रसक्रिया चूर्णस्त्रिविधं प्रतिसारणम् ॥ १३अब् ॥
युञ्ज्यात् तत् कफरोगेषु गण्डूषविहितौषधैः ।
Pratisarana or coating the mouth with herbs is of three kinds, they are –
kalka – in the form of medicinal pastes
rasakriya – in the form of solidified decoction and
choorna – in the form of powder
It should be administered in diseases of kapha origin, with the same herbs as suggested in full mouth gargle.
Mukhalepa (Application of paste of herbs over the face)
मुखालेपस्त्रिधा दोषविषहा वर्णकृच्च सः ॥ १४ ॥
Mukhalepa is of three kinds, they are –
doshaha – that which removes the doshas
vishaha – that which removes the poisons / toxins and
varnakrit – and that which improves color and complexion.
Mukhalepa for balancing the doshas
उष्णो वातकफे शस्तः शेषेष्वत्यर्थशीतलः ।
Mukhalepa is beneficial when applied warm for balancing vata and kapha doshas and in others (to balance other dosha i.e. pitta) it should be applied in excessively cold form.
Thickness of mukhalepa
त्रिप्रमाणश्चतुर्भागत्रिभागार्धाङ्गुलोन्नतिः ॥ १५ ॥
The thickness to which the facial herbal pastes are applied are of three forms –
Chaturbhaga angula – ¼ angula thickness
Tribhaga angula – 1/3 angula thickness
Ardha angula – ½ angula thickness
Rules for removal of mukhalepa
अशुष्कस्य स्थितिस्तस्य शुष्को दूषयति च्छविम् ।
तम् आर्द्रयित्वापनयेत्तदन्तेऽभ्यङ्गमाचरेत् ॥ १६ ॥
Mukhalepa shall be left in place until it becomes dry. When it gets dry, it vitiates the skin complexion and color (therefore it should be removed soon after it becomes dry). It should be moistened and then removed (when moistened, it can be easily removed, or else it will hurt the face). At the end i.e., after removal of the paste, a gentle oil massage should be given to the face.
Things not to do while applying mukhalepas
विवर्जयेद्दिवास्वप्न-भाष्याग्न्यातप-शुक्क्रुधः।
Following should be avoided one who wishes to apply mukhalepa –
divasvapna – day sleeping
bhashya – excessive speaking
agni – exposure to fire
atapa – exposure to the sunlight / heat of the sun
shukkrudha – grief and anger.
Contraindications for mukhalepa
न योज्यः पीनसेऽजीर्णे दत्तनस्ये हनुग्रहे ॥ १७ ॥
अरोचके जागरिते
Mukhalepa should not be administered to persons suffering from –
peenasa – rhinitis
ajeerna – indigestion
datta nasya – to those who have been administered with nasal medication / errhines
hanugragha – lockjaw
arochaka – anorexia, tastelessness
jaagarita – those who have awakened the whole night, those suffering from insufficiency of sleep.
Benefits of mukhalepa
स तु हन्ति सुयोजितः ।
अकालपलितव्यङ्गवलीतिमिरनीलिकाः ॥ १८ ॥
The same (herbal facial packs) when done properly cures / destroys –
Akala palita – premature graying of hairs
vyanga – discolored patches on the face / freckles
valee – wrinkles on the face
timira –blindness, darkness in front of the eyes
neelika – blue spots on face bluish vision (a type of blindness).
Mukhalepa in different seasons
कोलमज्जा वृषान् मूलं शाबरं गौरसर्षपाः ।
सिंहीमूलं तिलाः कृष्णा दार्वीत्वङ् निस्तुषा यवाः ॥ १९ ॥
दर्भमूलहिमोशीरशिरीषमिशितण्डुलाः ।
कुमुदोत्पलकल्हारदूर्वामधुकचन्दनम् ॥ २० ॥
कालीयकतिलोशीरमांसीतगरपद्मकम् ।
तालीशगुन्द्रापुण्ड्राह्वयष्टीकाशनतागुरु ॥ २१ ॥
इत्य् अर्धार्धोदिता लेपा हेमन्तादिषु षट् स्मृताः ।
The following six facial applications mentioned in each half line of the above said verses are said to be ideal for six seasons commencing with Hemanta i.e. early winter season respectively –
Paste of the pulp of jujube fruit, root of Adhatoda vasica, Symplocos racemosa and white mustard seeds are ideal for Hemanta Rtu i.e., early winter.
Roots of Adhatoda vasica, black sesame, bark of Berberis aristata and dehusked barley is ideal for Shishira Rtu i.e,. late winter season.
Paste of roots of Desmostachya bipinnata, camphor, Vetiveria zizanioides, Albizia lebbeck, fennel seeds and rice are ideal for Vasanta Rtu i.e., spring season.
Paste of water lily, blue variety of water lily, water plant, Cynodon dactylon, Licorice and sandalwood is ideal for Greeshma Rtu i.e., summer season
Paste of dried rood and stem of Coscinium fenestratum, sesame, Vetiver, Nardostachys jatamansi, Valeriana wallichii and Prunus cerasoides is ideal in Varsha Rtu, i.e., Rainy season.
Paste of Abies webbiana, Typha elephantiana, Saccharum officinarum, licorice, Saccharum spontaneum, Arundo donax / Cyperus rotundus and Aquilaria agallocha is ideal in Sharad Rtu, i.e., Autumn season.
Benefits of mukhalepa
मुखालेपनशीलानां दृढं भवति दर्शनम् ॥ २२ ॥
वदनं चापरिम्लानं श्लक्ष्णं तामरसोपमम् ।
For those who are habituated (regularly apply) to application of herbal pastes on the face, the vision (perception of eye) becomes strong and keen, face never loses its luster, never becomes dull. The face becomes smooth and brilliant resembling a lotus flower in appearance
Murdhna Taila (Oil treatments related to head)
अभ्यङ्गसेकपिचवो वस्तिश्चेति चतुर्विधम् ॥ २३ ॥
मूर्धतैलं बहुगुणं तद्विद्यादुत्तरोत्तरम् ।
Oil treatments done over the head are of four types, they are –
abhyanga – head massage with herbal oils
seka – pouring of oil over the head in continuous stream
pichu – keeping cloth soaked in oil over the entire area of the scalp for a predetermined time period
basti – making the oil stand on the head with the help of a cabin constructed over the head to hold the oil / oil pooling over the head
Each successive one among these four are said to be more effective (than their previous ones) i.e. Shiro Vasti is the best and most effective one among the four treatments done on the head.
Shiro Abhyanga (Head massage)
तत्राभ्यङ्गः प्रयोक्तव्यो रौक्ष्यकण्डूमलादिषु ॥ २४ ॥
Among these treatments, head massage (applying oil over the head and giving a gentle massage) should be done in cases of (to cure) dryness, itching and dirtiness.
Shiro Seka / Shiro Parisheka (Pouring of oil over the head in stream)
अरूंषिकाशिरस्तोददाहपाकव्रणेषु तु ।
परिषेकः
Pouring oil in thin stream over the head is useful in (treating) –
arumshika – ulcerations in the scalp
shiratoda – headache, pricking pain in the scalp / head
daha – burning sensation
paka – suppuration
vrana – and in wounds
Shiro Pichu (Oil swabs used over the head)
पिचुः केशशातस्फुटनधूपने ॥ २५ ॥
नेत्रस्तम्भे च
Oil-soaked cloth / cotton swabs, applied over the scalp is useful in (treating) –
keshashata– hair fall
sphutana – cracking of the skin of scalp
dhoopana – feeling of burning sensation, feeling as if smoke is being eliminated from the scalp
netrastambha – stiffness / loss of movements of the eye.
Shiro Basti (Oil pooling over the head)
वस्तिस्तु प्रसुप्त्यर्दितजागरे ।
नासास्यशोषे तिमिरे शिरोरोगे च दारुणे ॥ २६ ॥
Oil pooling over the head is useful in (treating) the below mentioned conditions –
prasupti – loss of sensation of the scalp
ardita – facial palsy / facial paralysis
jagara – loss of sleep
nasa asya shosha – dryness of the nose and mouth
timira – blindness
daruna shiroroga – dreadful diseases of the head
Procedure of Shiro Vasti
विधिस्तस्य निषण्णस्य पीठे जानुसमे मृदौ ।
शुद्धाक्तस्विन्नदेहस्य दिनान्ते गव्यमाहिषम् ॥ २७ ॥
द्वादशाङ्गुलविस्तीर्णं चर्मपट्टं शिरःसमम् ।
आकर्णबन्धनस्थानं ललाटे वस्त्रवेष्टिते ॥ २८ ॥
चैलवेणिकया बद्ध्वा माषकल्केन लेपयेत् ।
ततो यथाव्याधि शृतं स्नेहं कोष्णं निषेचयेत् ॥ २९ ॥
ऊर्ध्वं केशभुवो यावदङ्गुलं
The patient who has been subjected to cleansing (after administration of vamana and virechana) should be given oil massage and steaming treatments. And should be made to sit on a soft and comfortable seat / chair of the height of one’s knee (knee height) at the end of the day. A strap of leather made from the skin of either cow or buffalo, 12 angulas in width (8-9 inches approximately), and equal to that of the head in circumference (such that it fits exactly over the head just like a cap), should be wrapped around the head, just above the ears, covered by a piece / strap of cloth over the forehead and should be fastened tight with the help of a thread. Then paste of black gram should be applied (to the joints and intervening spaces, at the junction of the leather cap and scalp, in order to prevent leakage of oil during the process of the treatment). After that, lukewarm medicated oil prescribed as per the disease, should be poured over the scalp (into the leather cap, and is made to stand in the cap) to a height of 1 angula over the skin of the roots of the hairs (over the scalp).
Time duration for Shiro Vasti
धारयेच्च तम् ।
आवक्त्रनासिकोत्क्लेदाद् दशाष्टौ षट् चलादिषु ॥ ३० ॥
मात्रासहस्राण्यरुजे त्वेकं
The medicine (oil) should be held on the head until the secretions start coming from the mouth and nose. Or for a period of 10,000 matra kala, 8,000 matra kala and 6,000 matra kala for vata, pitta and kapha respectively.
For those who are healthy, it should be held for 1,000 matra kala.
Note – 1 matra kala is the time required to blink the eye once
Shiro Vasti pashchat karma (Post treatment procedures)
स्कन्धादि मर्दयेत् ।
मुक्तस्नेहस्य
After the scheduled time period, the oil on the head should be removed and the shoulders etc. should be massaged.
Maximum number of days Shiro Vasti should be done
परमं सप्ताहं तस्य सेवनम् ॥ ३१ ॥
Seven days shall be the maximum number of days for undergoing this therapy.
Karna Purana (Filling the ears with oil)
धारयेत् पूरणं कर्णे कर्णमूलं विमर्दयन् ।
रुजः स्यान् मार्दवं यावन् मात्राशतम् अवेदने ॥ ३२ ॥
The medicated oil / fat should be filled and held in the ears. The roots of the ears should be massaged, till the pain or disease subsides and for a time period of 1000 matra kala in case of healthy people.
Definition of Matra Kala
यावत् पर्येति हस्ताग्रं दक्षिणं जानुमण्डलम् ।
निमेषोन्मेषकालेन समं मात्रा तु सा स्मृता ॥ ३३ ॥
The time period required for the finger of the right hand to move around the right knee joint once or the time equivalent to that required for closing and opening the eyelids once is defined as a Matra Kala.
Murdha Taila Phala (Benefits of oiling the head)
कचसदनसितत्वपिञ्जरत्वं परिफुटनं शिरसः समीररोगान् ।
जयति जनयतीन्द्रियप्रसादं स्वरहनुमूर्धबलं च मूर्धतैलम् ॥ ३४ ॥
Oiling of the head prevents / cures (the below mentioned conditions) – hair fall, graying of hairs, tawny-brown / reddish yellow color of hairs, cracking of the skin of the scalp, diseases of the head caused due to the imbalance of vata, causes clarity / pleasantness of the senses, imparts strength to voice, jaw and head.
इति श्री वैद्यपति सिंहगुप्त प्रसूनु श्रीमत् वाग्भट विरचितायाम् अष्टाङ्गहृदय संहितायां सूत्रस्थाने गण्डूषादिविधिः नाम द्वाविंशो अध्यायः ॥२२॥
Thus ends the 22nd chapter of Ashtangahridaya Samhita Sutrasthana, named Gandushadi Vidhim Adhyayam, written by Shrimad Vagbhata, son of Shri Vaidyapati Simhagupta.
