Vamana, or therapeutic vomiting, is a type of panchakarma treatment used in Ayurveda to remove excess kapha from the body. It involves ingesting herbal medicines or other substances to induce vomiting. This expels undigested food, toxins, metabolic waste products, and excess doshas that have accumulated in the stomach and upper digestive tract. The document discusses the scientific rationale for vamana, defining key terms, explaining the doshas and substances that are purged, and outlining the health benefits of properly administered vamana therapy.

1. Vamana – A scientific approach
“ APPRAISAL OF VAMANA - AN ENDOTOXIN EXPULSION THERAPY”
Dr. K.Siva Rama Prasad
Vamana is especially prime treatment for the parinama as the end product and it is released
removal of Kapha (cha. Su. 20/25). All the use- in to Amashaya. Amashaya consists of Amla
less end by product (Mala) contents are expelled Rasa Pitta and Madhura Rasa Kapha. These
out from the mouth because of the Vamana two states of Doshas are of natural. Thus at the
(A.H.Su.13/30). For the healthy man Vamana time of Vamana the above two normal states of
is indicated in Vasanta Ritu (spring season) for Dosha are eliminated out. But as Charaka stated
the removal of segregated Kapha. Vamana, the - =¦ÉªÉÆ ´ÉÉ ¶É®úÒ®ú¨É±É Ê´É®äúSÉxÉÉiÉ ʴɮäúSÉxÉ ºÉÆYÉƱɦÉiÉä -
term indicates two forms of action. One is as a
disease entity that is used with the term “Chardi”, SÉ Eò 1-4, the both the Kapha (Kledakakapha
the second is as one of the Panchakarma. For and Malarupakapha) and Pitta (Amashayasta
the term Vamana there are so many meanings. Achchapitta) are dislodged from the Amashaya
They are – along with other waste/ excretes. The Mala are
To eject out defined as - iÉjÉ ¨É±É¦ÉÚiÉɺiÉäªÉä ¶É®úÒ®úºªÉɤÉÉvÉEò®úÉ:
To expel out
To evict ºªÉÖ: iÉtlÉÉ ¶É®úÒ®úÎSSÉpäù¹ÉÚ{Énäù½þÉ: {ÉÞlÉMVÉx¨ÉÉxÉÉä ¤Éʽþ¨ÉÖJÉÉ:
Ç
To through out {ÉÊ®ú{ÉC´É¶SÉvÉÉiÉ´É:, |ÉEÖòÊ{ÉiÉɶSÉ ´ÉÉiÉ Ê{ÉkÉ ¶±É乨ÉÉhÉ:,
Belching
To run or to ooze
SÉɪÉä x´Éä % Ê{É Eä ò ÊSÉSSÉÉ®ú Ò ®ä ú Êiɹ`Æ ö i ÉÉä ¦ÉÉ´ÉÉ:
With the above meanings put together we can ¶É®úÒ®úºªÉÉä{ÉPÉÉiÉɪÉÉä{É {ÉtÆiÉä, ºÉ´ÉÉȺiÉÉx¨É±Éä ºÉÆSÉI¨É½äþ -
draw a conclusion as, the Vamana is expelling
either of solids, liquids or gaseous from the up-
SÉ ¶ÉÉ 6/23 .. So with the above definition, the
per opening i.e. mouth. Vachaspatya defined Mala are classified as under -
gaseous eviction as Udgara i.e. belching. So 1) Shareera chidra Mala i.e. Akshimala,
the decisive understanding of the term Vamana Nasamala, etc.
is only pertaining to the liquids and solids eman- 2) Pakwa Dhatu
cipated from the mouth. 3) Prakupita Vata Pitta Kapha
Chakrapani defined Vamana as upper segmen- Shareera badhaakara – items which gives pain
tal Dosha elimination or other wise elimination or inconvenience such as Ama, Ajeerna Ahara
of Dosha from upward is Vamana. Here the Out of the above the contents of Amashaya,
Doshas that are seated at the upper trunk i.e. such as exfoliate tissues of stomach, heavy
Kapha elimination is considered, as Kapha
seats are head, chest and stomach.
Sharangadhara comment on the Vamana is ex-
traordinary and incredible. The stanza is as fol-
lows.
+{ÉC´É Ê{ÉkÉ ¶±É乨ÉÉhÉÉÆ ¤É±ÉÉnÚùv´ÉÈ xɪÉäkÉÖªÉiÉÂ
´É¨ÉxÉÆ iÉÊqù Ê´ÉYÉäªÉÆ ¨ÉnùxɺªÉ ¡ò±ÉÆ ªÉlÉÉ - ¶ÉÉ ºÉÆ {ÉÚ 4/7
Forcible elimination of unripe Pitta and Kapha
from mouth is said as Vamana. Here “Apakwa
Pitta sleshma” i.e. “Unripe” requires special com-
mentary. The unripe is either not transformed
or waste (Malam). The Amashaya (Uras) have
two partitions as upper and lower. Out of the
upper as seat of Kapha and the lower for the
Pitta (Cha.Su.20/8 Chakrapani). In Amashaya
there are two Kapha, Kledakakapha and
Malarupakapha. As Charaka said “Shareera
Mala rechana” from the mouth is Vamana. The
Malarupakapha is produced from Rasa
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2. metallic toxic materials secreted from saliva or lavana rasa and Pitta amlarasa under the influ-
undigested food materials and the Doshas ence of Samana vata. This expulsion therapy
which are spread through out the body i.e. in gives stress and strain for the patients, thus it is
Sakha brought to Amashaya by Anupravana not applied in the western patients (They are
Bhava are considered. strong by physic but psychologically delicate).
Vamana is said as the best for handling Kapha. With their qualities of Ushna, Teekshana,
Thus the properly executed Vamana eliminates Sukshma, Vyavayee, Vikashi and Urdhvabhaga
the Kapha from Amashaya. A person who un- prabhava it induces anupravana in srotases and
dergoes the Vamana at the intended time sched- moves liquified doshas from there to Amashaya
ules will not attain or acquire the diseases, which and eliminates. Anupravana action of vamana
are narrated below and bestow the perfect continues even in pakwashaya and results into
health. They are (Su.Chi.33/14) – Virechana. This process even through indicated
Kasa for Kaphaja Vyadhis, it is widely used for Tamaka
Asyopalepa swasa and skin diseases like Kusta.
Swarabheda The Vamana dravya is of two varieties. One is
Nidra Dravya bhuta and the second Adravya bhuta
Tandra (Cha. Chi. 20/18). Some more factors life fin-
Asya Dowrgandhya gers or lotus stalks are used mechanically to
Visha Dosha induce Vamana (Su.Chi.33/9). Charaka said the
Kapha praseka cumulative effect of the Vamana dravya is de-
Grahani roga pends upon factors like prakriti, desha, ritu, pres-
What so for the Vamana is directed that dis- ervation, etc. the Vamana dravya has Agni and
ease will be cured and the Kapha is eliminated Vayu mahabhoota. The Agni bhuta spreads al-
(Cha.Su.15). Susruta say that, any tree with full ways up. Thus the upward movement is accel-
bloom dry after cutting the Vamana cuts the vi- erated when the Vamana dravya is induced.
tiated Kapha and the diseases in the body dis- This “Urdhwabhaga Prabhava” is not witnessed
appears (Su.Chi.33/15). Properly administered in all the medicines, which has Agni and Vayu
Samshodhana (Vamana) takes out Mala and mahabhoota. Katu Rasa dravya also will have
disease, induces strength, improves colour, the same effect . ´É¨ÉxÉÆ ªÉnÚ ù v ´ÉÇ ¦ ÉÉMɽþ ® ú i ´É
complexion and gives longevity (Cha.Su.15).
Vamana is an effective exclusive eliminative |ɦÉÉ´ÉÉnÚùv´ÉǪÉÊiÉ, iÉlÉÉ +ÎMxÉ ´Éɪ´ÉÉi¨ÉEòi´ÉÉÊnùÊiÉ - SÉ
therapy of Dosha from oral orifice. It is indicated Eò 1/5 SÉGò{ÉÉÊhÉ Mainly in Vamana the Dosha is
for the Doshas, Kapha and Pitta from expelled out from the Amashaya which is
Amashaya. In Amashaya Kapha have madhura, dragged in to it because of Anupravana bhava.
Here “Anupravana bhava” needs explanation.
+hÉÖ|É´ÉhÉ ¦ÉÉ´ÉÉÊnùÊiÉ +hÉÖi´ÉÉiÉ |É´ÉhɦÉÉ´ÉSSÉ -
|É´ÉhÉi´ÉʨÉʽþ EòÉä¹`öMɨÉxÉÉäx¨ÉÖJÉi´É¨ÉÂ, +hÉÖi´ÉÆ SÉ +hÉÖ¨ÉÉMÉÇ
ºÉÆSÉÉÊ®úi´É¨É - SÉ Eò 1/5 SÉGò{ÉÉÊhÉ . Here Anu is
minuteness and pravana is movement towards
kosta. Anupravana Bhava brings in the Dosha,
which is spread all over body in sakha, back to
kasta. The unctuousness, which is created by
the Sneha karma in the body, doesn’t allow the
Dosha to stick anywhere in the way they are
coming to the kosta. Vamana expels that Dosha
which is accumulated in the Amashaya out.
The apakwa Kapha in Amashaya as its seat is
urdhwa Amashaya in normal will have the influ-
ence of vitiated Bodhakakapha, Kledakakapha
in abnormality. It can be claimed as heavy met-
als like Lead and Mercury excretion in saliva
and nitrogenous end products of digestion col-
lected in amashaya as an action of Anupravana.
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3. even through they had proper pittanta Vamana
according to samyak yoga lakshana. The pa-
tients with kusta (psoriasis) had a tremendous
relief with the madanaphala yoga vamana, as
a repeated sodhana for an interval of 21 days.
Only one patient of Tamaka swasa had blood-
stain in the vomits.
Vamana mainly has two definitive actions. One
is the local irritation the second psychic stimuli.
Local irritation – Pradeshika Uttejana: through
the Urdhva bhaga prabhava Vamana dravya
and Agni and Vayu bhoota local irritation in
Amashaya is witnessed. It there by initiates the
vomit center in the brain. Because of the reflux
action reverse peristalsis or anti peristalsis is
induced and the contents of stomach ejected
out. In the process even over distention is also
witnessed, as “Akanta Pana Kapha Utklesha
The second Dosha, Pitta seated in dravya”. We offer the patient milk, sugar cane
adhoamashaya with amla rasa considered nor- juice or Phanta for the Kapha utkleshana. This
mal and subjected to the vitiation under the in- filling makes the stomach muscle fibers to over
fluence of Samanavata. The modern science stretch. Because of the over stretch, the thin
explains the secretions from fundas of stom- stomach wall provides more pressure on the
ach apart from mucin are VIP, GRP, substance stomach contents and also increases the per-
P and Somatostatin; out of GRP and Soma- meability. This provides room for
tostatin increases Gastrin secretion and rest “Anupravanabhava” of Dosha in to Amashaya.
inhibits under motor and secretory neuron con- This action becomes more useful when the pre
trol, and also above said influence motility of procedures of Vamana done perfectly.
stomach referred as pachaka pitta and samana They are –
vata respectively. Like wise in antrum of stom- 1) Sneha and Sweda
ach Glucagon which regulates the glucose con- 2) Kapha utkleshana
centration in blood levels have an indirect influ- 3) Akanta panam
ence on madhurayata of Kapha in vriddhi state. 4) Proper Vamana aushadhi
Chiefly the electrolytes exchange in to free fluid Epomorphine, a chemical whichis capable of
form in stomach from interstitial compartment inducting vomit is not under takes any of the
are Na + , K + , Cl -, HPO -, SO - , H2O along with stipulated Dosha removal techniques of
Nitrogenous end products causes the depletion Ayurveda thus it becomes useless.
in electrolytes and also water in the body. Psychic stimuli – Dwistaardha Yoga: Bad smells
In observations patients are subjected to loss or non-liking visual stimulus can cause the psy-
of Na, Cl and K in vomits along with large quan- chic stimuli to the vomiting center and Vamana
tities of mucin and water. They were subjected is terminated.
for stress and strain along with heaviness in Thus Vamana is an effective therapy especially
abdomen in the process of Vamana. Almost all for the disorders of skin and a palliative for Asth-
the patients had the Virechana after the Vamana matics.
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