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Dhoopana – An Ayurvedic mode of disinfection

Classical Ayurvedic texts mentioned some form of herbal fume inhalation for therapeutics. Besides therapeutics, dhoopan is also helpful for environmental benefits.


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Herbal fume inhalation is a therapeutic module mentioned in detail in Ayurvedic literature for therapeutic purposes. Different herbal fume inhalation varieties are mentioned in Ayurvedic texts i.e. Dhoom-Nasya (herbal fumes inhaled through the nose), Dhompana (herbal fumes taken through the nose or the mouth and exhaled through the mouth) and Dhoopan (treatment using herbal fumes in total). 

Classical Ayurvedic texts mentioned some form of herbal fume inhalation for therapeutics. For example for disease treatment, for health prevention, for mental illness, for fever, for child growth, for diseases of ears, eyes, teeth, etc. Besides therapeutics, dhoopan is also helpful for environmental benefits such as killing bugs, purifying the environment, etc

Ayurveda has given much importance for preventive medicine and it has described several modes for disinfection purpose.  Fumigation (Dhoopana) with various drugs is one such method which is safe, natural and cost effective. Drugs of herbal, herbo-mineral and animal origin containing volatile and antimicrobial constituents are used as single or in combination. Dhoopanavarthi (fumigation sticks) can be made out of drugs for easy administration.

Benefits:

  • It is used for disinfection of rooms and environment especially during rainy and winter seasons. It also helps in control of pests, rodents and insects and thus prevents outbreak of epidemics.
  • Purifies and sterilizes therapeutic rooms, puerperal and neonatal rooms.
  • Used as a means of drug administration in disease conditions like wounds, fever, poisoning ENT diseases, gynecological and psychological disorders etc.
  • Dhoopana done before storing of raw drugs and cereals helps to increase their shelf life and preserves potency.
  • Disinfects vessels used for medicine preparation.
  • Clothes and other household items can be kept disinfected and sterile by fumigation method.

The results of the studies strongly suggested that the traditional Ayurvedic fumigation with natural plant products is effective in reducing air-borne bacteria and in disinfecting inanimate surfaces. The traditional fumigation with herbal products has huge potential to address the problem of nosocomial infections. In a study Potent  disinfection  was  observed  with“Devadāru”      and    inline    “Apamārga”  standssecond  while  “Sarsapa”has  reduced  aeroganicmicro-organisms.

Source : 

http://ijyr.dsvv.ac.in/index.php/ijyr/article/view/69

http://www.ccras.nic.in/content/dhoopana-ayurvedic-mode-disinfection

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0975947618306582#:~:text=The%20results%20of%20the%20study,the%20problem%20of%20nosocomial%20infections.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224898872_Comparative_study_of_herbal_agents_used_for_fumigtation_in_relations_to_formulation


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