Khadiradasaka kashayam is an Ayurvedic medicine for a wide array of inflammatory skin diseases.
Benefits of Khadiradasaka kashayam
Many skin diseases like pruritus, atopic dermatitis, heat rash, acne etc with redness, swelling and burning sensation get cured with this medicine.
It is beneficial in conditions like inflammation of joints with skin rashes especially redness, swelling and fever. It cures fever associated with Pitta-kapha dominance.
It is beneficial in wounds and skin rashes associated with varicose veins and diabetes.
It is used to treat herpes zoster. It works as a hepato-protective formulation.
It is used to reduce the complications in small pox, chicken pox, measles etc. This combination makes the healing process faster in such diseases. By using this medicine, all types of skin inflammation are reduced.
Indications of Khadiradasaka kashayam
Kushtha – All types of skin diseases
Ingredients of Khadiradasaka kashayam
| Cutch tree | Khadira | Acacia catechu |
It is the best drug for skin diseases. It is widely used to treat acute and chronic skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, heat rashes etc. It is a blood purifier and is used in bleeding disorders, fever, inflammatory arthritis, diabetic wounds etc.
| Chebulic myrobalan
|
Abhaya/Pathya | Terminalia chebula RETZ. & WILLD. |
It is one of the main drugs in Ayurveda, one of the Rasayana and a member of an important group, Triphala. It is used in a wide variety of diseases as it possesses anti-bacterial, antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant, anti-ulcer, and wound-healing properties.
| Amla, Indian gooseberry | Amalaki /Dhatri | Emblica officinalis GAERTN. |
Amla exhibits strong antioxidant activity. It is one of the most important plants in the traditional Ayurvedic medical system as well as in other traditional health systems for immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and hepatoprotective actions. It is widely used for anti-diabetic effect. It is a part of the famous group of drugs called Thriphala.
| Turmeric
|
Haridra | Curcuma longa L.
|
Turmeric is used to help with heartburn or bowel problems like diarrhoea, intestinal gas, and bloating. It is famous for its anti-cancerous and detoxification effects. It is widely used in skin diseases. Some may use it to help with memory problems or problems with the liver or gallbladder. It may also help to lessen swelling and help with signs of arthritis. It has marked anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action.
| Marking nut | Arushkara/Rujakara | Semecarpus anacardium L.F. |
It is anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, CNS stimulant, hypoglycaemic, anti-carcinogenic, and hair growth promoter.
| Indian devil tree/Scholar’s tree/White cheesewood | Saptaparna | Alstonia scholaris.R.Br. |
It is a herb with a rare combination of laghu (light) and Snigdha (oily) properties. It has immune-stimulatory, wound-healing, analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-oxidant, hepato-protective, anti-stress and immune-modulatory properties. It is used in the treatment of colic, indigestion, intestinal parasites, chronic & foul ulcers, asthma, and skin diseases including leprosy.
| Golden shower tree | Aragwadha
|
Cassia fistula |
It has anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, hepato-protective, and hypoglycaemic activities. Also, it has many anti-oxidants. Flowers are used for fever. Root acts as a diuretic and is used in adenopathy, leprosy, skin diseases, syphilis and tubercular glands. The bark and leaves are used for curing skin diseases.
| Indian oleander | Karaveera | Nerium indicum (N.Odorum Soland) |
This plant is poisonous when taken internally. It is used after proper purifying and de-toxification in internal medicines. It is used in eye diseases, fever, skin diseases, and chronic wounds.
| False black pepper | Vidanga/ Vizahalinveru
|
Embelia ribes |
It is an appetiser and mild laxative. It has carminative, stimulant, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-cancerous and anthelmintic properties.
| Common jasmine | Jathipravala | Jasminum officinale |
It is an aromatic herb with anti-ulcer, anti-oxidant, sedative and aphrodisiac properties. It is used in the treatment of hepatitis, cirrhosis. Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dysentery and cancer treatment.
Details of the manufacturing
Khadiradasaka kashayam has 10 ingredients. All of them are taken in equal quantities.
All these ingredients should be washed well and dried up in shade.
Take the prescribed herbs in dried & crushed form in an earthen pot. Now add 16 times water into it. Make it boil and then cook in the open vessel with low fire. Reduce the quantity into one by eighth of the initial quantity. Make sure to mix it in between with a wooden spatula. Also, the fire should be kept low to make sure that all the active ingredients in the herbs needed are absorbed well into the water. Once the quantity is reduced to one by eighth of the initial amount of water, remove the vessel from the fire. Squeeze and drain through a clean white cloth. Collect the decoction in a clean vessel and discard the solid waste. Drink the mild warm decoction.
Dosha Dooshya Predominance with roga margas.
Khadiradasaka kashayam is Pitta-Kaphahara.
It acts on aabhyantara and bahir-rogamargas.
Dosage and Usage of Khadiradasaka kashayam
Dosage: two Pala.
Usage:
Kashayam is advised to take in empty stomach, once the ingested food is digested well and aahaararasa is formed well.
Usage of kashayam with prescribed prakshepadravyas according to the condition of disease and the patient gives the best results mostly.
Exercises and Yoga.
Khadiradasaka kashayam is used mainly in skin diseases. Sweating is one of the best ways to cleanse the skin.
While it is used in skin diseases with joint inflammation, vigorous exercises are not allowed in painful conditions. Only stretching, moderate walking, and mild cardio exercises are advised.
Also, specific yogacharya including bhujangaasana, salabhasana, vajrasana is recommended. Range of movement and flexibility must be considered while doing every exercise.
Sookshma sandhi vyayama (warming up small joints) is advised.
Regular exercise helps improve bioavailability of the medicine and food ingested and leads to positive health.
Yoga can maintain harmony within the body and with the surrounding system.
Salabhasana
vajrasana
Bhujangasana
All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.
Recommended diet and behaviour
Diet:
- To be avoided
Red chili and other pungent, hot and spicy food items.
Excess intake of salt.
Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.
junk foods- cause disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine
carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion
refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening Agni (digestive fire)
curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases
In some persons, intake of milk and milk products cause skin reactions. It is better to avoid that.
- To be added
Light meals and easily digestible foods
Green gram, soups, fruits and vegetables.
freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, ajwain etc
Behaviour:
Avoid exposure to excessive sunlight, wind, rain or dust.
Maintain personal hygiene.
Avoid sedentary lifestyle.
Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.
Avoid holding or forcing the urges like urine, faeces, cough, sneeze etc.
Side effects and contraindications
No known side effects reported.
In persons with a sensitive stomach, it may cause abdominal discomforts and diarrhoea.
Classical reference
CHARAKASAMHITA SUTRASTHANA 4/13
Equivalent medicines.
Aragwadhadi kashayam
Brands Available
AVS Kottakal
Research papers
Karaveera
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4127823/
Vidanga
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267316/
Khadira
Saptaparna
IMMUNOSTIMULATORY EFFECT
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11321438/
Chemical and pharmacological studies
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22457172/
Rujakara
Jathipravaala
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17125945/