Nasya in Ayurveda purges and rejuvenates the tissues and specific organs of the head and neck. It also introduces medicated oils and powders into the nose, which is the nearest access and passage to the organs of the head. It eliminates aama and toxins from the nose, mouth, ears, eyes and para-nasal sinuses. In Ayurveda, it is described that the nose is the main doorway to the brain. Nasya cleanses and opens the channels of the head and improves oxygenation, which is the flow of the prana. It has a direct and effectively beneficial influence on brain functioning.

Nasya is used for dry nasal passages as well as common cold, sinus congestion, allergies, allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis. It also eases chronic vascular headaches, epilepsy, migraine and it has a positive effect on degenerative diseases of mental retardation and of the brain. Nasya helps in healing problems associated with ear and eye such as itching and watery eyes, hearing loss and tinnitus, glaucoma, conjunctivitis as well as loss of sense of smell. In some cases, nasya therapy is not administered. For instances, the cases in which nasya is contraindicated are for dehydrated infants or for those who are experiencing severe anger or panic. Moreover, it should not be administered immediately after bathing. Ayurvedic physicians advises some precautionary measures when the treatment is given to pregnant women. Apart from these cases, any individual aged from eight to eighty can be treated by nasya therapy.

Types of Nasyas
Nasya uses two different classes of substances traditionally and they are mainly - medicated oils and medicated powders. These two classes can be used for three different purposes -

Firstly for promoting secretions that dislodges and carries toxins out of the body. It is called as shodhana nasya.

For providing nourishment to the tissues in the region and it is called as bruhan nasya.

For creating a soothing effect or palliative effect, it is known as shamana nasya.

The substances used in the three effects of the therapy can be increased as per the needs of the patient. Nasya treatment in Ayurveda effectively eliminates heaviness in the head, headaches, swollen lymph glands and nasal congestion.