ISSN: 2322 - 0902 (P)

ISSN: 2322 - 0910 (O)

International Journal of Ayurveda
and Pharma Research

Review Article

A REVIEW ON SIDDHA EXTERNAL THERAPY –NASIYAM (NASAL INSTILLATION)

B.K.Priya1*, S.Elansekaran2, M.Ramamurthy2, V.Srinivasan2, M.Kanniyakumari3, G.J.Christian4
*1PG Scholar, 2Lecturer, 3Associate professor, 4Head of the department, Department of Noi Naadal, National
Institute of Siddha, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
ABSTRACT
Siddha system of medicine, one of the ancient, traditional Indian systems of medicine has unique
diagnostic methods, therapeutics and treatment procedures. It has a vast range of external
modalities of treatment for health management. This external management is classified into 32
types. They include minor surgical procedures and treatment procedures. These therapies are
used both as mainstream and supportive therapies – both curative and prophylactic. Most of the
therapies are aimed to maintain the equilibrium of the three humours (Vatham, Pitham, Kabam).
Among them Nasiyam (Nasal instillation) is one of the external therapies which is a non-invasive
procedure. Nasiyam is the process by which the drug is administered through nostrils. This is the
treatment procedure to balance the Thirithodam in its normal level. This paper documents the
efficacy of Nasiyam, methods of application, shelf life, effect of Nasiyam in treating various
diseases, the list of single drug and compound drug formulations that can be used as Nasiyam,
Indications and contraindications are discussed in detail. Nasiyam therapy is used to treat the
diseases of vitiated Kabam such as migraine, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, nasal polyp etc.
KEYWORDS: Siddha, Nasiyam, External therapy, Nasal drops, Nasal Instillation.
INTRODUCTION
In Siddha system of medicine, disease is Pranan throughout the head and body. When an
caused by the deviation of Uyirthathus namely, Vali, excess of bodily fluids accumulates in the sinus,
Azhal and Iyyam.[1] Hence, Siddhars classified 64 throat, nose or head areas, it is best eliminated
varieties of treatment modalities or dosage forms through the nose.
into two major categories, namely Agamarunthu “Othiya nasiyath thaaley uyarkabam
(Internal medicines) and Puramarunthu (External theerumey” [6,7]
medicines).[2] Puramarunthu play an important role According to above poetry lines, Nasiyam is
in the Siddha system of medicine. Among these recommended for Kabam and Kabam related
treatment methods, Nasiyam (nasal instillation)[3] diseases. Nasiyam oil soothes and protects the nasal
plays an important role particularly in unconscious passages and helps to relieve the sinus congestion.
patients and conditions like trauma, snake bite, Daily nasal lubrication helps to release tension in the
which is still a staggering problem in rural India. It is head and relieve accumulated stress. Balancing for
very clear from such literature that the ancient Vatham, Pitham and Kabam, Nasiyam is also
physicians knew that the connections between the traditionally said to improve quality of voice,
brain and sense organs and chose these routes to strengthen vision and promote mental clarity.
administer drugs accordingly. They also knew that
Nasiyam Definition [2,5]
oral route is sluggish and not the effective one for
certain conditions. Fresh plants are cleaned thoroughly
or blanched, crushed and juice extracted, filtered and
“Thaerumathi yonraraikkor tharanasiyam
instilled into the nostril. Depending upon the plant
peruvom”[4]
material, it is essential oil content and irritation
If Nasiyam is done properly and regularly it characteristic one or more drops are used.
will keep the person’s eye, nose and ear functions Sometimes medicines are made into pill form and the
unimpaired.[5] The nose is the direct route to the pills are dissolved either in water or breast milk or
brain and also the doorway to consciousness. It is the plant juice and instilled in the nostril. The prepared
entrance for Pranan, the life force, which comes into medicines, particularly oils are also used as nasal
the body through the breath. Healthy uncongested drops depending upon seasonality and availability of
breathing is important to ensure proper flow of fresh plant materials.
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 Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2018;6(10):47-53
Procedure of Nasiyam[8]  For spitting out, the patient is not allowed to get
 The patient is asked to lie in a bed in supine up suddenly from supine position. He/she
position. should be asked to turn to his/her side and spit
 Patient’s head is maintained at a lower position the medicine out, so that to avoid leakage of the
by keeping the pillow below the neck. medicine through the nostrils.
 This position will facilitate the direct passage of Benefits of Nasiyam[8]
the drug.  The therapy enhances the activity of sense
 Placing the medicine in a water bath makes it organs and protects the person from diseases
lukewarm. pertaining to head.
 This lukewarm medicine is made to flow in one  Early aging process is effectively prevented by
nostril, while the other is kept closed. the regular administration of Nasiyam.
 The same process is carried out in the other  Nasiyam ensures the proper and healthy growth
nostril also. of hair.
 For the administration of the drug a cotton swab  Nasiyam improves the circulation.
or dropper can be used. Shelf Life of Medicines Used in Nasiyam[2]
 The shoulders, neck, ears, soles, and palms are 12 Months
gently massaged after the administration of the Types
drug. According to the physical nature and
 The patient is advised to rest in supine position administration, it is classified into 3 types.
for 3 minutes after the medicine is instilled to  Juices or decoctions of medicinal plants used as
avoid leakage of the medicine through the Nasiyam
nostrils.  Medicated oils used as Nasiyam
 The patient should be asked to spit out the  Dry powder or pill dissolved in mother’s milk or
medicine and impurities that reach his/her cow’s urine and used as Nasiyam
mouth.
Table 1: Medicated Oils for Nasiyam
S.No Medicated Oil Indication
1. Chukkuthylam Sinusitis, headache[9]
2. Birungamalagathylam Diseases of head and eyes, deafness[9]
3. Amirtha kumara thylam Diseases of head, eyes and eyebrows and
Unmatham[9]
4. Boothigaathylam Karnasoolai, sinusitis[9]
5. Paththoorathylam 18 types of sinusitis[9]
6. Peenisathylam Sinusitis[9]
7. Peenisakirutham Raththa, Sala, Seezh Naasigarogam[9] (Diseases
in general of the nose)
8. Alahalavishathylam Abasmaram[10]
9. Musurumuttaithylam (oil preparation Moorchai (unconsciousness)[10]
from the egg of Fornica smaragdina)
10. Equal quantity of honey and castor oil Fever[11]
11. Powder of Milagu (Piper nigrum) is Fever with delirium[12]
ground with castor oil and filtered.
12. Logitthaandathylam Delirium, Poisoning[13]

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 B.K.Priya et al. A Review on Siddha External Therapy –Nasiyam (Nasal Instillation)
Table 2: Juices or Decoctions of Medicinal Plants for Nasiyam
S.No Plants Juices or Decoctions Indication
1. Leaf juice of Vembu (Azadirachta indica) Delirium, fever, epilepsy[14]
2. Leaf juice of Notchi (Vitex negundo) Elimination of excess Kabam,
headache, sinusitis, and chest
congestion[15]
3. Juice of seeds of Samudhrapalai (Argeyreia Sanni[14]
speciosa)
4. Seeds of Elam (Elettaria cardomomum) are soaked Severe thirst , Scrotal swelling[14]
in water with or without Milagu (Piper nigrum)
5. Leaf juice of Umathai (Datura metel) Azhal diseases, to treat all type of
poisonous bites, 18 types of maniac
illness, fever with chills and rigor [14]
6. Leaf juice of Thumbai (Leucas aspera) Eliminating excess Kabam, Headache,
Sinusitis, Rigor, fever with chills,
Parkinsonism [16-18]
7. Leaf juice of Kattuthulasi (Ossimum grattissmum) Cough, Headache, Sinusitis, Eliminating
excess Kabam[14]
8. Leaf juice of Vila (Feronia elephantum) Jaundice[19]
9. Clear juice of Inji (Zingiber officinale) Scorpion stings and venom of red
centipede[14]
10. Juice of Manathakkali (Solanum nigrum) Ascites [14]
11. Leaf juice of Chitramutti (Sida cordifolia) 16 types of viper poison[20]
12. Leaves juice if Thumbai (Leucus aspera) and Headache[14]
Kuppaimeni (Acalypha indica)
13. Leaf juice of vellerukku (Calotropis gigantea) Sinusitis[14]
14. Flower buds of Kirambu (Syzygium aromaticum) Sanni (delirium)[19]
are soaked with breast milk and filtered
15. Juice of flowers of Pungu (Pongamia glabra) Delirium and Convulsion due to
Mukkutram disorders[13]
16. Leaves of Murungai (Moringa olifera) and Inji Delirium[21]
(Zingiber officinale) are grinded with breast milk
17. Thippili (Piper longum) powder is mixed with leaf Fever with delirium[11]
juice of Veliparuthi (Daemia extensa)
18. The root of Ponnankani (Alternethra sessilis) Head diseases[11]
grinded with breast milk
Table 3: Medicated Pills and Other Compound Drug Preparation Used as Nasiyam
S.No Preparations Indication
1. Equal quantity of flowers of Maadhulai (Punica granatum), Sinusitis[22]
Erukku (Calatropis gigantea) and Kumkumapoo (Crocus sativus)
are grinded with breast milk
2. Seeds of Murungai (Moringa olifera) and Nayuruvi (Achyranthes Migraine[14]

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 Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2018;6(10):47-53
aspera) are triturated with the leaf juice of Neeli (Indigofera
tinctoria) and heated with sesame oil
3. Each of the following materials are ground with breast milk and Sinusitis[5]
added to clarified butter. This is exposed to sunlight for three
days and stored in a vessel. Saaranai (Trianthema monogyana),
Thippili (Piper longum), Piper nigrum (Milagu), Alum
(Padigaaram), crystal sugar
4. Sulphur is triturated with butter and spread uniformly on cloth. Nasal polyp[23]
This cloth is rolled over the tip of an iron rod and lit. Oil drops
dripping from the flame is collected in a porcelain vessel, cooled
and stored
5. For treating migraine, make a poultice by adding equal quantity of Migraine[22]
the fruit of Samuthra Pazham (Baringtonia acutangula) and
Perungayam (Ferula asafoetida) along with breast milk. Roll it
into small pills and as and when required, small portion of the pill
is rubbed with breast milk and instilled into the nostrils
6. Crush and extract the juice of the leaves of Siru Thumbai (Leucus Schizophrenia and to
procumbens), Milagu (Piper nigrum) and Vellai Poondu (Allium awake a patient from
sativum) and instill the juice in the nostrils stupor[5]
7. Old oil cake if Iluppai (Madhuca longifolia) is made into a fine Delirium, derangement
powder and kept in cloth bundle. This cloth bundle is soaked in of Pitham and the
juice of banana stem and the fluid so obtained after dissolution of combined derangement
the Iluppai (Madhuca longifolia) is instilled into the nostril of Kabam and Vatham[24]
8. Equal quantity of vellaiPoondu (Allium sativum), Oil cake of Epilepsy[21]
Iluppai (Madhuca longifolia), and Vasambu (Acorus calamus) are
triturated with leaf juice of Avuri (indigofera tinctoria) and
instilled in both nostrils
9. Powders of Vediuppu (Potassium nitrate), Induppu (Rock salt), Headache and other
Milgu (Piper nigrum), Seeragam (Cuminum cyminum), Omum disease of the head
(Trachyspermum ammi), are triturated with the juices of the region[25]
flower Thumbai (Leucus aspera), tender leaves of Nochi (Vitex
negundo) and Thulasi (Ocimum sanctum) and instilled as a nasal
drops
10. Equal quantity of Chukku (Zingiber officinale), Alum Kabam diseases and also
(Seenakaram), Borneol (Pachaikarpooram), Kungumapoo (Crocus headache due to
sativus) are triturated with breast milk and six drops are instilled sinusitis[13]
in each nostril
11. Jaggery is added to the flower juice of Venpoosunai (Benincasa Delirium[13]
hispida) along with the powder of three pungents- Chukku
(Zingiber officinale), Milagu (Piper nigrum), and Thippili (Piper
longum). The resultant liquid is used as nasal drops
12. The powder of three pungents- Chukku (Zingiber officinale), Delirium manifested by
Milagu (Piper nigrum), and Thippili (Piper longum)is added to the lock jaw and difficulty in
leaf juice of Leucusaspera (Thumbai) and the resultant liquid is breathing[13]
used as nasal drops
13. Lotus flower or leaf (Thamarai), Thulasi (Occimum sanctum), Hyperpyrexia with rigor,
Milagu (Piper nigrum), Sodium chloride (Kariuppu). These drugs Intermittent fever,
are triturated well and made into tablets. The tablet mixed with Delirium, Tetanus[18]
mother’s milk and instilled into the nostrils
14. Equal amount of Poondu (Alllium sativum), Vasambu (Acorus Migraine[26]
calamus), Kuppaimeni ver (Acalypha indica) triturated with breast

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 B.K.Priya et al. A Review on Siddha External Therapy –Nasiyam (Nasal Instillation)
milk and instilled into the nostrils
15. Brahmathandu kolunthu 1 part, purified arsenic one forth part Neelakaasam, Peenisam,
grinded well and pills were made out of this, then shade dried. headache[27]
Again grinded with cow’s milk and mixed with boiling ghee. Then
this ghee should be instilled into the nostrils
16. Distillate made out of Iluppai Pinnakku (Madhuca longifolia) Sanni[24] (Delirium,
should be instilled into the nostrils Kabavatha Noigal)
17. Tender leaf of Arugu (Cynodon dactylon) was ground and mixed Pitha diseases[7]
with flower juice of Maadhulai (Punica granatum), cow’s ghee
then instilled into nostrils
18. Samuthira Pazham (Baringtonia acutangula) and Chukku Headache[28]
(Zingiber officinale) should be ground well in mother’s milk and 5
drops should be instilled in each nostril
19. Sacred lotus (Nelumbium speciosum), tender leaves of holy basil All kinds of fever,
(Ocimum sanctum), common table salt and pepper (Piper nigrum) Unmatham (frenzy
are taken in equal amount and made into pills form then dry. This state), Sanni (Delirium)
tablet should be soaked in the breast milk and squeezed into the and hoarseness of
nostrils voice [29]

Mechanism of Absorption [30]

Para cellular Transport Aqueous route of

transport

Slow and Passive

Trans cellular Transport Transport through

lipoidal membrane

Active transport
occurs via carrier
mediated transport

Contraindications Immediately After Nasiyam [8] Contra Indications of Nasiyam

 Exposure to dust  CSF Rhinorrhoea
 Exposure to smoke  Hemophilia[8]
 Intake of fatty substances Time
 Exposure to sun  Evening time should be preferable
 Alcohol consumption  Should not be done on rainy days [5]
 Excessive intake of fluids Symptoms of Good Nasiyam Procedure [31]
 Head bath  Breathing without difficulty
 Excessive travel  Good sleep
 Improved strength of sense organs
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 Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2018;6(10):47-53
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Cite this article as: *Address for correspondence
B.K.Priya, S.Elansekaran, M.Ramamurthy, V.Srinivasan, M.Kanniyakumari, Dr B.K.Priya
G.J.Christian A Review on Siddha External Therapy –Nasiyam (Nasal Instillation). PG Scholar, Department of Noi
International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharma Research. 2018;6(10):47-53. Naadal, National Institute of Siddha,
Source of support: Nil, Conflict of interest: None Declared Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Email: [email protected]
Ph:8056898585

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