‘A good puff will drive all your problems away’; Baba Ramdev’s Ayurvedic hookah goes viral

DEHRADUN: Baba Ramdev’s ‘Ayurvedic hookah’ has gone viral on social media. Unlike a regular hookah, the viral hookah uses Ayurvedic ingredients and medicinal herbs, according to his claim. Baba Ramdev revealed on his social media page that it contains only Ayurvedic ingredients, without tobacco, flavours or chemicals.

Baba Ramdev claims that he is promoting the Ayurvedic hookah as an alternative to tobacco and e-cigarettes. He has also explained what goes into the hookah prepared with Ayurvedic ingredients. Liquorice, turmeric, mustard, cow ghee, kakda singi and traditional camphor are used to prepare it.

According to his method, liquorice is crushed and mixed with cow ghee, after which turmeric and mustard are added. Camphor is then burnt inside the hookah, with kakda singi placed over it to produce the smoke.

Baba Ramdev claims that the smoke has Ayurvedic benefits and that inhaling it can help balance the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) according to Ayurveda. He also claims that the smoke can provide immediate relief from nasal congestion and cough. He argues that while tobacco and harmful chemicals in regular hookahs and e-cigarettes damage the lungs, traditional methods such as the Ayurvedic hookah can be beneficial.

The viral hookah, however, has drawn both support and criticism on social media. Some users have also joked that Baba Ramdev has adapted to the trends of the new generation. Comments such as, “Bro, you understand this generation really well,” have appeared below the video. The amusing reactions to the video have also added to its popularity on social media.

At the same time, health experts point out that inhaling smoke directly into the lungs can be harmful even if tobacco is not used. Experts also say that there is no scientific evidence to support such practices promoted in the name of traditional medicine.