How to Make Vacha Nasya Oil

In my book "Dravyaguna for Westerners" the monograph on Acorus calamus (Vacha) speaks about making a Nasya Oil (for treatment of Vata through the nose, e.g. Nasya). It does not explain HOW to make the oil however, so here is the methodology. If you just decoct Acorus calamus in water and then oil – as in a normal massage oil – you will get a headache from using the Calamus oil in the nose. You need to do the following:

Combine 1 part of Acorus calamus powder with 2 parts of Triphala powder (e.g.; 1 gr to 2 gr). Add this water and boil as a decoction – remember a standard decoction in Ayurveda reduces the water volume by half. Once this decoction is made the herbs can be strained out and the tea or decoction can now be added to an equal amount of oil and cooked to make a Nasya Oil.

Instructions:
Take 500 ml of filtered water
Add 2 grams of Acorus calamus powder and 4 grams of Triphala powder
Cook at a low heat until there is 250 ml of water
Strain out the powdered herbs
Add the 250 ml of decoction to 250 ml of cold pressed sesame oil
Cook at a low heat until there is only 250 ml of oil left in the pan.
Filter and keep in a glass bottle.

Dose:
1 or 2 drops in each nostril X1 per day
Vata & Pitta - one drop per nostril
Kapha - two drops per nostril

Contraindications:
Do not use during pregnancy or lactation
Do not use in high Pitta conditions
Do not use when there are chronic inflammations of the sinuses or sinusitis.

Note that there are other more complicated methods to make nasya oils with Vacha, but this works well and is easy enough for people to make at home.

Copyright © 2015 Vaidya Atreya Smith