Critical analysis of physiological action of nasya w.s.r to Sneha Nasya

Abstract

Ayurveda has described two-fold treatments for diseases, sodhana (elimination) and samana (alleviation) karma. Sodhana includes panchakarma (five procedures of treatment) which is used to purify the body by removing the vitiated doshas (Bio-energies) of body. All five panchakarma procedures act specifically on specific doshas. Sneha nasya i.e, administration of medicated oil through nasal cavities is one of the Panchakarma procedure which specifically used to treat urdhva jatrugata vyadhi (disease of head and neck region) generated by vitiated kapha dosha. According to Ayurveda, nose is the gateway of siras -cranial cavity, it can provide direct connectivity to cranial cavity and can transfer the administrated medicines from nose directly to cranial cavity. This is why nasya karma is used to treat diseases of head region which are generated by vitiated kapha dosha. Medicated sneha has lipid soluble substances which gets easily absorbed by mucous membrane of nasal cavity and get easily transmitted to cranial cavity. The anatomical connectivity of nose with cranial cavity has been proved by modern science also. The direct nerve supply from CNS and the rich vascular supply to nasal cavity help to understand probable mode of action of nasya karma. Understanding of physiological action of sneha nasya karma will help to develop more specific and effective medicine for various urdhva jatrugatha vyadhi.