Review on Kuzhambu with Special Reference to Kottamchukkadi Kuzhambu

Introduction

Sneha kalpana is a pharmaceutical procedure to prepare oleaginous medicine from substances such as kalka (bolus of drugs), drava dravya (liquid material) and sneha (fatty material)2,3. They are prepared in specific proportions by subjecting them to an optimum temperature for specified duration to fulfil certain kalpasidhi lakshanas (pharmaceutical parameters), as per the requirement of therapeutics explained by acharyas. Mainly, 2 types of Sneha kalpana are described in Ayurvedic classics, that is, taila and ghrita kalpana4 . As per the acharya susruta, sneha is an indispensable constituent of a living body. He quotes various forms of sneha and in different combinations provide nourishment to the body5 . Sneha siddha (fat soluble) drugs have better pharmacokinetics in comparison to other dosage forms because lipid soluble substances readily permeate into the cells owing to the lipid nature of the cell membrane.6

Kuzhambu is a traditional preparation in Kerala, and is a special and evolved form of sneha kalpana. It is prepared by the permutation and combination of mahasneha and exclusively used for external application. Kuzhambu is a blend of three sneha dravyas (fatty material), each dravya has its own role in the combination. In classics it is called trivit sneha and in Malayalam it is called as mukkutt. There are no direct references to kuzhambu in the Ayurveda classics. There is one reference available in the Thiruvananthapuram Ayurveda college pharmacopeia and it is called as mukkutt (Dhanwantharam mukkutt). Even though Kuzhambu is used mainly for vatavy-adhis, it also possesses a tridoshahara property. It acts as a pushti kara and bala vardhaka. This review emphasises on the importance of kuzhambu which is not widely practiced by the present Ayurveda community of present era and the concept of kuzhambu and its preparation with special reference to kottamchukkadi kuzhambu.

Kottamchukkadi kuzhambu

Kottamchukkadi kuzhambu is one of the widely practiced oil preparations in Kerala. It is the modified form of Kottamchukkadi taila explained in Sahasrayoga1 by Kerala vaidyas, based on their practical knowledge. Kottamchukkadi taila is used for both external and internal therapeutic applications and the practitioners of Kerala prepare kuzhambu by changing the quantity of sneha, especially to use it for external application only, that is, addition of eranda taila and ghrita to kottamchukkadi taila. The description starts with kottam, meaning kushta and chukku meaning shunti, and so it is named kottamchukkadi kuzhambu. A mixture of tila taila, eranda taila and katu taila is used and other ingredients used are kushta, shunti, vacha, shigru, lashuna, kartotti, devadaru, sarshapa, rasna, dadhi and chincha rasa.

The overall properties of the drugs used are katu (pungent), tikta (bitter) as dominant rasa (taste), laghu (light), ruksha (dry) in guna (nature), ushna (hot), virya (potency), katu (pungent) vipaka (post digestive taste) and showing sandhigatavata, gridhrasi, kaphavataja, vataja disorders and amavata relieving action along with analgesic, antiinflammation, antioxidants, antispasmodic, antiarthritic, immunomodulator activity etc.

Method of preparation22

• • Kalka dravya – kushta, shunti, vacha, shigru, lashuna, kartotti, devadaru, sarshapa, rasna (in equal quantity each) – 1 Part
• • Sneha dravya – tila taila, eranda taila (half of tila taila), goghrita (half of eranda taila) – 4 parts
• • Drava dravya – chincha rasa – 16 parts and dadhi - 4 parts

Take all ingredients as per pharmacopeial quantity. Wash and dry all the herbal raw materials except chincha thoroughly. Collect fresh leaves of chincha, wash thoroughly, grind and express swarasa through muslin cloth.Take the other ingredients (kalka dravyas) with the exception of lasuna and sarshapa dry powder and pass them through sieve number 80. Grind lasuna and sarshapa separately, add the powdered ingredients and grind with sufficient quantity of chincha swarasa to prepare a homogeneous blend (kalka).

Take the mixture of tila taila, eranda taila, goghrita (ghee) in a stainless steel vessel and heat it on low flame. Add the swarasa and godadhi to it. To this mixture, add kalka (bolus of drug) and stir thoroughly. Heat it with constant stirring and at low temperature, during the first hour of heating. Stop heating just before mrudupaka (kalka shows stickiness to touch and traces of water) and let it stand overnight.

Heat it up the next day, stir and constantly check the kalka by rolling between fingers. Stop heating until kalka breaks down into pieces on attempting to form a varti (khara pāka lakshana) and obtain optimum smell and colour (gandha varnotpatti).23 Expose the varti to flame and confirm the absence of crackling sound indicating absence of moisture. Filter while hot through a muslin cloth and allow to cool. Pack it in tightly closed containers to protect from light and moisture.

Indications3

Amavata (Rheumatism), angastambha (body stiffness), vataroga mainly mamsa-medogata vata, snayugata vata, sandhigata vata, dandaptanak, pakshaghata, ardita, hanugraha, manyastambha, katigraha, avabahuka, vishwachi, gridhrasi etc.

Shelf life:16 months.24

Discussion

Kuzhambu is a blend of different fatty material and according to classics sarvata sarva bhavanam samanyam vridhikaranam25, it has great benefits. Because of its thicker consistency, heat retaining capacity and lubricant nature, kuzhambu has high therapeutic potential when compared to single taila preparations. It aids in blood circulation during its application and increases the rate of absorption and penetration of drugs and thus has greater therapeutic value. It has significant application in the geriatric age group. The elasticity of skin is lost with age. In the elderly, kuzhambu is a better option when compared to other preparations because of its high transdermal delivery.

According to acharya Charaka and Vagbhata, 26 a single drug can be transformed into a potent one by simple procedures such as addition or deletion of certain drugs, modifying certain procedures, based on scientific knowledge and experience. Kuzhambu preparation is one such example by Kerala vaidyas.

Each drug dissolves at a different rate in different oils. When considering Kottamchukkadi Kuzhambu, even though tila taila has higher solubility than the other two, some of the active principles dissolve in eranda taila and ghrita only. Therefore, a combination of these increases therapeutic efficacy.

In Kottamchukkadi kuzhambu, most of the drugs have vata-kapha hara action. It is indicated in case of various vatavyadhis as well as amavata conditions. This combination also has pittahara nature due to the presence of ghee and it becomes tridoshagna. Eranda taila increases the vata-kapha hara property of kuzhambu. Due to its viscous nature and greater heat retaining capacity, it is preferred in case of chronic conditions and Kerala panchakarma procedures.

Conclusion

Kuzhambu is a blend of 3 sneha dravya (fatty material), each drava dravya has its own role in the combination. It is highly effective and the rate of absorption is higher than the use of single sneha. It has great application in therapeutics specially as external application in vatananatmaja vyadhis and pittanubandha vatavyadhis. Kottamchukkadi kuzhambu is widely practiced medicament in Kerala along with kottamchukkadi taila and kottamchukkadi choorna. It is mainly indicated in vataja, vatakapha and amavata conditions. Kottamchukkadi taila is contraindicated in vata-pitta conditions but kottamchukkadi kuzhambu can be used, since it contains ghee. Thus, the usage of eranda taila, ghrita and tila taila potentiates the formulation and increases its therapeutic value.

Conflicts of interest

Declared.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the contributions of Professor and Head of the Department, Dr. R.S. Hiremath, all the teachers and colleagues at Kaher’s Shri B.M.K. Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Belagavi and Drug Testing Laboratory for ASU drugs, Governement of India, Kaher’s Shri. B.M.K. Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Belagavi, Karnataka for its contribution towards this study.