Herbal Smoking – Benefits, Rules, Side Effects, Blends To Try

Herbal smoking is one of the daily routine as per Ayurveda. It helps to balance Vata and Kapha Dosha. It is used both for preventive and therapeutic purposes. The person who wishes to take care of his health should inhale herbal smoke daily to treat or to prevent the onset of diseases of the parts above the shoulders, arising from – increases of kapha and Vata.

Person unsuitable for inhalation

Inhalation of smoke should not be done for persons who are suffering from
Bleeding disease like nasal bleeding, menorrhagia
Who has undergone Virechana therapy (purgation treatment)
Ascites, intestinal obstruction
Diabetes, urinary tract disorders
Blindness,
Flatulence, bloating
Diphtheria,
Who have been administered enema,
Who have just eaten fish, wine, curds, milk, honey, fats and poison;
Who are injured in the head,
Anemia and jaundice and
Those who have kept awake at night.

Proper time for herbal smoking 

After sneezing
After yawning
After defecation
After urination
After having sex
After surgical operation
After bouts of laughing
After brushing teeth
After taking bath
After having food
After vomiting

Method of herbal smoking

The patient should sit straight, attentive, with his mouth open and inhale the smoke through each nostril alternatively,
While inhaling from one nostril, he should close the other.
Inhalation should be done thrice – inhaling the smoke and letting it out together forms one bout;
Three such bouts should be done each time.
Smoke should be inhaled through the nose first if the imbalanced Doshas are localized in the nose and head.
When the Doshas are localized in the throat – inhalation should be done first by the mouth and later by nose.
The smoke inhaled (either from mouth or from nose) should be let out only through the mouth; if let out through the nose, it produces loss of vision.
Smoking should be done thrice, with three times inhaling and three exhaling alternately.

Herbal smoking blends

You can use any of the following available herbs / combination of herbs

Aguru, Guggulu, Musta, Sthauneya, Shaileya, Nalada, Usheera (Vetiver), Valaka, Varanga, Kounti, Madhuka, Bilvamajja, elavaluka, Shrivestaka, Sarjarasa, Dhyamaka, Madana, Plava, Shallaki, Kumkuma (Saffron), Masha (black gram), Yava (Barley), Kunduruka, Tila (sesame seed), oil obtained from fruits and pith of trees, fat, Marrow, muscle- fat and ghee.

Herbs mentioned by Charaka

Harenuka (Pisum sativum Linn),
Priyangu – Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.
Prithvika ( Nigella sativa Linn),
Keshara ( Mesua ferrea Linn),
Nakha – Capparis sepiaria,
Hrivera (Pavonia Odorata Willd),
Chandana( Sandalwood),
Patra ( Cinnamomum tamala Nees and Eberum ),
Twak ( Cinnamon)
Ela – Cardamom
Usheera – Vetiver,
Padmaka – Wild Himalayan Cherry – Prunus cerasoides
Dhyamaka (Cymbopogon Schoenathus Spreng ),
Madhuka – Licorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra
Mamsi – Nardostachys jatamansi
Guggulu (Commifora mukul Engl.),
Aguru (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. ),
Sharkara (Sugar),
Bark of Nyagrodha (Ficus bengalensis Linn),
Udumbara (Ficus racemosa Linn),
Ashvattha (Ficus religiosa Linn),
Plaksha (Ficus locor Bunch- Ham),
Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa)
Vanya (Cyperus tenuiflorus),
Sarjarasa (Resin of Vateria indica Linn).
Musta (Cyperus rotundus)
Shaileya (Permellia perforta),
Kamala (Nelumbo uncifera Gaertn),
Utpala (Nymphaea alba),
Shrivestaka (resinous extract from Pinus roxburghii Sargent ),
Shallaki (Boswellia serrata Roxb.).

Simple herbal smoke combination

 Here are a simple combination that can be tried.
Take Guggulu, pound it well. Add neem, turmeric, saffron and black gram. Make it into the form of a wick. Add ghee for lubrication. If you burn this wick, it should easily catch fire and yield smoke.
If guggulu is not available, you can simply make the combination using the other herbs, as per availability, put on a hot pan and inhale the smoke.

Herbal smoking for asthma

As per master Charaka, a wick prepared with powder of barley along with ghee is useful for Dhoomapana in case of Asthma. (Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 17th chapter).

Another method of herbal smoking – A burning coal / charcoal is placed inside an earthen pot. Powder of herbs is sprinkled over it and covered with another vessel, having a hole at its center. A tube is connected to the hole, through which the smoke is inhaled.

Signs of proper herbal smoking

Clarity of mind, clarity in thinking process
Clarity in throat, abscess of mucus collection in throat
Clarity in sense organs,
Lightness of head

Benefits of smoke therapy

Cough, Dyspnoea, Rhinitis, Disorders of voice, bad smell – of the nose and mouth,
Pallor of the face, disorders of hairs, hair loss,
Discharges, itching, pain in ear and nose,
Loss of function of the ears, mouth and eyes;
Headache, migraine, eye pain,
Toothache, excess drowsiness,
Strengthens sense organs, excess sleep,
Stupor and hiccup do not affect the person who inhales smoke- habitually.

Side effects of herbal smoking

Doing Dhumapana at improper time or in excess leads to
bleeding disease,
blindness,
deafness,
excessive thirst
fainting, loss of consciousness
delusion.
You can see that all these are symptoms of Pitta increase.
For this, cold regimen should be adopted.

Signs of insufficient smoking

Impairment of voice, presence of Kapha (phlegm) in the throat and heaviness of head are the features of insufficient smoking.

Signs of excessive smoking

If one smokes in excess, his palate, head and throat gets dried up and become hot. One feels thirsty and he becomes unconscious; there may be excessive bleeding, dizziness. fainting and hotness in sense organs.

 Treatment of complications

If such troubles due to untimely and over smoking arise, you need to consult an Ayurveda doctor immediately. Here are a few treatment options:
Intake of ghee – this helps to relieve burning sensation, and excess of dryness caused due to wrong herbal smoking.
Administration of Nasya (nasal drops) – with oils like Anu Tailam –  helps to soothe the inflamed nasal mucosa, also helps to strengthen sense organs.
Collyrium and demulcent drinks are prescribed.
The medicines should be of unctuous drugs in the event of vitiation of Vata Dosha (associated with pain)
If the symptoms are associated with Pitta (burning sensation) then herbs of cooling nature should be selected for treatment.