Pippali or Piper longum (long pepper) is one of the best medicinal herbs in Ayurvedic practice, for ages. Pippali, possessing significant medicinal and disease-modifying properties, serves as both a preventive and curative medicine. It receives acclaim for its beneficial Rasayana properties, which include immune-modulation, anti-aging effects, rejuvenation, disease modification, and promotion of longevity. Pippali used as a single herb, or as a part of the compound, yields a good cure in many systemic diseases, including stubborn and chronic ones. The Vardhamana Pippali Rasayana aims at increasing and enriching the quality of the tissues or dhatus with the active components of the herb or compound.
Properties of Pippali
Rasa (taste) – Katu (pungent)
Guna (quality) – Laghu (light), Teekshna (intense, deep penetrating)
Vipaka (post digestion effect) – Madhura (sweet)
Veerya (potency) – Ushna (hot)
Vardhamana Rasayana
Vardhamana = orderly increasing, Rasayana – any herb, medicine, or compound which enhances immunity (immune-modulators), prevents aging, rejuvenates, promotes longevity, and cures many diseases. It is a procedure of administering certain herbs/medicines in gradually (orderly) increased doses and later tapered to the beginning dosage by the end of the procedure. While doing so, a particularly strict diet regimen will be advised to follow. Rasayanas aims at enriching the quality of tissues (dhatus).
The Vardhamana Pippali Rasayana aims at increasing and enriching the quality of the tissues or dhatus with the active components of the herb or compound. This strengthens them structurally (anatomical) and functionally (physiological). Administering a large quantity of specific herbs is necessary for this to occur, but it cannot be done in one shot.
The Vardhamana Krama is followed to gradually load the tissues with medicinal properties. In Vardhamana Pippali Rasayana, practitioners employ a procedure wherein they use Long pepper (Pippali) in progressively increasing and decreasing doses to saturate the tissues with its beneficial properties.
Reference
क्रमवृद्धया दशाहानि दशपैप्पलिकं दिनम्|
वर्धयेत पायसा सार्धं तथैवापनयेत पुनः||
जीर्णे जीर्णे भुञ्ञितम् षष्टीकं क्षीरसर्पिषा|
पिप्पलिनाम् सहस्त्रस्य प्रयोगोऽयं रसायनं||
पिष्टीस्ता बलिभिः सेव्याः श्रुता मध्यबलैनरैः |
चूर्णीकृतं र्हस्वबलैर्योज्या दोषामयान प्रति||
दशपैप्पलिकः श्रेष्ठो मध्य: षट् प्रकिर्तीतः|
प्रयोगो यस्त्रिपर्यंतः स कनीयान् स चाबलैः||
बृहणं स्वर्यमायुष्यं प्लीहोदारविनाशनम्|
वयसः स्थापनं मेध्यं पिप्पलिनाम् रसायनं||
इति पिप्पालीवर्धमानं रसायनं
च.चि.१/३/३६-४०
Method of Intake
On the first day, consume 10 Pippalis, and subsequently increase the daily intake by 10 Pippalis each day. For instance, on the second day, consume 20 Pippalis, and on the third day, consume 30 Pippalis, continuing this ascending pattern for 10 days. On the 10th day, consume 100 Pippalis. Starting from the 11th day, decrease the daily intake by 10 Pippalis per day, maintaining the same descending pattern for the next 10 days. This regimen involves consuming a total of 1000 Pippalis within a span of 20 days.
Form of Administration
Kalka or paste – Those having uttama bala (good physical and mental strength, tolerance, and courage) should take Pippali in the Kalka or Pishta (paste) form.
Kashaya or Decoction – Those having madhyama bala (moderate physical and mental strength, tolerance, and courage) should take Pippali in the Shruta or Kashaya (decoction) form.
Churna or Powder – Those having hrasva bala (less physical and mental strength, tolerance, and courage) should take Pippali in the Churna (powder) form.
Dose of Pippali
Those having very good strength should start with 10 pippalis. Gradually increase the dose by 10 pippalis every day for the initial 10 days, and then decrease the number of pippalis in the same pattern for the subsequent 10 days. Conclude the procedure by administering 10 pippalis, identical to the starting dose, on the 20th day. This regimen entails consuming a total of 1000 pippalis within the 20-day period.
Those having moderate strength should start with 6 pippalis. Increase the dose by six pippalis daily for the first 10 days, followed by a corresponding decrease in the number of pippalis over the next 10 days. Conclude the procedure by administering the initial dose of six pippalis on the 20th day. This regimen results in the consumption of 600 pippalis within the 20-day period.
Those having low strength should start with 3 pippalis. Increase the dose by three pippalis every day for the first 10 days, followed by a gradual decrease in the same pattern for the next 10 days. Conclude the procedure by returning to the initial dose of three pippalis on the 20th day. This regimen involves consuming a total of 300 pippalis within the 20-day period.
Diet Restrictions
During the Vardhamana Pippali procedure, individuals should consume Shashtika Shali Odana (rice or porridge made from the rice grown in 60 days) along with cow’s milk and ghee. This will help in the proper digestion and utilization of the medicine (pippali).
Benefits
Taking Pippali in the vardhamana krama is said to bestow many benefits, as mentioned below.
- Rasayana – rejuvenates and strengthens the tissues, provides immunity, enhances life span, promotes longevity and reduces ageing process
- Brimhana – Promotes bulk, induces strength
- Swara bheda nashaka – alleviates hoarseness of voice, strengthens voice, makes it bold and resonant
- Ayu hitakari – Good for life, enhances life span, enables one to live a long, disease-free life
- Pliha Nahsini – Cures hepatomegaly (enlargement of liver) and spleenomegaly (enlargement of spleen)
- Udara Vinashanam – Alleviates abdominal disorders, especially ascitis (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity
- Vaya sthapanam – Delays ageing process, restores youth and energy
- Medhya – brain tonic, tones the brain, improves intellect and memory