Nasya karma is one of the five traditional treatments or cleansing actions employed during the process of pañcakarma, āyurveda’s detoxification and rejuvenation program, where medicinal substances including herbally infused oils, freshly extracted juices (swarasa), or herbal powers are applied into the nostrils to render a profound therapeutic effect. This process is complex and requires thorough preparations according to the the principles and phases of pañcakarma. Nasya can also be administered daily or periodically, based on one’s individual constitutional needs, seasonal changes, or as needed, for a variety of ongoing or acute health concerns. The nostrils are a primary gateway for administration of medicinal substances used to directly act upon the head, mind, senses, and the central nervous system. Nasya is most commonly administered for the treatment the ears, nose and throat, and is particularly helpful for relieving sinus congestion, sinusitis, headaches, and seasonal allergies.
Daily administrations of certain types of nasya help to nourish and enhance the indriyas (sense organs). There are many various types of nasya categorized in the āyurveda, in many forms including herbally medicated oils (tailams), certain fats such as ghee, but also include a variety of other plant and animal-based substances.
3 Main Types of nasya according to the sage and ācārya Vāgabhaṭ
1. Bṛṁhaṇa (nourishing) Nasya
Here, certain fats, most popularly sesame oil as well as ghee are prepared along with medicinal herbs and sometimes aromatic substances such as karpūra (edible camphor). Bṛṁhaṇa nasya is often in the form of sneha (oleation) and aimed specifically to manage vata dośa, thus nourishing the body, calming the mind and helping to regulate the central nervous system. According to ācārya Vāgabhaṭ, this type of nasya can help relieve vata related headaches, migraines, loss of voice, dryness of the nose and mouth, speech disorders, and musculoskeletal issues of the shoulders and arms. They can also help to alleviate pain and to promote sound sleep. In classical āyurveda other animal based substances such as meat juices, milk, and fats are sometimes used. Unrefined sesame oil (tila tailam) being the most prized amongst the seed-based oils in the preparation of medicated oils (tailams).
2. Virecana (purgative) Nasya
Purgative nasya effectively cleanses excessive and aggravated dośa from the upper channels of the head, neck and throat regions. Aggravated dośa can impair the sense organs, negatively impact the musculoskeletal system, as well as causing stagnation, and inflammation. Increased kapha dośa can contribute to the formation of excessive growths such as nasal polyps, tumors, and swellings and is used for a variety of sinus related diseases (pīnasa roga). According to ācārya Vāgabhaṭ purgative nasya helps in the treatment of headaches, restricted movement of the head, ophthalmia (inflammation of the eyes), diseases of the throat, swollen glands of the neck, rhinitis, skin diseases, and epilepsy.
Virecana nasya can also treat kṛmi (worms or pathogenic organisms) and increased ama (metabolic wastes/toxins ). Here, kṛmi and ama can also include fungal infections, bacterial infections, yeast overgrowths, mold and other forms of environmental toxicity. Here, the base oil used in nasya medications can help to carry specific medicines into the body, while offering a degree of buffering from the more irritating effects or certain śodhana (cleansing) substances that might be somewhat spicy, pungent, or heating in nature. Śodhana nasya may also include herbal snuffs, freshly extracted juices.
2. Śamana (palliative or restorative)
Palliative nasya is similar in many ways to bṛṁhaṇa nasya and consist of nourishing and restorative herbs and substances in an oil base. Śamana nasya can also strengthen the sense organs, nourish the roots of the hair, improve complexion, stabilize the mind and improve overall energy levels. Śamana nasya treatments helps to pacify and alleviate the dośa and are particularly helpful for generalized debility and weakness.
Other Forms of Nasya for Daily Use:
The application of to very small amounts of nasya oil are referred to as marśa and pratimarśa nasya. In this method, the oil can be rubbed and massaged in a circular fashion with the pinky finger into each nostril. This method helps to pacify vata, improves energy, release blocked prana through the channels of the head, to release blocked emotions, and strengthen the eyes and vision. It also moistens dry nostrils and can even create a protective barrier by catching particles such as pollen in the air, thus preventing increased allergy symptoms.
Substances Used in Nasya Preparations
Various substances can be employed for nasya treatment including:
- Unctuous medicines (oils/navana) – sesame oil, ghee, or meditated oils such as Ksheerabala tailam, Mahanarayana tailam etc.
- Extracted juices of plants (avapīḍa) – ginger juice as in ginger-jaggery nasya, or the fresh juice of ginger, onion, tulsi, brahmi, vacha and others.
- Medicinal powder (dhmāpana) – such as vacha (calamus roots), brahmi churna, and others.
- Medicinal smoke (dhūmana) – a wide variety of both Eastern and Westerns herbs are effectively used as inhalation as well as smudging the entire body to purify and cleanse the body and mind.
- Essential oils- including karpūra camphor, eucalyptus, ravintsara and other safe essential oils, can also be infused in warm water and inhaled.
The classical āyurvedic texts provide varied and detailed descriptions regarding indications, contraindications, signs of proper and improper treatment and dosage. They also detail how they are used therapeutically to treat various disorders which is beyond the scope of this article.
Here, we will mainly focus on daily nasya for maintaining and preserving health, but even these forms of nasya, when done regularly, can correct imbalances that are contributing to specific conditions and can support at the root level.
Classical Nasya Formulations
Anu Tailam: supports the pancha-indriya (sense organs), disorders of the ears, nose and throat, headache, sinus issues, seasonal allergies, hair loss, improves speech.
Brahmi Ghritam: brain tonic, supporting cognitive function, psychological disturbance, epilepsy, skin diseases, infertility
Ksheerabala -101: neurological disorders, Bell’s palsy, headaches, migraines, ear aches,improves voice and eyesight
Shadbindu Tailam: diseases of the head, headaches, migraine, dizziness, improves vision, improves hair and teeth, neck and shoulders stiffness and pain, supports immunity and relieves cold, cough and sneezing.
Vacha Tailam: sinus congestion, sinusitis, headache, depression, brain fog, supports cognitive function, improves voice and speech, promotes the flow of prana.
Basic Procedure for Nasya Treatments at Home and in our Clinic
- Prior to applying nasya drops into the sinuses, it is beneficial to do some gentle massaging to the face, neck and head regions. In our clinic, this process is done by doing facial massage, including vital marma points to support the normal flow of prana, vital energy to the head region as well as to relax any stress and tension from the body and mind. Here, certain traditional oils can be applied, such as Maha Naranaya tailam for musculoskeletal or respiratory complaints; Ksheerbala tailam for calming the nervous system and providing strength to the tissues; Kumkumadi tailam for enhancing complexion: Balashvagandhadi tailam for strengthening the senses and muscle tone of the facial region: Nirgundi tailam for managing Bell’s Palsy and other neurological issues affecting the face muscles. There are many traditional oils that can be massaged onto the scalp, neck, head and shoulder region depending on the situation at hand, prior to applying nasya.
- After massaging, you can wash the face with warm water to increase circulation to the face and sinus area, or apply a warm face cloth to provide moist heat to pacify vata dośa and promote circulation. Another good method for applying warmth to the face prior to nasya is doing a steam inhalation over a bowl of warm water infused with a few drops of essential oils such as eucalyptus, ravintsara, or peppermint, all of which can help open the sinuses, refresh the senses. Other essential oils such as lavender or jatamansi can be used to calm the mind and emotions. (added)
- Now you can lay back with the head tilted and supported with a rolled up towel or let your head hang slightly off a bed or massage table and apply the nasya drops into each nostril, followed by a very gentle sniff in order to allow the medication to enter the sinuses instead of going down the throat. After a minute or two, you can sniff a little more deeply and continue to lay for another few minutes as time permits. In our clinic, we will often apply a warm, herbally infused towel to the face after applying nasya. This is then followed by anointing certain marma points with attar oils such as sandalwood, khus, jatamansi, hina or rose.
- In our clinic, after the nasya, we continue with a hand and foot massage with reflexology to enhance relaxation and overall therapeutic benefits of the nasya treatment, and to encourage a deep still point of relaxation..
- When you sit up, you can gargle with water if the herbalized oils tend to tickle the throat. But even an herb like vacha, which can tickle the throat a little, is very useful to help heal the throat region and open the throat chakra, so I suggest, whenever possible, to let them work their magic.
For more information regarding our Nasya/Sinus Treatment at Blue Lotus Ayurveda, please check the link:
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