Therapeutic smoking is not injurious to health. The aim of this presentation is to focus on the lesser known and curative aspect of therapeutic smoking which has its mention in ancient Indian Ayurveda texts.

1. THERAPEUTIC SMOKING IS NOT
INJURIOUS TO HEALTH
Dr.Nilima Jain
www.ayurprideindia.com

2. The aim of this presentation is to focus on the lesser known and
curative aspect of therapeutic smoking which has its mention in
ancient Indian Ayurveda texts. It is brought to the notice that
with due respect to the ongoing anti-tobacco/anti-smoking
campaigns around the world, any dishonour to these campaign
is not intended.

3. Index
What is therapeutic smoking
Schedule
Types
Size & shape of pipe
Medicinal herbs
Uses
Features of correct smoking
Complications
Contraindications
4 & 5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Topic
Slide
no.

4. What is therapeutic smoking?
Therapeutic smoking is the type of
smoking described in Ayurveda
wherein some medicated herbs,
prescribed for smoking, are
pounded and made into cigars
which can be ignited and smoked
regularly with the help of a pipe.
This is considered altogether
harmless and is indicated as the
integral part of ‘daily routines’
described in Ayurveda.

5. It is categorically stated in
‘Sutrasthanam’ of ‘Charaka Samhita’
that any disease pertaining to head and
neck arising out of ‘vata’ and ‘kapha’,
however strong the disease may be, do
not affect the person who smokes
through the oral route.
It also strengthens hair, sense organs
and voice.
If the disorder is located in chest and throat,
smoke should be taken in through mouth while
if the disorder is located in head, nose and
eyes it should be taken in through nostrils.
After smoking in, either from mouth or
nose, the smoke should always be
expelled only through mouth.

6. Schedule
A complete self-control is considered to be an essential part
of all the regimes prescribed in Ayurveda including smoking.
Keeping this in mind, there are eight times prescribed for
routine smoking. It is believed that the doshas get vitiated
during these times.
Smoking should be done thrice each time (three puffs each
time) which implies that whenever cigars are to be smoked
consecutive three puffs are to be taken each time.
One is required to pause a little after smoking once
(consecutive three puffs) and then repeat smoking for the
second and third times in the same manner.

7. Types of smoking
Routine/habitual
(prayogik)
Unctuous
(snaihik)
Eliminative
(vairechana)
Anti-cough
(kasa-hara)
Emetic
(vamana)

8. Size and shape of smoking pipe
Smoking pipe should be
straight, with 3 knots, having
nozzle of the measures of
jujube(zizyphus jujuba) stone
and made of material similar to
that of enema pipe.
With this provision the smoke
used as per the dose and time
does not affect the sense
organs as it is not inhaled
directly but is systematically
interrupted by the knots and
the flow is co-ordinated through
the length of the passage of the
pipe.

9. Medicinal herbs used for smoking
pisum sativum,
callicarpa
macrophylla,
nigella sativa,
mesua ferrea,
pavonia
odorata,
santalum
album,
cinnamomum
tamala,
cinnammomum
zeylanicum,
elettaria
cardamomum,
vetiveria
zizanioides,
glycyrrhiza
glabra,
boswellia
serrata.
Note: These are only a few of the many herbs prescribed for smoking in Ayurveda texts.

10. Uses: Medicated smoking helps relieve -
heaviness of
head,
headache, rhinitis, hemicranias,
earache, pain in eyes, cough, hiccups,
dyspnoea,
obstruction in
throat,
weakness of
teeth,
toothache,
anorexia, lock jaw, alopecia,
greying of
hair,
hair-fall,
excessive
drowsiness

11. Features of correct smoking
Clarity of
mind
Clarity of
throat and
sense
organs
lightness
of head
balance
of
doshas.

12. Complications of untimely/ over-smoking
excessive thirst,
dryness of throat and palate,
heaviness in head,
impairment of speech,
impairment of sight,
impaired hearing,
giddiness,
haemorrhage.

13. Contraindications of smoking
Intrinsic
haemorrhage
Head injury
Post-
enema
Post-
purgation
Defects of
vision
Mental
confusion

14. Dr.Nilima Jain
www.ayurprideindia.com
Your comments /queries are welcomed at
info@ayurprideindia.com