Vamana Karma (therapeutic emesis) primarily a Samshodhana
Karma (purification procedure) is one of the five Pradhana Karmas (chief
procedures) of Panchakarma. It is mentioned in Ayurvedic texts that a
person after Samyak Vamana (proper Vamana) experiences lightness
of the body, Hrit (precordium), Kantha (throat/voice), and Shirah
(head) and weakness. This procedure is effectively used in healthy and
ailing persons for purification of body and extraction of Doshas (especially
Kapha) in Ayurvedic system.
Physiological
and biochemical effects of Vamana Karma
Changes
in blood pressure
A rise in systolic BP and diastolic BP
is observed in the patient during the procedure of Vamana. However, after completion
of the procedure, systolic BP comes to normal range.The rise in systolic BP is
usually more marked as compared to the rise in diastolic BP during the
procedure.
Changes
in pulse rate
It has been observed that the pulse
rate increases during the procedure and comes to normal after the procedure.
Changes
in body temperature
A mild rise in temperature is noticed
during the procedure and is normal after the procedure.
Changes
in respiration rate
A mild rise in respiration rate is
noticed during the procedure and it becomes normal after the procedure.
Effect
of Vamana on appetite
There is significant improvement in
appetite of the person after Vamana. The person with poor or irregular appetite
benefits with significant improvement in their appetite.
Effect
of Vamana on bowel habits
There is also marked improvement in
the bowel habit of the persons after Vamana. Persons with hard, loose consistency
stool and irregular timings of bowel evacuation show improvement in their
symptoms leading to regular bowel habits with normal consistency.
Effect
of Vamana on heaviness in abdomen after food
There is reduction in complains of
heaviness of abdomen after Vamana. Persons feel abdominal lightness with no distension
related discomfort in abdomen.
Effect
of Vamana on sleep pattern
There is a mild improvement in duration
of sleep in persons after Vamana, However, the gross sleep pattern among most
of the persons remains unchanged.
Effect
of Vamana on intestinal flora
(a) Pus
cells count of intestinal flora before Vamana and 15 days after Vamana:
The
pus cells in stool of healthy persons before and after Vamana remain within
normal range. There is no change after 15 days of Vamana.
(b) Bacteroids
count of intestinal flora before Vamana and 15 days after Vamana:
In some person, the bacteroids which are
present in stools before Vamana become absent after 15 days of Vamana. But the
changes are statistically insignificant.
(c) E. coli count of intestinal flora before
Vamana and 15 days after Vamana:
E. coli is
the normal flora of the human intestine. After Vamana, mild shift in count is
noticed as the E. coli count decreases, though it remains within the normal
limits. However the changes are statistically insignificant.
Effect
of Vamana on hematological parameters
a) Hematology
before Vamana and after 5 min of Vamana:
Erythrocyte
Sedimentation Rate (ESR) decreases significantly. Total Leukocyte Count (TLC)
increases significantly after 5 min of Vamana.
b) Hematology
before Vamana and after 15 days of Vamana:
A
significant decrease is observed in ESR.
Effect
of Vamana on lipid profile
(a) Changes
in lipid profile before Vamana and after 5 min of Vamana:
Significant
increase in High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) and significant decrease in Low
Density Lipoproteins (LDL) is observed. Total cholesterol when noticed after 5
min of Vamana, there is statistically insignificant decrease in the value.
(b) Lipid
profile before Vamana and after 15 days of Vamana:
It is
observed that, HDL, Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL), and serum
triglycerides is insignificantly increased. Statistically insignificant
decrease in LDL and total cholesterol is also seen.
Effect
of Vamana on electrolytes
(a) Serum
electrolytes before Vamana and after 5 min of Vamana:
There
is insignificant fall in serum sodium and serum potassium levels. All other values
of serum electrolytes before and after Vamana remain within the normal range.
As Upadrava,
some persons develops Bhrama (giddiness) following fall in serum electrolyte level
just after Vamana.
(b) Serum
electrolytes before Vamana and after 15 days of Vamana:
It is
observed that there is statistically insignificant fall in the values. All
other levels of serum electrolytes before and after Vamana remains within the
normal range.
Effect
of Vamana on Liver Functional Test (LFT) and Renal Functional Test (RFT)
(a) Liver
Functional Test (LFT) and Renal Functional Test (RFT) before Vamana and after 5
min of Vamana:
It is
observed that Blood Urea Level (BUL) decreases significantly. Total serum
protein and serum creatinine also decreases insignificantly. Serum Glutamic
Oxaloacetic Trasminase (SGOT), Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Trasminase (SGPT) are
found to be increase significantly though all the values remain within normal
range. Serum bilirubin increases insignificantly.
(b) LFT
and RFT before Vamana and after 15 days of Vamana:
It is
observed that BUL, total serum protein and serum creatinine decreases
insignificantly. SGPT, serum bilirubin is found to increase insignificantly.
SGOT is found to increase significantly though all the values of above parameters
remain within the normal range.
Effect
of Vamana on immunological status
(a) Immunological
status before Vamana and after 5 min of Vamana:
It is
observed that plasma histamine and plasma adrenaline decreases insignificantly.
Similarly plasma dopamine and plasma nor-adrenaline increases insignificantly.
(b) Immunological
status before Vamana and after 15 days of Vamana
It is
observed that plasma histamine and plasma adrenaline decreases insignificantly.
Similarly plasma dopamine and plasma Nor-adrenaline increases insignificantly.
Effect
of Vamana on IgE
There is insignificant increase in
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) level when compared before Vamana with just after 5 min Vamana
and 15 days after Vamana.
Conclusion:
Thus, it can be concluded that, Vamana
is a safe Panchakarma procedure if undertaken methodically. It is a cleansing
process that improves appetite, regulates bowel habits and improves sleep
pattern. It decreases LDL and serum cholesterol level as a part of its Kapha-hara
action. Mild elevations in BP (systolic and diastolic), pulse, temperature and
respiration during the Vamana procedure may be attributed to sympathetic stimulation.
Thus its use in hypertensive subject may be avoided. It improves appetite and
regularizes bowel habits. It also gives some relief to the feeling of heaviness
of abdomen after taking food. It shows a mild cleansing action on intestinal flora,
however, the bacteroids and E. coli remain within normal
limits after Vamana.
Dr. Sarveshwar Saurabh (BAMS, IOM, TU)
Dr. Sarveshwar Saurabh (BAMS, IOM, TU)
