Hingavastaka Churna: The Asafoetida Eight-herb Formula

Ingredients

100g contains:

Method of preparation

All the herbs are made into fine powder and mixed together to make a  homogeneous mixture (Yogaratna-kara, Bhaisajya Ratna-valı-:agnimandya rogadhikara)

ENERGETICS

• Rasa (taste): Pungent, salty
• Vırya (energy): Hot
• Vipa -ka (post-digestive effect): Pungent
• Gun.a (quality): Light, dry, penetrating
• Dosa effect: VK−, P+
• Dhatu (tissue): Plasma, blood
• Srotas (channel): Digestive, excretory, respiratory

AYURVEDIC ACTION

• Dıpanıya Enkindles the digestive fire
• Amapacana Digests intestinal toxins
• Va-ta-nulomana Redirects vata downwards
• Sulahara Alleviates pain

BIOMEDICAL ACTION

Carminative, digestive, laxative, anthelmintic, antispasmodic, expectorant

INDICATIONS

Gastrointestinal tract Hin. gvastaka is a superb remedyfor digestive disturbances that have a nervous component. Symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, borborygmus, lower intestinal pain and constipation are all signs of apana vayu not regulating the descent of the digestive energy. Other signs might be frequent belching, hiccups and indigestion. It can help people who are prone to a ‘nervous stomach’, who eat on the move, and who have erratic digestion. Hin. gvastaka helps to regulate samana vayu operating in the middle of the abdomen and this  allows apana vayu to descend easily. It can also help floral imbalances by eradicating pathogenic bacteria such as Candida albicans, Entamoeba histolytica and Shigella spp. This helps to clear ama, a dirty coating on the back of the tongue and bad breath.

Lungs Its positive effects on correcting the flow of vata can help with various respiratory disorders. By reducing mucus in the lungs it clears the way for prana to flow freely. It can be included in formulas to treat asthma, bronchitis and shortness of breath.

COMBINATIONS

• Extra trikat.u for more kapha-related mucus disorders in the lungs and digestive system.
• Avipattikara curna when there are heat, acidity and pitta problems.
• Triphala when there are more systemic signs of ama.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Pregnancy, due to its descending action and hing content; aggravated pitta.

DOSAGE

1–2g three times per day.

NOTES

• All the herbs stimulate agni, direct vata downwards and clear ama.
• It is the ayurvedic digestive enzyme.
• Used before a meal it helps to stimulate the appetite and descend apana vayu helping to reduce anorexia and lack of appetite.
• Used in the middle of a meal it helps regulate samana vayu.
• Used at the end of the meal it helps to remove ama and undigested food.