Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Putapaka Swarasa 

It is a special method of extracting the juices from medicinal herbs. In this method, firstly the paste of medicinal herbs, mainly their leaves, is prepared. The juice is extracted with the help of concealed heating procedure using burning charcoal of the woods of medicinal trees. The prepared paste is covered in medicinal leaves such that the bolus (of paste) is encapsulated within the layers of leaves. Threads are tied around the bundle so as to keep the leaves in position, wrapping the bolus of medicinal paste. Now, this bolus is wrapped with a thick layer of earth (wet mud) and dried in shade.

A pit is dug and a layer of fuel consisting of wood from medicinal trees is put in. The bolus is kept on this layer of fuel. The remaining part of the pit is also filled with the fuel such that it covers the bolus from the top. Now, the bolus consisting of medicinal paste is encapsulated within the fuel i.e. the bolus is covered on all sides by the fuel. Next, the fuel is lit with fire and the bolus is allowed to get cooked in the heat.

Once the entire fuel is burnt and the smoke diminishes and the heat of the coal wanes off, the bolus is removed and its layers removed. The paste which is cooked in the heat of burning coal is squeezed and its juice is extracted. This juice is called Putapaka Swarasa.

Since this juice extract is obtained from the ‘heat processed’ medicinal herbs, it will be easy and lighter for digestion.

Effective Putapaka Preparations for treatment of Atisara vis-a-vis Diarrhoea

1. Indications for use of Putapakva Svarasa in Atisara

अवेदनंसुसंपक्कंदीप्ताग्रेः सुचिरोत्थितम्॥८०॥
नानावर्णमतीसारंपुटपाकैरुपाचरेत्।।

Juice extracted from medicinal herbs using Putapaka method is ideal to be used in treating atisara – diarrhoea in the below mentioned conditions –

–        diarrhoea not associated with pain,

–        diarrhoea which has become rime i.e. has become old (not acute),

–        diarrhoea persisting for long time (chronic diarrhoea)

–        diarrhoea in which there is elimination of faeces of different colours for long periods of time and

–        in presence of keenness of agni – digestive fire

Ref – Sushruta Uttara, Chapter 40, verse 80 (Su.Ut.40/80)

1. Important Putapaka Recipes for usage in patients suffering from Atisara

 

1. Dirghavrintadi Putapaka

त्वक्पिण्डंदीर्घवृन्तस्यपद्मकेसरसंयुतम्।।८१।।
काश्मरीपद्मपत्रैश्चावेष्ट्यसूत्रेणसंदृढम्।।
मृदाऽवलिप्तंसुकृतमङ्गारेष्ववकूलयेत् ||८२।।
स्विन्नमुद्धृत्यनिष्पीड्यरसमादायतंततः।।
शीतंमधुयुतंकृत्वापाययेतोदरामये।।८३।।
जीवन्तीमेषशृङ्गयादिष्वेवंद्रव्येषुसाधयेत्।।

Ref – Sushruta Uttara Tantra, Chapter 40, Verses 81-83 (Su.Ut.40/81-83)

Ingredients –

Balls are prepared from the paste of the below mentioned ingredients –

–        Dirghavrinta – Syonaka – its bark

–        Padmakesara – filaments of lotus flower

Method of preparation –

–        These balls are enveloped with Kasmari or Padma leaves and later fastened with threads.

–        Following this, a mud coating is given to these balls enveloped by leaves.

–        The balls are slightly dried in shade.

–        Now, these dried balls are put into a heap of burning coal and cooked properly.

–        Once the balls are cooked properly, they are taken out.

–        The coverings are slowly removed one after the other.

–        The balls of medicinal herbs in the innermost core are taken and squeezed so as to obtain their juice.

–        This juice is allowed to cool.

–        Once the juice is cooled, honey is added to it and thoroughly mixed.

This juice is administered to the patient having abdominal diseases (diarrhoea in this context) for drinking.

2. Jivantyadi Putapaka

Similarly, the juice should be obtained from Jivanti, Mesasrngi etc. herbs, extracted in the same putapaka method explained above and administered for drinking to the patients suffering from diarrhoea.

3. Nyagrodhadi Putapaka

तित्तिरिंलुञ्चितंसम्यक्निष्कृष्टान्तुपूरयेत्॥८४॥
न्यग्रोधादित्वचांकल्कैःपूर्ववच्चावकूलयेत्।।
रसमादायतस्याथसुस्विन्नस्यसमाक्षिकम्।।८५ ॥
शर्करोपहितंशीतंपाययेतोदरामये।।

Ref – Sushruta Uttara Tantra, Chapter 40, Verses 84-85 (Su.Ut.40/84-85)

Feathers and intestines, beaks and legs of a Tittiri bird (partridge, francolin) are removed so as to create a hollow.

Paste of barks of Nyagrodhadi etc. i.e. Pancavalkala trees are filled in the hollow of the bird.

This mass / bolus is enveloped with leaves and given a coating of mud plaster as explained above.

This bolus is cooked inside a heap of burning coal in the putapaka method as explained above. Once it is well cooked, it is taken out. The paste is squeezed and its juice is extracted.

This juice is mixed with honey and sugar and given for consumption by the patient suffering from diarrhoea. This recipe will definitely cure diarrhoea.

4. Lodhradi Putapaka

लोध्रचन्दनयष्ट्याहृदावपाठासितोत्पलान्।।८६।।
तण्डुलोदकसंपिष्टान्दीर्घवृन्तत्वगन्वितान्।।
पूर्ववत्कूलितात्तस्माद्रसमादायशीतलम्।।८७।।
मध्वाक्तंपाययेच्चैतत्कफपित्तोदरामये।।

Ref – Sushruta Uttara Tantra, Chapter 40, Verses 86-87 (Su.Ut.40/86-87)

Ingredients – A ball is prepared from the paste of the below mentioned ingredients made in rice-wash –

–        Lodhra,

–        Candana,

–        Yastyahva,

–        Darvipatha and

–        Sitotpala

This ball is covered with bark of Dirghavrnta and cooked in putapaka method described above. The ball is removed after it is properly cooked. The outer layers are separated and the juice is extracted from the ball of herbs.

This juice is administered mixed with honey. It cures diarrhoea caused by combined vitiation of kapha and pitta.

5. Vatadi Putapaka

एवंप्ररोहैःकुर्वीतवटादीनांविधानवत्।।८८।।
पुटपाकान्यथायोगंजाङ्गलोपहितान्शुभान्।।

Ref – Sushruta Uttara Tantra, Chapter 40, Verse 88 (Su.Ut.40/88)

Similarly, juice of leaf buds of Vata etc. trees may be obtained and used. Similarly, the juice of meat of birds living in arid regions may also be used.