Pippali or Piper longum (long pepper) is one of the best medicinal herbs in Ayurvedic practice, for ages. Studded with immense medicinal and disease-modifying properties, Pippali is used as both preventive as well as curative medicine. Pippali has been praised to have good Rasayana properties (Rasayana = immune-modulators, anti-aging, rejuvenators, disease modifiers, longevity promoters). 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.
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).
Vardhamana Rasayana 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 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). For this to happen, a large quantity of particular herbs needs to be administered. But it cannot be administered in one shot.
Therefore the Vardhamana Krama is followed so as to gradually load the tissues with medicinal properties. Vardhamana Pippali is one such procedure wherein Pippali or Long pepper is used in gradual increasing and decreasing doses so as to saturate the tissues.
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
- 10 Pippalis (textual refernce, practical doses may vary) should be consumed on the first day.
- Later, the number of Pippalis should be increased by 10 numbers every day.
- For example, on the 2nd day – 20 Pippalis should be consumed, On the 3rd day – 30 Pippalis should be consumed, and so on.
- This ascending order shall be followed for 10 days.
- On the 10th day, 100 Pippalis should be consumed.
- From the 11th day onwards, the number of Pippalis should be decreased in the same pattern.
- The decreasing pattern (by 10s) should be continued for the next 10 days. Thus, 1000 number of Pippalis would be consumed 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. The dose should be increased by 10 pippalis every day, until 10 days. The number of pippalis should be decreased in the same pattern for the next 10 days. The procedure should be finished with 10 pippalis (same as starting dose) on the 20th day. In this format, 1000 pippalis would be consumed within 20 days.
Those having moderate strength should start with 6 pippalis. The dose should be increased by 6 pippalis every day, until 10 days. The number of pippalis should be decreased in the same pattern for the next 10 days. The procedure should be finished with 6 pippalis (same as starting dose) on the 20th day. In this format, 600 pippalis would be consumed within 20 days.
Those having low strength should start with 3 pippalis. The dose should be increased by 3 pippalis every day, until 10 days. The number of pippalis should be decreased in the same pattern for the next 10 days. The procedure should be finished with 3 pippalis (same as starting dose) on the 20th day. In this format, 300 pippalis would be consumed within 20 days.
DIET RESTRICTIONS
When the Vardhamana Pippali procedure is being done, Shashtika Shali Odana (rice or porridge prepared using shashtika shali or the rice grown in 60 days) should be taken along with cow’s milk and ghee. This will help in the proper digestion and utilization of the medicine (pippali).
BENEFITS
Pippali taken in 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