Nasya or nasyam is an Ayurvedic treatment method, characterized by nasal administration of medicines. According to Ayurveda Kerala, nose is the opening of prana or life. Nasal administration of medicines easily takes the medicines to the brain and other vital parts. Nasal administration is mainly to remove excess dosha accumulated in the nose, throat and head area. Prana is responsible for all mental activities including memory, thought process and concentration. If there are difficulties to breath, Nasya is also a treatment method.

There are six types of nasya, they are:

1. Pradhamana nasya or virechan nasya uses powdered herbs, without any oils. The medicinal powder is blown into the nose with the help of a tube. Headaches, cold, etc are the main diseases treated this way.
2. Bruhana nasya uses animal or vegetable ghee, medicated milk, oil etc. It is also called nutrition nasya. Dry nose, difficulty in talking, heaviness of eyelids, loss of sensitivity to smell etc are the indications of bruhana nasya.
3. Shaman Nasya includes the application of medicinal decoctions or medicinal oils.
4. Navana Nasya uses both medicinal decoctions and oils together.
5. Marshya Nasya again is use of ghee or oil.
6. Prati Nasya is performed by the person himself on a daily basis, by dipping the small finger in ghee or oil (medicated or otherwise) and lubricating the nasal passage by inserting the wet finger as much as possible without causing pain or damaging the soft tissue. Children below seven, people above 80 and pregnant women are not recommended for any kind of nasya therapies.

Though non-medicated steam bath is also recommended by different healthcare practitioners from across the world, steam from water medicated with Ayurvedic herbs has several specific benefits.

The major benefit of such a medicated steam bath is that it mobilizes accumulated ama (bodily wastes) that accumulates in different srota (body channels) and blocks the way of vital energy reaching different parts of the skin.

The steam is mainly aimed at swedan (sweating) to release the accumulated toxins. Steam bath is also supported by different steam bath boxes, in which the person can take a standing, sitting or lying down position. Fully medicated steam is passed to the chamber so that the person gets his body below neck completely bathes in medicated steam. In addition to removing toxic wastes, Vashpaswedan also is beneficial in curing different skin problems like psoriasis.