VĀJĪKARAṆA Primary dharma (functional duty) of ALL living beings is to procreate (reproduce). The primary aim of vājīkaraṇa is the same – to procreate and give rise to a healthy (śārīra as well as mānas) progeny. Āpatya santānakaraṃ yatsadyaḥ saṃpraharṣaṇaṃ Vājīva atibalo yena yātya pratihataḥ striyaḥ… Medicine that: Aids having progeny Helps achieve instant (quick) and efficient erectility Helps sexual performance unhindered That makes a male dear to many women That can make a person virile and fertile even in old age… Caraka cikitsā 2: Vājī refers to stallion (male horse). The āhāra/ vihāra/ auṣadhi that can create/ increase the sexual potential in a man (male) making it possible to perform for longer time and more frequently and with bala (strength)… Vājī also refers to śukra. Cikitsā to create/ enhance śukra in a śukra deficient person is vājīkaraṇa. Suśṛta cikitsā 26: Vājī also refers to sexual potential. Cikitsā, that, when given in right quantities and right time, increases sexual prowess of a male to perform like a stallion and to satisfy women sexually… In short, Vājīkaraṇa = Increase śukra Increase sexual performance (also related to māṃsa) Increase sexual urge (mānas). Rasāyana is done to strengthen all dhatu in general whereas vājīkaraṇa is done to strengthen śukra… Rasāyana is done in both, males and females whereas vājīkaraṇa is specifically for males… Who should be given vājīkaraṇa? The recipient of this cikitsā should be jītendriya (one who has conquered/ has control over his senses/ desires. If given to a pervert/ person with poor control over his desires, it can be harmful for society. Males below 20 years (ref. Caraka), [below 25 years according to Suśṛta and below 16 years according to Vāgbhaṭa] and males above 80 years age should not be given Vājīkaraṇa. Vājīkaraṇa increases sexual pravṛtti – urge (mānas) as well as the necessary physical dimension. This leads to consumption of śukra. So this cikitsā has to be taken regularly/ continuously. Of all factors that are vājīkara, the ‘woman’ is considered as supreme or prime vājīkara as ‘she’ produces the sexual desire. Of all sensory sukha (joys), sexual joy is supreme as it satisfies all the 5 senses and the whole body at the same time (remember ‘sarvadehic’ śukra?) The desirable woman who is beautiful, has a pleasant voice and other pleasant attributes like graceful movements etc makes the male forget all bhaya (fright), śoka (sorrow), udvega (anger, frustration)… Of course the idea of ‘pleasant/ desirable’ is subjective and changes from person to person. Vājīkara āhāra, vihāra: Vājīkara dravya are usually madhura (sweet), guru, snigdha, bṛṃhana and satisfying to the mānas. Milk, māṣa (udad dal), māṃsa –especially of vṛṣabha (bull) or stallion, ghṛta, jātiphala, fruits like sitāphala (anona) and bananas etc are all regular items used in food that are vājīkara. Of these, some are śukra-stambhaka – help to hold back the śukra for longer time thereby prolonging the period of performance; eg. jātiphala, seeds of opium, opium, karpur etc. Some other dravya help to increase the śukra – quantitatively and qualitatively; eg. milk, ghṛta etc. Rasona (garlic) is considered to increase sexual urge. Vihāra includes being in/near a pond with lotuses, smell of jasmine (hence wearing of garlands of jasmine/ women wearing jasmine in their hair/ nuptial beds being decorated with jasmine), similarly rose, basti of frothy milk with sugar and honey… Multiple medicinal combinations can be found in classical formulatories. What is necessary is to classify according to action. Dravya that increase sexual performance i.e. erectility in terms of rigidity and period. Hence useful for complaints of erectile dysfunction. Kavaca bīja (seeds of Mucuna pruriens), Aśwagandhā (Withania somnifera), Maṣa (udad dal), Śatāvari, Yaśtimadhu, Vidārikanda, black currants, Jātīphala, Opium, Karpura (Camphor); Māṃsa of bull, horse, chicken, peacock, buffalo etc. Suvarṇa bhasma, jasad (zinc) bhasma, śilājatu. Hence various auṣadhi kalpana made from these for relevant problems can be prepared. Eg. milk with powders of above herbs; ghṛta made from milk of cow that is given only māṣa to eat. Dravya that is śukra vardhana (increases śukra quantitatively and qualitatively). Hence useful for complaints like oligospermia, low motility of sperms, high liquefaction time etc. Again some of the dravyas are from the same list above esp. milk, ghṛta, banana, anona, kavaca bīja cūrṇa, śatāvarī, vidārikanda, yaśtimadhu; māṃsa of cock, peacock etc.; vanga bhasma, jasad bhasma. A general vṛṣya combination: Cūrṇa of Aśwagandhā, Kavaca bīja, Śatāvarī, Vidārikanda, Yaśtimadhu, Gokṣura, Śweta musali each 100mg. + Balāmula, Guḍuci, Āmalaki each 50mg. + Makaradhwaja rasa, Śilājīta each 50mg. + Abhrak bhasma, Vanga bhasma, Jasad bhasma each 25mg. + Suvarna bhasma 2mg./ Hīrak bhasma 2 mg. Anupāna : Hot milk with saffron Sevana kāla : Swapna kāla (at bedtime). Additionally, local external snehana only (NO swedana) with balāaśwagandhādi taila or mahāmāṣa taila or śri-gopāla taila is beneficial. Besides this, certain yoga exercises like aświni mudrā are helpful. In anxiety/stress related cases, (whether the person is generally stressed or has ‘performance anxiety’), Sāraswat ghṛta or brāhmi ghṛta 1 teaspoon added to hot milk at bedtime can work wonders. Vṛṣya Rasāla or dadhisara: Remove all water from dadhi by hanging it in a thin cotton cloth. Add sugar, madhu, marīca, vanśalocana, jātiphala and mix well. This can be eaten directly or mixed with ghṛta and rice. Makaradhwaja rasa Some Vṛṣya herbs Aśwagandhā – Withania Somnifera. Balya, rasāyana, vājikara, vīrya-vardhana (increases śukra). Kapikacchu (Kavaca) beeja – Mucuna Pruriens. Vṛṣya, bṛṃhan, madhura, guru, tikta, vātahara, balya. Increase śukra and known to have excellent results in oligospermia. Muśalikanda - Hypoxis orchioides. Madhura, vīryavardhaka, uṣṇa, guru, tikta, rasāyana, puṣṭikara. As anti-ageing, for virility as well as sperm counts. Ākārakarabh (Ākallaka) – Anacyclus Pyrenthum – Pellitory root. Uṣṇa vīrya, balakṛta, kaṭu; reduces pratiśyāya, śotha and vāta. It is kāmottejak (sexual stimulant) and also gives strength to majjā. Useful in erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation. Kucala (Struchnus nutāvax vomica) – gives darḍhya to māṃsa dhātu and helps improve tone of muscles hence good in impotence, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation. Jātiphala (Nutmeg) – helps to retain erections for longer time. Śatāvari Jaṭāmānsi Apāmarga Kucalā Onion