Become A Member

Background: Nasya Karma is the Panchakarma therapy in which medicines are administered through the nose, mainly for disorders of the head and neck. Objective: To review the classical basis of Nasya, recent standardisation efforts and the clinical evidence for its use. Methods: Narrative review based on a PubMed search and classical texts. Findings: A recent consensus study using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method produced 63 best practice statements for Marsha Nasya across six domains. A systematic review on Nasya for facial paralysis (Ardita) found only two small pseudo-randomized studies and low-level evidence. A randomized trial reported that adding Nasya to conventional management gave better outcomes in cervical spondylosis, and an open randomized study reported greater benefit in myopia when Nasya was added to Akshitarpana. Nasya also forms part of multimodal protocols in diabetic retinopathy and trigeminal neuropathy. Conclusion: Nasya has an emerging evidence base and welcome progress in standardisation. Current clinical evidence is small and mostly confounded by co-interventions, so larger controlled studies are required.