DOI: 10.4103/ayuhom.ayuhom_25_23 ISSN: 2349-2422
An Analytical Study to Evaluate the Safety of Prayogika Dhumapana in Dinacharya
Divya Gupta, Sarvesh Kumar Agrawal, Vaidya Kamalesh Kumar Sharma A
BSTRACT
Background:
Cigarette smoking is one of the most widespread types of tobacco use all over the world, causing a huge number of untimely deaths. On contrary to cigarette smoking, dhumapana (herbal smoke inhalation) is one of the very unique routes of drug administration described by the ancient Acharyas.
Aims and Objectives:
The purpose of medicated dhumapana described in Ayurvedic treatises is prevention or management of vata-kapha disorders. Prayogika dhumapana is advised to be practiced regularly for health promotion and protection of our body. The present study was carried out to prepare prayogika dhumavarti (herbal cigarette) and explore the safety of prayogika dhumapana, by analyzing and comparing the chemical composition of its smoke to that of tobacco smoke.
Materials and Method:
Prayogika dhumavarti was prepared as per the classical text, with contents of eladi gana mentioned in Sushruta Samhita. Analytical tests were performed for various parameters, e.g. tar, nicotine, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons for herbal as well as nonherbal cigarette.
Results:
The amount of tar in prayogika dhumavarti (herbal cigarette) was eight times lesser than the tobacco cigarette (nonherbal sample). The amount of carbon monoxide was found to be 4.0 ppm and 9.0 ppm, respectively; the amount of carbon dioxide was found to be 2281 ppm and 2702 ppm, respectively, in herbal and nonherbal samples.
Conclusion:
Hence, on laboratory analysis, prayogika dhumapana was found to be safe on some major parameters.