Etymology

वम् + भावे ल्युट्

The root word Vam means “ Udgāre”,  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 Ācārya Cakrapāni Ūrdhvabhāga is considered as Ūrdhvamukha.

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 Kapha Doṣa will descends to Grahaṇī and covers it and leads to Pravāhika and Gaurava.

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)

Ācārya Caraka says that Śālī, Yava etc fields gets dried out when water is removed from their roots, in the same way Kaphaja Rogas 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)

Ācārya Susruta asserts 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), Āsya Daurgandhya (bad breath), afflictions produced due to toxins, Grahaṇī related Vyādhis will not affect harmly.