In Ayurveda for this purpose seasonal panchakarma is recommended. In rainy season vata gets vitiated which is a cause of above mentioned complaints. To normalize this increased vitiated vata, ‘basti’ a kind of panchakarma is recommended.

What is ‘basti’?

Basti is a procedure to treat patients with herbal medicines, decoctions, medicated oils, ghee, honey, saindhav salt etc where mode of drug administration is through anus.

Action of basti

As large intestine is prime location of vata if we treat patients by this method vitiated vata get subside at its major place and our vata problems get subside at its own place do not find path to increase at it’s another places such as joints, bones, back, skin etc. Large intestine has large absorption area i.e. intestinal flora, which permits absorption of drug immediately after its administration so quick results are possible with this panchkarma.

It is one of the major five detoxification programs described in Aayurvedic texts. As vata get increased with dryness, coldness, in basti we use medicated oils, decoctions whose characteristics are opposite to vata so vata get subsided and we get relief from all pains, constipation vata skin diseases etc.

By using different types of basti we can treat all diseases i.e. diseases of all 3 doshas, they get balanced and health is achieved.

By this procedure you can achieve long healthy life, it gives healthy glow o your skin. It can reduce or increase your weight, it is age protector-it reduces signs of aging-dry saggy skin becomes tight. It rejuvenates your body, skin. Basti gives strength to you.

In this way basti itself, is a complete treatment.

Precautions for basti

It is a scientific procedure you should give sufficient time for proper results. It needs some diet and habit regimen. You should avoid—

1] Travelling, sun exposure, and heavy exercise

2] Loud talking , delivering speech,

3] Day time sleep, late night sleep, coitus

4] Heavy to digest food ,unhealthy fast food, hotel food etc.

Take light, healthy, satwik diet, and follow good habits during this procedure.

Types of basti

Two major types-Types dependant on drugs used for basti

1] Niruha basti – This basti contains herbal decoction+medicated oil+honey+saindhav salt etc. Its quantity is more so it is expelled immediately from body. It detoxify your body by expelling vitiated dosha with decoction.

2] Anuvasan basti – This basti contains only medicated oils, it’s quantity is less so it retains in body 1 hr to 12 hrs. It nourishes your body, oleates internally and there by reduces vata.

Generally both bastis are used on alternate day, but we can use only oil basti also, especially for old age patients, or patients with chronic constipation, dryness etc.

Duration of basti

There are many courses of basti-common ones are

3 Days basti for rejuvenation therapy called as ‘yuktaratha basti where above mentioned diet and habit regimens are not compulsory.

8 Days basti course-where niruha and anuvasan are given alternately.

 15/16 days basti course-for obesity or chronic diseases.

30 days basti course for chronic, difficult to treat patients, where more dosha are involved since many days.

21 days basti course these bastis are bone nourishing basti. These are given for osteoarthritis, back pain, calcium deficiency, spondylosis, joint pain etc. 3 subsequent bastis are given at interval of 5-7 days.

There are many bastis described in Ayurvedic texts specific for every disease, infertility, blood diseases etc.

Procedure of basti-

Prior to basti-Whole body massage is given with medicated oil. This is 45-60 minutes session. After that steam bath is given with herbal decoction.

Basti- Medicine is given to patient through anus under all aseptic precautions.

Post basti- Patient should take rest for half an hour, when he has sensation to pass stool he can do that. After that he has to take hot water bath and then take hot easy to digest food.

For this procedure 1.5 to 2 hours required. When you undergo proper scientific basti procedure in this rainy it will keep you healthy for at least 1 year.

Dr. Nileema Shisodev

(M.D. [Aayurved] gold medalist.)

Ayurveda believes in the maintenance of health that helps prevent the diseases. However treats almost all the conditions in case health is disturbed. To serve both these purposes Internal Medication, Panchakarma and certain changes in lifestyle are employed in Ayurveda.

Panchakarma is a specialized branch in Ayurveda that helps to cleanse the body by eliminating vitiated dosha- Vata, Pitta and Kapha (These are basic body constituents that may cause pathological conditions when vitiated) out of the body. It is used in various ailments as a special tool.

There are five main treatments viz.

1. Vaman (Emesis)
2. Virechan (Purgation)
3. Basti (Medicated Enema)
4. Nasya (Errhine Therapy) &
5. Raktamokshan (Blood letting)

Vaman – Induced Emesis

It is a prime Panchakarma procedure that eliminates vitiated Kapha mainly and up to certain extent Pitta. This vitiated Kapha and Pitta are responsible for numerous disorders like Asthma, hyperacidity etc. It is a well-controlled emesis induced with specific herbs and their decoctions. 

Virechan – Induced Purgation

This is done with strong purgatives that eliminate the vitiated doshas (vitiated rudiments) out of the body and ultimately cleanse the body. This procedure is mainly recommended for Pitta and Vata disorders.

Basti – Medicated Enema

Enema containing various medicines in form of herbs, decoctions, honey, oil etc is given in various diseases. The purpose is not just the cleansing of colons but the alleviation of doshas as well. It proves to be a very effective remedy in a number of diseases including orthopedic & neurological disorders, obesity etc.  

Nasya – Errhine Therapy

It is the nasal route of administration of medicines. It usually recommended for diseases affecting shoulders, neck and head region e.g. Cervical Spondylitis, Chronic rhinitis (Common Cold), Neuralgias, Hair disorders etc. Medicines can be in form of decoction, milk, juice, powder or fumes.

Raktamokshan – Blood Letting

Letting a certain quantity of blood out of the body eliminates vitiated Pitta out of the body and thus helps in a number of ailments involving blood tissue and Pitta. It is done in two ways viz. Leech treatment and with the help of needle and syringe through vein. Leeches when applied over the affected part of the body suck the blood up to their capacity and then leave the surface on their own. It is commonly used in skin diseases, psoriasis, abscess etc.

Along with the main Panchakarma Treatments, there are certain allied procedures that have tremendous effectiveness over a number of diseases.

Snehan – Oleation / Massage

It’s the most soothing treatment being done all over the world. Ayurvedaic Snehan incorporates the use of different oils and other unctuous materials. Various kinds of medicated oils, ghee etc are used to alleviate pain, fatigue and for many other purposes.

Swedan – Fomentation

Fomentation usually follows the Snehan / oil Application. It can be done using steam or dry heat. Steam box, Nadi-swed and different varieties of sauna can be used. Steam of herbal decoctions is used for the purpose. Along with orthopedic and neurological ailments like joint pain and spine disorders, it is also beneficial in Asthma and some skin disorders.

Shirodhara

This is a treatment that has gained a wide popularity all over the world due to its efficacy in calming mind and relieving stress. It is a uniform flow of medicated oil / decoction / medicated buttermilk over the forehead for certain period of time. It soothes the mind and acts as a stress buster. It is commonly recommended in various neurological disorders like various kinds of headache, migraine, epilepsy etc. and hair disorders as well. It is the best treatment in hypertension to alleviate the blood pressure.

Shirobasti

The medicated oil / medicine is allowed to rest over the head with help of a leather cap. It is beneficial in various psychological and neurological ailments.

Pishichchil

It is a different kind of oleation where warm oil is squeezed from the pieces of cloth over the body. The procedure is valuable in Vata disorders including orthopedic and neurological manifestations. The utmost echelon of oleation can be achieved in this procedure.

Pindaswed

This is a variety of fomentation done with the help of rice grains cooked in medicinal herbs. The rice filled in cotton bags is dipped in hot medicinal liquid and massaged all over the body. It is useful in muscular & musculo-skeletal disorders and various other painful conditions like joint pain in arthritis, gout etc.

Agnikarma

This is a kind of Thermal Cautery done in painful conditions like corn. Agnikarma can relieve severe pain observed in joint disorders.

Hrudbasti

Lukewarm oil / medicine in liquid form is allowed to rest over the chest region to benefit in cardiac disorders. It helps in Angina, septal defects (perforation in the wall of the heart), palpitations, blocks in cardiac vessels etc.

Katibasti

Lukewarm oil / medicine in liquid form is allowed to rest over the lumbar region to impart the unctuousness and alleviate Vata in Vata disorders like arthritis, spondylitis and other degenerative manifestations.

Netrabasti

Here Oil or ghee is used to nourish the eyes. It is allowed to rest over the affected eye with the help of a ring and sealing agent. It is recommended in various ophthalmic disorders.

To summarize, Panchakarma is the mode of treatment that helps to maintain the health and treat the pathological conditions by altering the complete equation of the diseased condition.

Dr. Mahesh Sabade – MD (Ayurvedaa)