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

Tarpana comprises anything and everything which provides nutrition or nutrition value. This is an extremely important part of Ayurveda treatment protocol, used in selected conditions as and when needed, though not directly indicated in all diseases. They can also be health drinks with nutritional value and seems like anyone can use it at any time from the outlook, but cannot be generalized from Ayurveda perspective. It has specific and special value in therapeutics.

Jwara is one condition wherein Tarpana has been specifically indicated to be used in some conditions. Let us see its applicability in the treatment protocol of jwara vis-à-vis fevers, in this article.

Ref – Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana Chapter 3, Jwara Chikitsa Adhyaya, Verses 155-160 (Cha.Chi.3/155-160)

Use of Tarpana in Jwara

तत्र तर्पणमेवाग्रे प्रयोज्यं लाज सक्तुभिः||१५५||
ज्वरापहैः फल रसैर्युक्तं समधु शर्करम्|१५६|

In such conditions wherein the administration of Yavagu / Peya – gruels cannot be used in Jwara treatment, the physician should administer Tarpana right at the beginning. The Tarpana should be prepared with Laja Saktu – powder of field paddy / puffed grains and should be served mixed with honey, sugar and juices which have ‘jwara alleviating’ properties / action.

So, we have sorted out the context of administration of Tarpana. Tarpana is selectively used in treatment of Jwara, only in conditions wherein you cannot administer Yavagu (since the use of it is contraindicated).

Let us understand the pre-context now.

Langhana – fasting is said to be the first therapeutic measure mentioned in the treatment of Jwara. It gives rest to amashaya – stomach, the place of origin of jwara. It also helps in kindling the agni and also digesting the ama.

Other measures indicated in Taruna Jwara (acute fevers in their first six days of manifestation) – Along with or following Langhana, Swedana – sudation, Yavagu – gruels, Tikta Rasa – bitter tasting herbs (used for processing Yavagu also) and Kala – time of first eight days from the day of manifestation of fever should be followed. The combination of these measures helps in getting control over the jwara in its Taruna – acute phase i.e. first six days of its manifestation. Kala is mentioned as a self limiting time period of jwara, threshold time or ‘wait and watch’ period to see if fever goes away naturally or with simple measures like langhana, swedana etc mentioned above.

Vamana in Jwara – If kapha excitation is seen right at the beginning of jwara, vamana – emesis should be administered to expel the morbid kapha. Later Langhana, Swedana and Yavagu should be administered.

Yavagu in Jwara – light digestible gruels are game-changers in the treatment of jwara. Since agni is low and hypo-active in the earlier stages of jwara (taruna jwara), it cannot digest normal foods that we eat. So, we should give it fuel in the form of yavagu – gruels, which are light to digest and smooth on agni. They are also disease specific diets i.e. ‘jwara alleviating’. They induce hunger and lightness in the body on the backdrop of what Langhana and Swedana have done in our body.

Conditions for administering Tarpana

But what if some kinds of Jwara ‘Yavagu’ cannot be given, being contraindicated?

In such cases, ‘Yavagu’ needs to be replaced by ‘Tarpana’.

Contraindications for Yavagu

So, what are those conditions wherein Yavagu is contraindicated?

नृते मद्य समुत्थितात्| मदात्यये मद्यनित्ये ग्रीष्मे पित्त कफाधिके||१५४||
ऊर्ध्वगे रक्तपित्ते च यवागूर्न हिता ज्वरे|१५५|

Yavagu / gruels are contraindicated in fevers

–        Madya Samutthitat – caused due to excessive consumption of alcoholic drinks

–        Madatyaya – occurring in people suffering from alcoholic intoxication

–        Madyanitya – occurring in those consuming alcohol daily – alcohol addiction

–        Grishma – occurring in summer

–        Pittadhike – associated with severe aggravation of pitta or high pitta fevers

–        Kaphadhike – associated with severe aggravation of kapha or high kapha fevers

–        Urdhwaga Raktapitta – associated with or occurring in those suffering from bleeding disorders occurring from the upper passages / tracts (mouth, ears, eyes, nose)

In all the above mentioned conditions, yavagu should not be given. That means to say that all these conditions of fever qualify for administration of Tarpana.

Post-Tarpana procedures

ततः सात्म्यबलापेक्षी भोजयेज्जीर्णतर्पणम्||१५६||
तनुना मुद्गयूषेण जाङ्गलानां रसेन वा|
अन्नकालेषु चाप्यस्मै विधेयं दन्तधावनम्||१५७||
योऽस्य वक्त्ररसस्तस्माद्विपरीतं प्रियं च यत्|
तदस्य मुखवैशद्यं प्रकाङ्क्षां चान्नपानयोः||१५८||
धत्ते रसविशेषाणामभिज्ञत्वं करोति यत्|
विशोध्य द्रुमशाखाग्रैरास्यं प्रक्षाल्य चासकृत्||१५९||
मस्त्विक्षुरसमद्याद्यैर्यथाहारमवाप्नुयात्|१६०|

The physician should wait and observe for signs of digestion of Tarpana. After confirming that the Tarpana has been digested and in the annakala i.e. at the right time for taking food and when the person is hungry, the patient should be given with Mudga Yusha – thin soup of green gram or Jangala Mamsarasa – meat soup of wild animals / animals living in desert like regions after having considered the satmya – wholesomeness and bala – strength of the patient.

Danta Dhawana – Acharya Charaka mentions that the person should also be advised to brush his teeth before intake of the foods mentioned above. The patient should brush and clean his teeth with twigs of plants before eating food. The taste of the twigs of those plants should be such that they counteract the taste of the mouth of the patient and should be relishing.

It is important to clean the teeth because the twigs create freshness in the mouth. It also generates an appetite for intake of foods and drinks. By taking the food after cleaning the teeth and mouth with twigs, the person becomes capable of appreciating the tastes of the food which he consumes.

The patient should clean his mouth by rinsing it with water several times after cleansing the teeth with the twigs.

Thereafter, the patient should be given Mastu – thin buttermilk, Ikshurasa – sugarcane juice, Madya – alcoholic drinks etc. along with appropriate diet.