Standardization of Ayurvedic gargle (Kavala) based on volume and time of holding with special reference to its immediate effect

Traditional medical systems like Ayurveda always give importance for preservation and restoration of health. Gandoosha and Kavala are two therapeutic and preventive measures described in Ayurveda for oral health. In the classical texts, the exact volume of kavala dravya and time duration for kavala procedure is not mentioned, where the measurements are made according to the capacity of the individual. The objective of this study is to standardize the amount of kavala dravya and time taken for kavala in healthy volunteers. In this study, kavala dravya was prepared and was given to 30 voluntary participants, in the dose of half of their maximum oral capacity, and the time for attaining samyak lakshana was noted. By statistical techniques, the mean amount of kavala dravya and mean time taken for samyak lakshana were found out and were respectively 50 ±  3.3 ml and 120 ±10 seconds. Along with this, the majority of the participants had showed positive effects of Kavala like the feeling of cleanliness, increased salivation, feeling of freshness and aroma to the oral cavity. As the sample follows the standard normal distribution, the means on volume and time taken for Kavala can be extrapolated to other population. This may help to assess the reliability and comparability of future research on Kavala.