Pathyashadangam kashayam is an Ayurvedic medicine for diseases of the head. It is beneficial in the diseases of the eyes, ear, and head.
Benefits of Pathyashadangam kashayam
It is useful in many diseases coming above the neck.
This medicine is used to treat many types of headaches like migraines, stress headaches, sinus headaches, etc.
It is effective in earache.
Many types of eye and ear infections can be cured by taking this medicine and following strict dietary and daily regimen.
It is beneficial in toothache and inflammation of gums.
Indications of Pathyashadangam kashayam
Seershasoola – headache
Bhrusoola -Pain near eyebrows
Samkhasoola – Pain on the temple area
Karnasoola – Earache
Ardhasiraso:ruja- Pain on one side/half side of the head
Suryavartam -Headache gets better/worsens according to the movement of the Sun
Sankhakam – severe and fatal headache
Dantapatam – Tooth loss
Dantharuk – Toothache
Naktandhyam – Tunnel vision/Retinitis pigmentosa
Patalasukla – infections of many parts of the eye including keratitis, blepharitis, stye, uveitis, etc.
Chakshupeeda – Pain in the eyes
Ingredients of Pathyashadangam kashayam
| Chebulic myrobalan | Pathya | Terminalia chebula RETZ. & WILLD. |
It is one of the main drugs in Ayurveda, one of the Rasayana, and a member of an important group, Triphala. It is used in a wide variety of diseases as it possesses anti-bacterial anti-fungal anti-viral anti-diabetic anti-mutagenic anti-oxidant anti-ulcer and wound-healing properties.
| Beleric myrobalan, Bahera | Aksha | Terminalia bellirica (GAERTN.) ROXB.
|
A very good healer of gastric diseases, common cold, leukoderma, and also cures digestive disorders. It has laxative and anti-inflammatory actions. It is one of the important ingredients in Triphala, an Ayurvedic preparation. Other properties for which it is used are as a health tonic and as a rejuvenator. It is used in the treatment of piles also.
| Amla, Indian gooseberry | Dhatri | Emblica officinalis GAERTN.
|
It is one of the main drugs in Ayurveda, one of the Rasayana, and a member of an important group, Triphala. It is used in a wide variety of diseases as it possesses anti-bacterial anti-fungal anti-viral anti-mutagenic, anti-ulcer, and wound-healing properties. It exhibits strong antioxidant activity. It also famous for its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective actions. It is widely used as a natural remedy for type 2 diabetes.
| Indian gentian | Bhoonimba | Swertia chirata (ROXB. EX. FLEM.) KAR. |
It is an important herb used in Ayurveda for the treatment of fever, inflammation, skin diseases, intestinal parasites, and diabetes. It has hepatoprotective action also. It is used in the treatment of piles, ulcers, and fevers.
| Turmeric
|
Nisa | Curcuma longa L.
|
Turmeric is used to help with heartburn or bowel problems like diarrhoea, intestinal gas, and bloating. It is famous for its anti-cancerous and detoxification effects. It is widely used in skin diseases. Some may use it to help with memory problems or problems with the liver or gallbladder. It may also help to lessen swelling and help with signs of arthritis. It has marked anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action.
| Heart leaved moonseed | Amrutha
|
Tinospora cordifolia (WILLD.) HOOK.F. & THOMS |
It is an effective anti-ulcer drug in action. It is a well-known anti-oxidant and has significant anti-inflammatory properties.
AS ANUPANA/PRAKSHEPADRAVYA-TO BE TAKEN MIXED WITH THE KASHAYA
Guda – Jaggery
Details of the manufacturing
The word shadangam in Sanskrit means 6 participants.
As the name states, Pathyashadangam kashayam has 6 ingredients.
All these ingredients should be washed well and dried up in shade.
Take equal quantities of all ingredients in dried & crushed form in an earthen pot. Add 16 times clean water into it. Make it boil and then cook in the open vessel with low fire. Reduce the quantity into one by eighth of the initial quantity. Make sure to mix it in between with a ladle. Also, the fire should be kept low to make sure that all the active ingredients in the herbs needed are absorbed well into the water. Once the quantity is reduced to one by eighth of the initial amount of water, remove the vessel from the fire. Squeeze and drain through a clean white cloth. Collect the decoction in a clean vessel and discard the solid waste. Drink the mild warm decoction.
Dosha Dooshya Predominance with roga margas.
Pathyashadangam kashayam is Kapha-Pittahara and soolahara.
It acts on madhyama rogamarga
Dosage and Usage of Pathyashadangam kashayam
Dosage: two Pala.
Usage:
Kashayam is advised to take in empty stomach, once the ingested food is digested well and aahaararasa is formed well.
Usage of kashayam with prescribed prakshepadravyas according to the condition of disease and the patient gives the best results mostly.
Here, it is advised to take with a small piece of Guda or jaggery.
Exercises and Yoga.
As Pathyashadangam kashayam targets mainly the organs above the neck, physical exercises are not advised in most cases. If the doctor allows, relaxing exercises and specific yoga asanas like Hastapadasana, Setubandhasana, etc are recommended.
Regular exercise helps improve the bioavailability of the medicine and food ingested and leads to positive health.
Yoga can maintain harmony within and with surroundings.
Hastapadasana
Setubandhasana
All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.
Recommended diet and behaviour
Diet:
- To be avoided
A person with the disease in the eye, ear, or head should be very selective about his food.
He should not eat,
Dry and hard food items which cause biting hard to break.
Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.
junk foods- cause a disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine
carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion
refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening agni(digestive fire)
curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases
- To be added
Light meals and easily digestible foods
Green gram, soups, buttermilk boiled with turmeric.
Protein-rich and less fat food items like pulses, soya bean, meat etc according to digestion.
Warm fresh milk and pure ghee.
freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain etc
Behaviour:
Avoid head bath.
Avoid any activities involving the movement of the head including vigorous brushing of teeth and combing of hair.
Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight wind rain or dust.
Avoid lifting heavy weights and other vigorous physical activities.
Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.
Do not sleep in the day time.
Side effects and contraindications.
No known side effects reported.
Classical references
SARNGADHARASAMHITA PURVAKHANDA
Equivalent medicines.
Varanadi kashayam
Brands Available
AVS Kottakal
Vaidyaratnam oushadhasala
AVP Coimbatore
Kerala Ayurveda
Research papers
Pathyakshadhatryadi kashaya
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6470355/
triphala
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5567597/
Triphala in GI disorders with headache as a symptom
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6052535/
Triphala in dentistry
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4033874/