Last time we threw light on the effective decoctions for good health and various ailments. Here’s placing spotlight once again on Kawatha’s cure for ailments such as High Blood Pressure, Insomnia and Bronchial Asthma. So here’s zooming on to each ailment and Kawatha fit to cure the ailment.
Kawatha for restraining high blood pressure
It is one of the most common complain amongst elderly and the people who lead a fast life style because of worries and increased tension. It is more prevalent in middle and upper class of society. The artificial, comfort-driven and possessive lifestyle, wrong eating habits, hectic routine, extrovert attitudes, polluted environment have contributed in the spread of this health hazard. If left uncontrolled it can lead to heart attack, stroke, etc. resulting in death or making a person paralyzed for rest of the life. The allopathic medicines prescribed to prevent the rise in blood pressure are quite effective in general but these need to be continued life-long together with restricted diet, etc. Prolonged use of these medicines gives rise to untoward side effects. Because of these negative effects and risk of allopathic medicines, an alternative, natural and healthy mode of healing is not only desisted by post patients but is also a necessity today. Ayurvedic decoctions are very promising in this regard.
Ingredients needed to prepare these decoctions:
1: bramhi-100gms,
2: sankhpushpi-100gms,
3: jatamasi-200gms,
4: vijaya-200gm,
5: kalijiri-200gms,
6: ajmoda-50gms
7: sarpagandha-50 gms,
8: rock salt-50 gms,
9: ajvayan-50 gms,
10: aka leaf-5gms,
11: arjuna-100gms,
12: punarnava-100gms,
13: sajjikhara-25gms,
14: nausadara-0.5gm,
15: mukta pisti-1gms,
17: rajat bhasma-1gms,
18: pravala pishti-2gms,
19: sankha bhasma-2gms,
20: kamdudha rasa-2gms.
Method of preparation and use:
Take the listed amounts of herbs from 1 to 13 indicated above. Grind them to make coarse powder. Mix it properly while grinding and in some case grinding of herbs may be required separately which latter can be mixed with the final powder. This powder should be kept away from the moisture and in an air tight container. Soak 4-5 teaspoons of this powder in about half a liter water overnight, boil it n the morning on mild fire (low flame). With proper stirring till the solution concentrates up to one fourth of its original volume. Filter this decoction when it cools down to normal temperature. This kawatha is now ready for use. Half of it should be drunk same morning about three hours after meal and remaining half in the evening/night about two hours after dinner. Care should be taken that both meals are eaten early enough for proper digestion and natural harmonization of the metabolic cycle. In ideal case, as per ayurvedic guidelines, lunch should be eaten before 11 am and dinner before 7 pm.
Make a fine powder of the items listed from 14 to 20 etc taken in respective quantities. The pistis need to be grinded thoroughly for long hours in a kharal (grinding stone). No machine should be used for this purpose. This mixed powder should be packed. Wrapped carefully in small folded pieces of papers (pudiya) containing equal amounts so that one pudiya could be used in the morning and one in the evening everyday. Apart from being good for mental soothing, this mix of special medicines is suited to eliminate acidity related problems. It is therefore recommended that the morning dose be taken empty stomach and the second dose at around 3 pm. about one hour after taking the first dose of the kawatha. These are the timings when acidity causing reactions begin to take place in the body.
The above constitution of the mixed powders amounts to the total dose for about 6 days that means total 12 doses. Needless to say, that more of such powder and also that for the kawatha should be prepared again if the treatment is to be taken in fresh conditions, so no stocking should be done for long time.
Apart from observing the other diet restraints (especially salt reduction, avoidance of fat etc) as therapeutic or precautionary measures the patients of high blood pressure should also avoid eating rice or rice products in the night. In fact their meal in night should be light, almost half of that of lunch. Those having the compliant of acidity may also take one or two tablets of ”mahasankhavati” with water in the morning and in the evening. This drug would help normal functioning of their digestive system.
Kawatha for Relief from Insomnia
Insomnia or lack of sleep is a psychosomatic disorder, which not only reduces the patient’s efficiency but also invites different kinds of other mental and physical health related problems. In most cases, an over ambitious and self possessive attitude and or stressful irregular routine, unbalanced diet and artificial, luxurious lifestyle are attributed to its occurrence; patients often start consuming tranquilizers that induce calmness and little drowsiness. Rather than controlling/balancing sleep cycle. The patient becomes addicted to such allopathic tablets very soon and new problem starts as ‘addiction’. After a certain span of time the doses of such tablets have to be increased for same effect as body becomes prone to it. Thus instead of healing, these medicines eventually increases the patients sufferings.
Sometimes one does not get sleep because of acute pain, in some cases it is due to tensions and excessive worries. But sleeplessness of this sort is temporary. Cure of the sickness or improvement in the situation revives the original sleep. But the lack of sleep in case of hypertension and consequent restlessness or due to psychological complications is often unbearable. One takes shelter of sedative medicines in such cases as well. The doctors also often have no other choice but to advice such drugs in general. The following kawatha offers excellent alternative way. If taken with prescribed diet then it uproots insomnia and also allays and controls the problems of Blood-pressure and restlessness.
Ingredients of the insomnia relieving kawatha:
1: bramhi-5gms,
2: sankhapushpi-5gms,
3: jatamasi-10 to 30 gms,
4: vijaya-5gms,
5: harada-5gms,
6: ashwagandha-2.5gms,
7: sarpagandha2.5 gms,
8: khursani ajavain-1.25 gm,
9: giloy-5gms,
10: punarnava-5gms,
11: arjuna -5gms,
12: varuna-2.5 gms
Method and preparation and use:
Take the above herbal medicines in the indicated amount and grind them to make a coarse powder. This mixed powder may be kept in an airtight container to protect it from moisture. For one day’s average dose of the kawatha, soak about 506 teaspoons (approximately 30gms) of this mixture in about half litre water sometime in evening. Like for the other kawathas this soaked solution is boiled the next morning on the mild heat till it concentrates to one fourth of its original volume. It is then cooled to normal drinking temperature and filtered through a clean cloth piece. The filtered decoction is now ready for use, about half of it should be drunk in the morning itself and the remaining in the late afternoon/early evening. Care should be taken to keep the remaining amount of the kawatha protected from dust and light. Cool it enough so that it remains in good condition till evening.
Diet restraints should be strictly followed in case of insomnia, especially when it is caused due to hypertension. Intake of fried foods should be avoided; meals in the night should be very light and devoid of all fats and fried things. Its quantity should also be about half of that in the morning.
Patients of insomnia should also practice meditation and japa regularly. Yoga nidra is of great benefit to such patients. Shavasana should be practiced twice a day. One has to lie down on the back with very little gap between two feet just as to keep apart will suffice. Hands should be on either sides with palms facing upwards. Now close eyes and stretch your body from toe to head. After this concentrate on your breath. Concentrate on ingoing and outgoing of breath. While doing this do not move your body, either counting breaths or chanting of divine sounds will do. Even listening to soft relaxing instrumental works well.
Kawatha remedy against Bronchial Asthma:
This ayurvedic decoction is an excellent remedy in uprooting bronchial asthma, chronic cough and some pulmonary infections. Its ingredients are somalata-10gms, atisa-0.1gm, nausadara 0.2gms, kantakri 10gms, bharangi-10gms, mulahathi-10gms, trikatu-10gms, vasa root 5gms, rudanti fruit 10gms, rudravanti-5gms, gulabanphsa 5gms, gazvan 5gms, rasna 5ms.
Method of preparation and use: each of the above listed herbs or dried plant medicines in the prescribed amount or its constant multiple is first grinded separately into a coarse powder/paste. Then the coarse powders thus obtained are mixed thoroughly and packed for use. Everyday 4-5 teaspoons that is approximately 25 gms of it are to be used for preparing the kadha or kawatha in a manner similar described earlier. Two doses of it are taken everyday. One in morning on an empty stomach and other in the evening on an empty stomach.
Note that all these dry powders are to be protected from moisture and light. It should not be stocked for too long. Once prepared, try to use it within six months span. Evening doses should be always prepared fresh.
Many people find mixing the required amount difficult and therefore they take pinch of all powders and prepare kawatha of it. This will not give required effect. The amount could be the same constant multiple of those indicated above, but the same proportions should be retained.
Dr. Hiren Parekh