Kanakasava

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: 

1. Dhattura with its branches, roots, leaves, and fruit (Datura metel Linn)
2. Bark of Adusha — Adhathoda vasica
3. Flowers of Madhuka — Madhuca longifolia Linn.
4. Pippali – Piper longum
5. Kantakari — Garcinia morella Desr.
6. Nagakesara — Mesua ferrea Linn.
7. Dried ginger
8. Bhargi — Clerondendrum serratum Spreng.
9. Leaves of talisha — Taxus baccata Linn.
10. Powder of Dhataki flower – Woodfordia floribunda
11. Draksha – Vitis vinifera
12. Water
13. Sugar
14. Churned Raw Sugar  
15. Madhu (Honey)

Therapeutic benefits –

1. All types of Asthma
2.  Kasa
3. Rajayakshma
4. Ksata Kshina
5. Rakta pitta
6. 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:

1. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
2. Tachycardia – Fast Heart Rate
3. Not to be used in children under age of 5 years.

Reference –

Bhaishajya Ratnavali Hikka Shwasa Adhikara