Sneeze is a natural reflex coming out as a response to various stimulating and irritating stimuli. The stimuli which can cause sneeze differs from one person to the other. Continuous sneezing or regular sneezing is a symptom of some systemic disease or a local nasal disease. Similarly not sneezing at all is also abnormal. Sneezing is also a natural cleansing mechanism trough which the body tries to detoxify itself. Unwanted dust particles and pathogens are thrown out through sneeze.
Concept of sneeze in Ayurveda:
संस्पृश्य मर्माण्यनिलस्तुमूर्ध्नि विष्वक्पथस्थः क्षवथुं करोति।{चरकसंहिता चिकित्सास्थानम् २६}
According to Charaka “The vitiated vayu traversing all through the channels of the head on touching the Marmas (vital points in the nose) in the nose produce Kshavathu or Sneeze”
घ्राणाश्रिते मर्मणि सम्प्रदुष्टे यस्यानिलो नासिकया निरेति।
कफानुयातो बहुशः सशब्दस्तं रोगमाहुः क्षवथुं विधिज्ञाः॥{सुश्रुत उत्तर २२}
Susruta explains the pathogenesis of Kshavathu in a similar way with some new material “When the vitiated vayu in the head rushes into the nose along with kapha and disturbs the already afflicted / debilitated Marmas it produces discharges along with sound and this condition is called Kshavathu”
Symptoms of forcibly controlling or holding back the impending sneeze reflex:
मन्यास्तम्भः शिरःशूलमर्दितार्धावभेदकौ।
इन्द्रियाणां च दौर्बल्यं क्षवथोः स्याद्विधारणात्॥{चरकसंहिता सूत्रस्थानम् ७/१६}
भवन्ति गाढं क्षवथोर्विघाताच्छिरोऽक्षिनासाश्रवणेषु रोगाः॥{सुश्रुत उत्तर ५५}
- मन्यास्तम्भः – Cervical Pain / Spondylosis / Neck Stiffness
- शिरःशूलः – Headache
- अर्दित – Facial Paralysis
- अर्धावभेदक – Hemicrania or Migraine
- इन्द्रियाणां दौर्बल्यं – Weakness or disorientation of the sense organs (Structural or functional debility)
- शिरोऽक्षिनासाश्रवणेषु रोगाः – Diseases of the head, eye, nose and ears (Susruta)
Treatment principles in Kshavathu avarodhajanya vikara / Kshavathuja Udavarta (Diseases caused due to forcible control of sneeze):
तत्रोर्ध्वजत्रुकेऽभ्यङ्गः स्वेदो धूमः सनावनः।
हितं वातघ्नमाध्यं च घृतं चौत्तरभक्तिकम्॥{चरकसंहिता सूत्रस्थानम् ७/१७}
तीक्ष्णधूमाञ्जनाघ्राणनावनार्कविलोकनैः।
प्रवर्तयेत्क्षुतिं सक्तां स्नेहस्वेदौ च शीलयेत्॥{अष्टाङ्गहृदय सूत्रस्थानम् ४}
- अभ्यङ्गः – Abhyanga: Medicated massages {Abhyanga and Swedana are very important therapies in managing vitiated vayu as they are antagonistic to the nature of Vayu (&kapha)}
- स्वेदो – Swedana: Medicated steaming or Sudation
- स्नेहस्वेदौ (vagbhata) – Also indicates the combined use of medicated massages and sudation
- धूमः – Inhalation of medicated fumes / तीक्ष्ण धूम (vagbhata) – Strong or intense medical fumigation
- नावनः – Nasal instillation of medicines
- वातघ्नम् अन्नं – Vata alleviating diet
- औत्तरभक्तिकम् घृतं – Consumption of medicated Ghee after the food
- तीक्ष्ण अञ्जन (vagbhata) – Strong or intense collyriums
- अर्कविलोकन (vagbhata) – Standing and seeing the sun
According to Vagbhata: तीक्ष्ण धूम, तीक्ष्ण अञ्जन, अर्कविलोकन should be administered to initiate the sneeze reflex
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Prevention or interventions…when you think of handling things in a natural way…think of AYURVEDA
For Health Awareness
By: Dr Raghuram Y.S.
MD(Ayurveda)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Ph: +91-9480071422
Email: drraghuramys@gmail.com
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