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Ayurvedic Decoction Therapy – IV
In the previous article of this series, we had read about the materials and methods for two Ayurvedic decoctions (kwatha) and supporting medicines against the diseases and disorders of Vata Dosha and High Blood Pressure.  The present article is a continuation.  Important information extracted from the research findings at Brahmavarchas Shodh Sansthan is given here on kwathas that are found to be effective remedies against some other diseases/disorders that are also quite common complaints these days. The English and Botanical names of the herbs referred here may be found in.

3. Kwatha for Relief from Insomnia
Insomnia or lack of sleep is a psychosomatic disorder, which not only reduces patient's efficiency, but also invites different kinds of other mental and physical health related problems. In most cases, an over-ambitious and self-possessive attitude and/or stressful irregular routine, unbalanced diet and artificial, luxurious life-style are attributed to its occurrence. Patients often start consuming tranquilizers (sleeping tablets) that induce some kind of intoxication and drowsiness rather than regulating the natural cycle of sleep or inducing peaceful 'natural like' sleep even for a few hours. The patient gets used to them and starts consuming more of these, as the initial quantity becomes ineffective after sometime. Thus, instead of healing, these 'medicines' eventually increase the patient's sufferings. 
Sometimes, one does not get sleep because of acute pain in some part of the body, fever, indigestion, asthma, cardiac problems, tension or worries due to some adversities, etc. But, sleeplessness of this sort is temporary. Cure of the sickness or improvement in the situation revives the original sleep. But the lack of sleep in case of hypertension and consequent restlessness or due to psychological complications is often unbearable. One takes shelter of sedative medicines in such cases as well.  The doctors also often have no other choice but to advise such drugs in general.  The following kwatha offers an excellent alternative. If taken with prescribed diet restriction under Ayurvedic treatment, it not only uproots insomnia, but also allays and controls the problems of blood pressure, restlessness etc.  
Ingredients of the Insomnia Relieving Kwatha: (1) Brahmi– 5gm, (2) SHankhapuSHpi– 5gm, (3) JaTamansi– 10 to 30gm, (4) Vijaya– 5gm, (5) HaraRa– 5gm, (6) Ashwagandha– 2.5gm, (7) Sarpagandha– 2.5gm, (8) Khursani Ajvayan– 1.25gm, (9) Giloya– 5gm, (10) Punarnava– 5gm, (11) Arjuna– 5gm (12) Varuña– 2.5gm.
Method of Preparation and Use: Take the above herbal (plant) medicine in the indicated amount (or a multiple of these, maintaining their mutual proportions as per those in the above mentioned amounts). Grind them to make a coarse powder. This mixed powder may be kept in an airtight container to protect it from moisture. For one day's average dose of the kwatha, soak about 5-6 teaspoons (approximately 30 gms) of this mixture in about half-liter water sometime in the evening. Like for the other kwathas, this soaked solution is boiled the next morning on mild heat till it concentrates to one fourth of its original volume.  It is then cooled to normal drinking temperature and filtered through a clean cloth piece. The filtered decoction is now ready for use. About half of it should be drunk in the morning itself and the remaining in the late afternoon/early evening. Care should be taken to keep the remaining amount of the kwatha protected from light, dust etc, and cool enough so that it remains in good condition till evening.
Diet restraints should be strictly followed in case of insomnia, especially when it is caused due to hypertension. Intake of fried food should be avoided; meal in the night should be very light and devoid of all fats and fried things. Its quantity should also be about half of that in the morning (lunch).  Two tablets of the Ayurvedic drug "MahashankhavaTi" should be taken with water after each meal. This prevents acidity and heaviness or restlessness due to disturbed metabolism.     
Practice of meditation and japa provide excellent support in soothing the nervous system and relaxing and rejuvenating the mind-body system. Patients of insomnia must practice these regularly. As such, early morning and evening are the best times, but, as part of remedy against sleeplessness, the following easy practice may be adopted after going to bed. Lie down in the calming posture of "shavasana". The body should be straight but left loose, with hands and legs spread in their natural relaxing positions. Take a slow but deep breath and then exhale all your worries and tensions while breathing out in the same manner. Let the breathing go on at a natural pace thereafter; close your eyes and practice silent (mental) chanting of the Gayatri Mantra or the Mahamritunjaya Mantra; feel as though the subtle vibrations of the mantra are soothing even the tiniest nerve cells of the brain and the rest of the body. Gradually the pace of chanting should be slowed down and calming current of sleep should be invoked simultaneously in the imagination. This imagination should be coupled with a feeling that the soothing sense of sleep is embracing every part of our being….  Within a few days, this simple practice together with the medicinal effects of the kwatha blesses the patient with the boon of good sleep.
4. Kwatha Remedy Against Malaria
The following kwatha therapy has been found very useful and effective against all kinds of malarial fevers.Ingredients: (1) Kalmegha– 10gm, (2) Chirayata– 10gm, (3) Saitara– 10gm, (4) Padmakha– 5gm, (5) Red Chandan– 5gm (6) Giloya– 10gm, (7) Black Pepper– 15 seeds, (8) Ajvayan– 10gm,  (9) small HaraRa– 10gm, (10) Clove– 5 pieces, (11) Khubakala– 10gm, (12) Tulasi– 15 leafs, (13) Roasted white Alum– 5gm, (14) Artimisia– 10gm, (15) Neema leafs– 10gm, (16) KuTaki – 5gm, (17) Bhui Ânvala– 10gm, (18) PaTola leafs– 10gm, (19) Nagarmotha– 10gm, (20) KuTaja Chhala– 10gm, (21) Karanja– 10gm, (22) Âka leaf– 2gm.                                                                                                                          
Method of Preparation and Use: Same as that described earlier, except that here only 4-5 teaspoon (approx. 25gm) of the coarse powder of the constituents (listed in sr. no. (1) to (22) above) is to be used.
In case of severity, one teaspoon of very fine dry powder of these medicines should also be eaten with water in addition to the kwatha in the morning and in the evening. This fine powder (churña) is obtained by thorough grinding of the coarse mixture on a hand grinder or on a kharal made up of smooth stone and then sifting with the help of a clean, dry, thin cloth piece. 
The following remedy is also found very effective in preventing Malaria at the initial stage itself. Minutes before the onset of high fever, the patient feels cold and shivering. At this moment, he should be given a tiny drop of milk of Âka mixed in one teaspoon of ghee or butter; this medicine works like an antidote because milk of Âka suppresses the infection/attack of Malarial virus. In case the patient feels excessive heat because of this counter reaction, he should be given one or two teaspoons of ghee or about 250gm milk with sugar. It should be remembered that these pacifiers (milk or ghee) should also be given before the rise in temperature. Milk or ghee is not suitable in the state of fever.        
5. Kwatha to Cure Diseases Due to Cold-effects
This kwatha is an effective remedy against chronic as well as allergic bronchitis and similar complaints of accumulated effects of cold.  
Ingredients: (1) Rudanti– 5gm, (2) Rudravanti– 5gm, (3) Vasa– 5gm, (4) KanTakari – 5gm, (5) Bharangi– 5gm, (6) Tejapatra– 2.5gm, (7) MulahaThi– 5gm, (8) TrikaTu (saunTha, pippali and black pepper in equal proportions)– 1.25gm, (9) PittapapaRa– 5gm, (10) Nausadara (Ammonia salt)– 0.6gm,  (11) Dashamula– 5gm, (12) Pippali Panchang– 5gm, (13) Talisa Patra– 2.5gm, (14) Chitraka– 5gm, (15) Tulasi– 2.5gm,  (16) Gulabanphsha– 5gm, (17) Atisa – 0.4gm. 
Method of Preparation and Use: About 4-5 teaspoon (~ 30gm) of the coarse powder of the above listed herbal (plant) medicines – in indicated amounts of a constant multiple of these – is used for preparing the kwatha. The method of preparations of the decoction and doses are the same as those for the kwatha for relief from insomnia.   
6. Kwatha Remedy Against Bronchial Asthma
This Ayurvedic decoction is an excellent medicine in uprooting Bronchial Asthma, chronic cough and some pulmonary infections. Its ingredients are –  (1) Somalata– 10gm, (2) Atisa – 0.1gm, (3) Nausadara (Ammonia salt)– 0.2gm, (7) KanTakari – 10gm, (8) Bharangi– 10gm, (9) MulahaThi– 10gm, (10) TrikaTu– 10gm, (11) Vasa root– 5gm, (12) Rudanti fruit– 10gm, (13) Rudravanti– 5gm, (14) Gulabanphsha– 5gm, (15) Gazvan– 5gm, (16) Rasna– 5gm.    
Method of Preparation and Use: Each of the above listed herbs (or dried plant medicines) in the prescribed amount – or its constant multiple – is first grinded separately into a coarse powder/paste. Then, the coarse powders thus obtained are mixed thoroughly and packed for use. Everyday 4-5 teaspoons (~25gm) of it are to be used for preparing the kaRha or kwath (fresh decoction) in a manner similar to that described earlier. Two doses of it are taken everyday – one in the morning (empty stomach) and one in the evening.
As mentioned for the other kwathas, care should be taken to protect the dry powder from moisture and light. It should not be stocked for too long; as some of the plant medicines are most effective only when dried fresh.  The evening dose of kwatha should be taken when it is still fresh – it should taste and smell as it was in the morning. 
Many people find it difficult to prepare the decoction (kwatha). They may make a very fine powder of all the twenty medicinal ingredients listed above while using the respective amounts as specified against each. (The amounts could be in some constant multiple of those indicated above; but the same proportion should be retained). The first set of fourteen could be first powdered using any grinder. But the final grinding should be done using a kharal; the fine powder finally obtained should be further filtered using a dry, clean thin cloth. The smooth, filtered powder should be then kept properly in a dry, clean, airtight container. As was mentioned earlier, the above listed amounts would generally be sufficient for complete dose for six days. So the amount of the medicinal powder to be eaten per dose (twice a day) could be calculated accordingly. This much amount should be taken every morning and evening with water or as a paste prepared in the 'juice' of the pulp of gh—atakumari. 
It may be more convenient to take an amount of this powder, which is appropriate for a week's dose and make tiny tablets (each containing the amount of one of the two doses per day) from the paste prepared in the 'juice' of the pulp of gh—atakumari.  This way, the patient will just have to swallow one tablet in the morning and one in the evening. The timings could be those prescribed for the kwatha. They will not have to drink kwatha separately or eat the piSHTi's mixed powder, as all the twenty medicines prescribed above would be present (in appropriate amounts) in the tablet. It should be remembered again that the tablets are to be protected from moisture and exposure to light or air.        
In all the types of Ayurvedic decoction-therapies described in this series – namely, that for curing the diseases and disorders due to vata dosha and that for controlling high blood pressure up to the normal levels – there has been one set of medicines that plays a supportive role. It helps strengthen the effects of the kwatha, alleviate common complaints (e.g. acidity) associated with these diseases, and/or induce soothing psychological effects. The constituents of these – viz., the piSHties, rasas, bhasms, etc – are very special kinds of Ayurvedic drugs/prescriptions that can be prepared only by experienced experts of Ayurvedic pharmaceutics. These should be purchased from authentic pharmacies in consultation with some experienced doctors.
It should be noted and remembered for all the other kinds of kwathas as well, that the herbs available in the market need not always be fresh or their condition and quality may not always be useful. Moreover, the doses and methods of use we are citing here are only average estimates for common cases, these may vary from patient to patient depending upon the extent and nature of the disease/disorder and the types of other ailments, deficiencies, if any, …etc.         
[1] Brahmvarchas (2001): Ayurved ka Pran – Vanaushadi Vigyan. Publ. Sri Vedmata Gayatri   Trust, Shantikunj, Hardwar. _____________________________________________________________________
A miser hid his gold at the foot of a tree in his garden. Every week he would dig it up and look at it for hours. One day a thief dug up the fold and made off with it. When the miser next came to gaze upon his treasure, all he found was an empty hole. The man began to howl with grief so his neighbors came running to find out what the trouble was. When they found out, one of them asked, “Did you use any of the gold?”“No,” said the miser. “I looked at it every week.”“Well, then,” said the neighbor, “for all the good the gold did you, you might just as well come every week and gaze upon the hole.”
It is not by our money but by our capacity for enjoyment that we are rich or poor. To strive for wealth and have no capacity for enjoyment is to be like the bald man who struggles to collect combs. ___________________________________________________________________________

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