Pañcaśodhana is the most essential part of Āyurveda treatments, which can be practiced as preventive, preservative, promotive, curative and rehabilitative therapy as per the need. Vamana Karma is considered as the prime procedure of Pañcaśodhana therapy. It is meant for inducing therapeutic emesis to expel out the contents of the stomach including vitiated Kapha and Pitta Doṣas through oral route, for the purification of ŪrdhvaBhāga (upper part) of the body.Āyurveda emphasized to practice Vamana in Vasant Rutu, for preservation and promotion of health and prevention of  kaphajavyādhis. To avoid complications, vamana should be practiced as per the classical guidelines.

ETYMOLOGY

वम् +भावेल्युट्

The root wordVam means “ Udgare”,  by applying the suffix Lyut to the root the word Vamana is derived.

DEFINITION

तत्र दोषहरणमूर्ध्वभागं वमनसञ्ज्ञकम् ||               (Cha. Ka. 1/4)

Vamana Karma is defined as “the process in which vitiated Doṣas are eliminated through the oral route. According to ĀcāryaCakrapāniŪrdhvabhāga is considered as Ūrdhvamukha.

वमनं श्लेष्महराणां                                       (Cha.Su. 25/40)

Vamana Karma is considered as the best line of treatment for the Kaphaja disorders.

As per ĀcāryaCaraka Vamana is the Agrauṣadha for expulsion of Śleṣma&Madanaphala is bestdrugto produceVamana.

According to ĀcāryaŚāraṅgadhara                (Sha. Sam.Pu. 4/ 8)

When Pitta is in VidagdhaAvasthā it attains AmliBhāva& such Pitta leads to symptoms like Tikta-Amlodgāra leading to Vidagdhājīrna.For such condition, as VyādhiPratyanikaCikitsā, Vamanais the line of management. In KaphaUtkliṣṭaAvasthā, when patient experiences Lakṣaṇas likeHṛllasā, Praseka, Gaurava&Hṛtpidaetcvamana is recommended. As per the Gudarthadipikacommentary vamana helps to expel the Apakva Pitta, ApakvaKapha&Apakva Anna. According toĀcāryaĀdamallaApakva specifies to fate of the drug. The drug produces Vamana by its Vyavāyi&Vikāsi.

SYNONYMS

Samśodhana,Śodhana,Virecana,Vireka,Chardi,Chardana,Vami,Ullekhana,Lekhana

वमनं श्लेष्महराणां ||                                             (Cha. Su. 25/40)

Vamana Karma is considered as the best line of treatment for the Kaphaja disorders.

विरेचनमपि स्निग्धस्विन्नाय वान्ताय च देयम्; अवान्तस्य हि सम्यग्विरीक्तस्यापि सतोऽधः स्रस्तः श्लेष्मा ग्रहणीं छादयति, गौरवमापादयति, प्रवाहिकां वा जनयति ||                     (Su. Chi. 33/19)

If Virecana is administered without Vamana the provoked KaphaDoṣa will descends to Grahaṇī and covers it and leads to Pravāhika andGaurava.

वमनं तु सर्वोपक्रमेभ्यः श्लेष्मणि प्रधानतमं मन्यन्ते भिषजः, तद्ध्यादित एवामाशयमनुप्रविश्योरोगतं केवलं वैकारिकं श्लेष्ममूलमूर्ध्वमुत्क्षिपति, तत्रावजिते श्लेष्मण्यपि शरीरान्तर्गताः श्लेष्मविकाराः प्रशान्तिमापद्यन्ते, यथा भिन्ने केदारसेतौ शालियवषष्टिकादीन्यनभिष्यन्द्यमानान्यम्भसा प्रशोषमापद्यन्ते तद्वदिति||                      (Cha.Su. 20/19)

ĀcāryaCarakasays thatŚālī, Yava etc fields gets dried out when water is removed from their roots, in the same way KaphajaRogas cannot get provoked when Kapha is removed through Vamana Karma.

छिन्ने तरौ पुष्पफलप्ररोहा यथा विनाशं सहसा व्रजन्ति |
तथा हृते श्लेष्मणि शोधनेन तज्जा विकाराः प्रशमं प्रयान्ति ||               (Su.Chi.13/33)

ĀcāryaSuśrutaasserts that as flower, fruits and branches are destroyed as soon as the mother tree is uprooted. Similarly diseases originated due to excessive Kapha are unresponsive after elimination of Kapha through the process of Vamana.

कासोपलेपस्वरभेदनिद्रातन्द्रास्यदौर्गन्ध्यविषोपसर्गाः |
कफप्रसेकग्रहणीप्रदोषा न सन्ति जन्तोर्वमतः कदाचित् ||                  (Su. Chi. 33/12)

Those who undergoes proper Vamana, disease like Kāsa (Cough), Upalepa (stickiness in the throat), Svarabheda (hoarseness of voice), Anidra (Loss of Sleep), Tantrā (Drowsiness), ĀsyaDaurgandhya (bad breath), afflictions produced due to toxins, Grahaṇī related Vyādhis will not affect harmly.