Kanakasava is widely used in Ayurveda to strengthen the lungs. It is beneficial for various types of respiratory illness like a cough, dyspnoea, asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis and debility due to chest injury.

The Reference Shloka —
संक्षुध्य कनकं शाखा मूल पत्र फलैः सह ।
तत् चतुष्फलं ग्राह्यम् वृष मूल त्वचन्तथा ।।
मधुकं माधवी व्याघ्री केशरं विश्वभेषजं ।
भार्गी तलिष पत्रञ्च संचुर्ण येषां पल द्वयं
संगृह्य धातकी प्रस्थं द्राक्षायः पल विंशतिं ।
जल द्रोण द्वयं दत्वा शर्करा तुलां तथा ।।
क्षोउद्रस्यर्ध तुलञ्च अपि सर्वं संमिश्र्य यत्नतः ।
भाण्डे निक्षिप्य चावृत्य निदद्यात मास मात्रकं ।।
निहन्ति निखिलन् श्वासान् कासं यक्ष्माणं येव च ।
क्षतक्षीण ज्वरं जीर्णं रक्तपित्त उरः क्षतं ।।
saṁkṣudhya kanakaṁ śākhā mūla patra phalaiḥ saha ।
tat catuṣphalaṁ grāhyam vr̥ṣa mūla tvacantathā ।।
madhukaṁ mādhavī vyāghrī keśaraṁ viśvabheṣajaṁ ।
bhārgī taliṣa patrañca saṁcurṇa yeṣāṁ pala dvayaṁ
saṁgr̥hya dhātakī prasthaṁ drākṣāyaḥ pala viṁśatiṁ ।
jala droṇa dvayaṁ datvā śarkarā tulāṁ tathā ।।
kṣoudrasyardha tulañca api sarvaṁ saṁmiśrya yatnataḥ ।
bhāṇḍe nikṣipya cāvr̥tya nidadyāta māsa mātrakaṁ ।।
nihanti nikhilan śvāsān kāsaṁ yakṣmāṇaṁ yeva ca ।
kṣatakṣīṇa jvaraṁ jīrṇaṁ raktapitta uraḥ kṣataṁ ।।
The Ingredients:
- Dhattura with its branches, roots, leaves, and fruit (Datura metel Linn)
- Bark of Adusha — Adhathoda vasica
- Flowers of Madhuka — Madhuca longifolia Linn.
- Pippali – Piper longum
- Kantakari — Garcinia morella Desr.
- Nagakesara — Mesua ferrea Linn.
- Dried ginger
- Bhargi — Clerondendrum serratum Spreng.
- Leaves of talisha — Taxus baccata Linn.
- Powder of Dhataki flower – Woodfordia floribunda
- Draksha – Vitis vinifera
- Water
- Sugar
- Churned Raw Sugar
- Madhu (Honey)
Therapeutic benefits –
- All types of Asthma
- Kasa
- Rajayakshma
- Ksata Kshina
- Rakta pitta
- Urakshata
The Dosage —
- 6 – 15ml twice a day with equal amount of water or as directed by the physician
The Side effects —
A few patients experience the following side effects:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Restlessness
The Contraindications —
Kanakasava should not be taken in following cases:
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- Tachycardia – Fast Heart Rate
- Not to be used in children under age of 5 years.
Reference –
Bhaishajya Ratnavali Hikka Shwasa Adhikara
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I’m Dr. Malini Bhat MD (Ayu); an Ayurvedic Doctor and a health blogger. Follow me on social media to get daily health tips which you can easily adapt to a healthy lifestyle.