Article: CONCEPTUAL STUDY ON HERBAL FUMIGATION: A REVIEW

Article Category: Review articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.100230

Pages: 26-27

Author: Siddayya Aradhyamath *, Savita Hiremath, Abhishek S L

Abstract: Ayurveda the ancient system of medicine has given importance to both preventive care and curative modalities. These have been addressed in the form of Ashtanga Ayurveda (8 branches of Ayurveda) among which Shalya Tantra (Surgery) is one. In Shalya Tantra, various Surgical and Parasurgical procedures have been explained, including their Poorva karma (pre-operative), Pradhana karma (operative) and Paschath karma (post-operative). Though it is the operative procedure that is mainly highlighted, equal importance has been given to both poorva karma and paschath karma, among this comes Dhoopana (fumigation). Fumigation is a process of disinfecting/purifying an area with fumes of certain chemicals or herbs. Most dhoopana drugs contains volatile or aromatic oil which have action like Anti-microbial and bactericidal. It is also an important component of Rakshavidhi that highly resembles the fumigation method of contemporary science and ensures protection against microbes.

Keyword: Dhoopana, Rakshoghna vidhi, Fumigation, Anti-microbial.