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Acharya Charaka has defined the process of vamana as follows,<blockquote>तत्र दोषहरणमूर्ध्वभागं वमनसञ्ज्ञकम् (Char. Samh 1.4)<ref>Charaka Samhita (Kalpasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutram 4)</ref></blockquote>

Acharya Charaka has defined the process of vamana as follows,<blockquote>तत्र दोषहरणमूर्ध्वभागं वमनसञ्ज्ञकम् (Char. Samh 1.4)<ref>Charaka Samhita (Kalpasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutram 4)</ref></blockquote>

Meaning: When the morbid doshas in the body are eliminated through oral route in a controlled manner by vomiting, the procedure is known as vamana karma.

Meaning: When the morbid doshas in the body are eliminated through oral route in a controlled manner by vomiting, the procedure is known as vamana karma.

Acharya Sharangadhara in his treatise Sharangadhara Samhita described that, the procedure wherein undigested pitta dosha and kapha dosha (both) are forcibly made to travel towards oral route and by there are expelled out through vomit is called as vamana karma.(shar. purv.4.8)

Acharya Sharangadhara in his treatise Sharangadhara Samhita described that, the procedure wherein undigested pitta dosha and kapha dosha (both) are forcibly made to travel towards oral route and by there are expelled out through vomit is called as vamana karma.(shar. purv.4.8)

It mainly includes the procedure which is supposed to done before vamana karma.

It mainly includes the procedure which is supposed to done before vamana karma.

# '''Collection of material''': Though a very basic karma or part of process it is essential to keep the ingredients and materials required for the therapy ready beforehand. Includes oil for abhyanga, medicines used to induce vomiting, medicines required for dhumapana (therapeutic smoking post vamana) etc

# '''Collection of material''': Though a very basic karma or part of process it is essential to keep the ingredients and materials required for the therapy ready beforehand. Includes oil for abhyanga, medicines used to induce vomiting, medicines required for dhumapana (therapeutic smoking post vamana) etc. A [[Vaidya (वैद्यः)|vaidya]] may ask patient to buy from the store or the material will be made available by the Vaidya only.  

# Materials like weighing scale, measuring flask, medicines for management of any complications, dravya or drugs to be used for vamana karma etc.

# '''Assessment of patient:''' there is consideration of few aspects in patient or individual before vamana karma. Whether the individual is vamya (indicated for vamana) or avamya (contraindicated for vamana) will be assessed by a vaudya. Ashta vidha pariksha or 8 fold examination of the patient will be conducted. [[Doshas (दोषाः)|Dosha]] and [[Balam (बलम्)|balam]] (strength) of patient will be critically analyzed and on that basis the entire vamana procedure would be planned.  

# Assessment of patient – there is consideration of few aspects in patient or individual before vamana karma. Whether the individual is vamya(indicated for vamana) or avamya(contraindicated for vamana). Ashta vidha pariksha or 8 factors of examination (bowel,bladder etc). dosha and bala(strength) of patient.

# '''Pachana karma:''' Pachana refers to kindling digestive fire enhancing the digestive strength of the patient. Pachana is done with the help of some oral medications. This procedure prepares body to accept, digest and metabolise the oily or fatty substances which will be given before vamana. This is essential because the body is not used to accept large amount of ghee or oil orally in routine. And ghee or oil given in this stage without pachanam might cause digestive trouble or throw out the the substance as it is.  

# Dosage – according to acharya charaka the dose of vamaka dravya (emetic drug) should be as much as patient can hold the drug in one hand’s fist. (char. kalp.1.14). there is also one another pramana or measurement mentioned by commentators of ashtanga hrudaya, that the dosage should be considered according to individual’s strength and the disease affected, and more importantly with respect to koshta (digestive ability). Koshta is one another unique and wide concept, but precisely if koshta or digestive ability of individual is mrudu(weak) then the matra(dose) of drug or dravya is alpa(small) if koshta is madhyama(medium) then matra(dose) is also madhyama(medium) if koshta is krura(strong) then matra(dose) will be uttama(high). (asht. hrud. sutr.18.14)

# '''Snehapanam''': This is the most important part of purvakarma or pre procedure of vamana. Mostly a medicated ghee is given for oral consumption to a patient before starting vamana. The procedure takes minimum 3 to maximum 7 days before vamana. A Vaidya assesses the patient daily during this procedure and decides whether the snehapana should be continued by the patient on next day or to be kept on hold or to be stopped. Also a vaidya tells the dosage of medicated ghee to be taken on next day after assessment on previous day in certain cases.  The entire procedure requires careful monitoring and strict compliance to the dos and donts advised to patient. Medicated ghee and its dosage is decided according to the condition, disease of the individual an dususlaly the ghee is administered in increasing order starting from the minimal dose at the beginning.

# Diet before vamana karma- diet starts from the day of snehapana (oral administration of ghee or oil). Individual is advised to take food which are liquid in consistency, ushna (hot) in potency and which is abhishyandi (heavy and slimy, eg;curd), should not be unctuous and should be clean.(asht.sutr.16.25).

# '''Abhyanga and swedana:'''  Later, on the day of completion of snehapanam, [[Abhyanga (अभ्यङ्गम् )|abhyanga]] (oil massage) followed by swedanam (steam bath or fomentation) is done for 2-3 days until the day of vamana karma.<ref name=":0">Charaka Samhita (Kalpasthanam Adhyaya 1 Sutram 14)</ref>

# Patients who are old, very young, have low strength or are weak, and are afraid of vamana karma, to them Yusha(water in which various pulses have been boiled), sugarcane juice, milk, meat soup  etc should be given.

# '''Diet before Vamana karma:''' Diet starts from the day of snehapana (oral administration of ghee or oil) which is the chief part of pre vamana procedure. Diet differs during snehapanam and just a day before vamana procedure. During snehapanam, a patient is advised to take food only when the consumed ghee is fully digested, stomach feels light, appetite is felt. On that time easy to digest, light, simple, regular diet is to be taken. However the diet on day prior to vamana is designed specifically to aid the vamana procedure. Individual is advised to take foods which are liquid in consistency, ushna (hot) in potency and which is abhishyandi (heavy and slimy, eg; curd), should not be unctuous and should be clean.<ref>Ashtanaga Hrudayam (Sutrasthanam Adhyaya 16 Sutram 25)</ref>

# '''Water''': Patient is advised to take only warm water from the start to end of the vamana procedure.  

# Snehana and swedana(fomentation) - oral administration of Sneha (ghee or oil) is given for a period of 3-7 days according to the condition, disease of the individual in increasing order according to the digestive ability of the individual.

# Every pre procedure plays an important role in the whole vamana karma. In a nutshell with snehapana, there is aggravation and dislocation of the vitiated doshas in the body and when abhyanga and swedana is done these doshas are moved from the distant body parts to stomach, then with the help of vamana dravya these doshas are expelled out from the body through controlled vomiting.

# Later, on the day of completion of snehapana, abhyanga (oil massage) is done for 2-3 days followed by swedana(fomentation) until the day of vamana karma. (char. kalp.1.14)

# Individual or patient is well acknowledged about the procedure beforehand. To keep the patient in good mental health, patient is required to have a good sleep, overhead bath, worn clean clothes, worshiping deities. Thus, a positive, happy and calm atmosphere is necessary.

# Every pre procedure plays an important role in the whole vamana karma, thus, in a nutshell with snehapana, there is aggravation of the doshas in the body and when abhyanga and swedana is done these doshas are moved from the affecting area to stomach, then with the help of vamana dravya these doshas are expelled out from the body through controlled vomiting.

# Manasaupchara(counselling) – individual or patient must be well acknowledged about the procedure beforehand. To keep the patient in good mental health, patient is required to have a good sleep, overhead bath, worn clean clothes, worshiping god, brahmin, Vaidya(physician). Thus, a happy and calm atmosphere must be created.

=== Pradhana Karma ===

=== Pradhana Karma ===

 

Vamana dravya (emetic drug) is administered which is based on the above assessment and differs with everyone. The patient is made to sit on a comfortable and relaxed chair. Just before administration of vamana dravya milk, curd, decoction of yashtimadhu (glychirhyza glabra) etc is given to elderly and very young patients, boiled pulses soup(yavagu) mixed with ghee is also given.

Vamana dravya (emetic drug) is administered which is based on the above assessment and differs with everyone. The patient is made to sit on a comfortable and relaxed chair. Just before administration of vamana dravya milk, curd, decoction of yashtimadhu (glychirhyza glabra) etc is given to elderly and very young patients, boiled pulses soup(yavagu) mixed with ghee is also given.