THERAPEUTIC SMOKING IS NOT INJURIOUS TO HEALTH

Dr.Nilima Jain

www.ayurprideindia.com

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.

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

TopicSlide no.

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.

It is categorically stated in ‘Sutrasthanam’ of ‘Charaka Samhita’ that the diseases 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.

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.

Types of smoking

Routine/habitual(prayogik)

Unctuous(snaihik)

Eliminative(vairechana)

Anti-cough (kasa-hara)

Emetic(vamana)

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.

Medicinal herbs used for smoking

pisum sativum,

callicarpa macrophylla

,

nigella sativa,

mesua ferrea,

pavonia odorata,

santalum album,

cinnamomum tamala,

cinnammomum

zeylanicum,

elettaria cardamomu

m,

vetiveria zizanioides,

glycyrrhiza glabra,

boswellia serrata.Note: These are only a few of the many herbs prescribed for smoking in

Ayurveda texts.

Some uses of medicated smoking

heaviness of head,

headache,

rhinitis, hemicranias,

earache,

pain in eyes, cough, hiccups, dyspnoe

a, obstruction in throat,

weakness of teeth,

toothache,

anorexia,

lock jaw,

alopecia,

greying of hair, hair-fall, excessive

drowsiness

Features of correct smoking

Clarity of mind

Clarity of throat and

sense organs

lightness of head

balance of doshas.

Complications of untimely/ overdone smoking

excessive thirst,

dryness of throat and palate,

heaviness in head,

impairment of speech,

impairment of sight,

impaired hearing,

giddiness,

haemorrhage.

Contraindications of smoking

Intrinsic haemorrhage

Head injury

Post-enema

Post-purgation

Defects of vision

Mental confusion

Dr.Nilima Jain

www.ayurprideindia.com