Kaphaketu Ras is an Ayurvedic medicine containing Shuddha Tankan, Shuddha Vatsanabh, Shankha Bhasma, long pepper, and ginger juice. It is referenced from Rasendra Sarasangraha, Kapha Roga Chikitsa (treatment of diseases caused by vitiated Kapha).
Kapha or Sleshma is phlegm and it is situated in the chest above heart and naval. It is viscid (Snigdha), cold (Seetha), heavy (Guru), slow (Manda), soft (Slakshna), slimy and motionless (Sthira). It is salty in an immature state. Kapha is responsible for the smoothness of the body, general strength, potency, forbearance, steadiness, etc.
Kapha Roga is condition when the Kapha predominates in the body. The symptoms of Kapha Roga includes excretion of mucus, coldness, obstruction in throat, excessive salivation, lethargy, heaviness in head, breathing, speech, behavior and sensory activities, feeling of fullness, oiliness, hardness, congestion, swelling, indigestion, low temperature, weakness of joints, lack of alertness, etc. The person desires for warmth and bitter food.
Kaphaketu Ras is classical medicine indicated in such Kapha Roga.
Here is given more about this medicine, such as benefits, indication/therapeutic uses, composition, and dosage.
Ingredients of Kaphaketu Ras
- Tankan Shuddha Suhage ki Kheel 1 Part
- Magadhi (Pippali) (Fr.) 1 Part
- Shankha Bhasma 1 Part
- Vatsanabha Shuddha (Rt.Tr.) 1 Part
- Ardraka rasa Q.S. (for Bhavana)
Key ingredients
Tankana is composed of boric acid and soda. Its chemical formula is (Na2B4O7 10H2O).
Shuddha Tankan is prepared by placing small pieces of Tankan on fire and collecting them on dehydrating. On heating the water molecules are evaporated and the final formula becomes Na2B4O7 5H2O. Ayurvedic properties of Shuddha Tankan are given below:
- Rasa (taste on the tongue):(Pungent)
- Guna (Pharmacological Action): Ushna (Hot), Ruksha (Dry), Sarak
- Virya: Ushna (Heating)
- Vipaka (transformed state after digestion): Katu (Pungent)
Shuddha Tankan is useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases including cough, asthma, respiratory ailments. Suhaga is hot in potency.
Pippali/ Long Pepper/ Dried Catkins, is Kaphahara. It gives relief in cold, phlegm. It reduces Vata and Kapha and increases Pitta. It is hot in potency.
Ginger is hot-pungent-drying in action. It is well-known herb for respiratory ailments. It reduces Vata and Kapha and increases Pitta. It is hot in potency. It works on Digestive and respiratory system.
Vatsanabha consists of dried roots of Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf. ex Holmes, Family Ranunculaceae. It is an erect, perennial herb, occurs in subalpine and alpine zones of the western Himalayas.
It has antipyretic, analgesic, anti-rheumatic, appetizer and digestive properties. It is used in Ayurveda only after purification.
The process of purification involves submerging the roots into the fresh urine of a healthy cow for 3–7 days. Then, the outer covering of the root is peeled off and cut into small pieces and left in the sunlight for 1 day. After this, it is boiled with fresh cow milk for a minimum of 3 hours. Finally, it is dried in the sunlight and powdered.
It is used in Tridosha vikara, especially in Kapha-Vataj roga such as cough, bronchitis, fever. It has significant therapeutic action in clinical and experimental studies.
It is dangerous to take Vatsanabha more than the recommended dose.
Important Therapeutic Uses of Kaphaketu Ras
- Pinasa (Chronic rhinitis/sinusitis)
- Kasa (Cough), chronic cough
- Shvasa (Dyspnoea/Asthma)
- Gala Roga (Diseases of throat), Difficulty in swallowing
- Fever due to phlegm
- Other respiratory disorders
- Discharges from ears, nose, etc.
- Disorders of eyes
- Disorders of nose
- Disorders of throat
- Disorders of the head and brain
- Disease of tooth
The Dosage of Kaphaketu Ras
1 or 2 tablets/ 125 mg- 250 mg twice a day. The adjunct/ Anupan, which is an administered along with or just after the medicine to enhance its therapeutic action, for this medicine is Ginger juice + Honey, or take as directed by a physician.
In Kapha Roga, one should take hot, dry, bitter, astringent and sharp food.
Please note, the doses of Ayurvedic medicines are not fixed. The exact dose depends on the age, strength, digestive power of the patient, the nature of the illness, the state of the viscera and humours, and the properties of individual drugs.
Ayurvedic medicines containing detoxified, toxic material/ poisonous substances, heavy metals should be taken only under medical supervision.
This medicine contains Aconite which is a strong poison affecting several systems.
Pure aconite can cause death at a dose of 2 mg, while 1 g of the aconite plant is fatal.
Aconite is used in Ayurveda only after purification and given in very small amount, 15 mg. It is a highly recommend to take Aconite containing medicine only in prescribed dosage and under a physician’s supervision.
Overdose of Aconite containing medicine may produce symptoms of aconite poisoning such as numbness around the mouth, nausea, heaviness of tongue, vertigo, black out, bursting type of pain over the back of the head, numbness and tingling sensation of palm and sole, and severe sweating.
You can buy this medicine online or from medical stores.
This medicine is manufactured by Baidyanath (Kafketu Ras), Dabur (Kufketu Ras), Shri Dhootapapeshwar Limited (Kaphakuthar Rasa) and many other Ayurvedic pharmacies.