Basti

Basti is medicated enema, one of the five panchakarma cleansing measures. Using herbal decoctions or oils, it eliminates excess vata via the colon and is considered the single most powerful treatment for vata disorders.

25-26 Types of medicines: शोधनं शमनं चे त समासात ् औषधं वधा ॥ शर रजानां दोषाणां मेण परमौषधम ् । बि त: वरे को वमनं तथा तैल घ ृतं मधु: ॥ śodhanaṃ śamanaṃ ceti samāsāt auṣadhaṃ dvidhā || śarīrajānāṃ doṣāṇāṃ krameṇa paramauṣadham | basti: vireko vamanaṃ tathā taila ghṛtaṃ madhu: || There are two types of medicines.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ayushkameeya Adhyaya

Examples: For Vata – Basti (suppositories) is the Shodhana treatment, and oil is Shamana treatment.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ayushkameeya Adhyaya

After that the person should also be administered asthapana basti (decoction enema therapy).

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

Suppression of Semen ejaculation: शु ा त ह वणं ग ु यवेदना वयथु वराः १९ यथामू स गा गभ गव ृ य मष ढताः Suppression of ejaculation causes Sravana – oozing of semen Guhya Vedana – pain in groin Shvayathu – oedema, inflammation Jvara – fever Hrid Vyatha – cardiac pain, distress Mutrasanga – Obstruction to the flow of urine and difficulty Angabhanga – bodyache, myalgia Vruddhi – Hernia Ashma – stone formation Shandata – Impotency Treatment: ता चूडसुराशा लब बि तशु य य ग अवगाहनम ् २० करैः स ं भजे

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Roganutpadaniya

Abhyanga – oil massage Udvartana – powder massage Snana – herbal bath Niruha Basti –enema treatment Snehabasti – oil / ghee enema treatment All these help to restore health of the debilitated.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Roganutpadaniya

Beneficial treatments for undernutrition: meat broths, milk, ghee preparations, bathing, medicated enema, oil massage, and nourishing procedures.

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 23: Over-nutrition & Under-nutrition Disorders (Santarpaniya Adhyaya / सन्तर्पणीय अध्याय)

Oral treatment with milk, basti karma (medicated enema) and virechana (therapeutic purgation) should be repeated in pittodara;

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

If diarrhea persists in spite of the administration of anuvasana basti and observing the samsarjana-krama (gradual administration of lighter to heavier food) then piccha basti (mucilaginous type of medicated enema) should be given.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 19: Diarrhea Treatment (Atisara Chikitsa / अतिसारचिकित्सा)

In cases of wound, first of all, purification with therapeutic emesis, purgation, shastra karma (surgical intervention) and basti (medicated enema) should be done after assessment of condition because the wounds get healed quickly in those with cleansed body.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 25: Wound Management (Dwivraniya Chikitsa / द्विव्रणीयचिकित्सा)

,and rock salt [15] If the above said therapies fail to produce the desired results the physician should advise oleation and fomentation and administer niruha type of basti (ununctuous medicated enema) using a special combination of herbal decoctions which are sharp (tikshna) in nature and having emetic and purgative properties alongwith, cows urine, oil, alkali, drugs with drugs having sour taste and vata alleviating quality: In vata predominance: The enema should be sour, salty and oily.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

Below that is Basti/Mutrashaya (urinary bladder).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 5: Kaladikakhyanam (Description of Kalas etc.)

The watery portion is carried by the Siras (vessels) to the Basti (bladder) where it becomes urine.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 6: Aharadigatikathanam (Description of Food Processes etc.)

The first is Vata-kundalika, the second Vata-ashthila, the third Vata-basti, and the fourth Mutratita.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 7: Rogagananam (Enumeration of Diseases)

Mutrasada, Ushnavata, and Basti-kundalika — these three additional Mutraghatas are each described as severe.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 7: Rogagananam (Enumeration of Diseases)

The following persons should avoid Sneha intake: those with indigestion, abdominal disease (Udara Roga), acute fever, the weak, those with loss of appetite (Arochaka), the obese, those with fainting or intoxication, those who have just received Basti (enema) or Virechana (purgation), those who have just vomited, those with thirst and fatigue, women with premature delivery, and during bad weather.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 1: Snehapana Vidhi (Oleation Therapy)

Chikitsa Sthana continued: (31) Rasayana (Rejuvenation), (32) Sneha-upayogika (Use of Oleation/Oils), (33) Sveda (Fomentation/Sweating), (34) Vamana (Emesis), (35) Virechana (Purgation), (36) Vaman-Virechana Vyapat-chikitsa (Management of Complications of Emesis and Purgation), (37) Netra-basti-vibhagika (Classification of Enema Administration), (38) Netra-basti-vipat-siddha (Complications and Success of Enemas), (39) Uttara-basti (Upper/Urethral Enema), (40) Niruha-krama (Decoction Enema Proced

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 3: Adhyayana Sampradaniya Adhyaya - Method of Study and Teaching

For INCISION (bhedya) — practice on leather bags (driti), bladders (basti), and water-filled leather pouches.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 9: Yogya Sutriya Adhyaya - Training on Practice Models

For ENEMA/CATHETER INSERTION (netra-pranidhan/basti) — practice on the side-openings of water-filled pots, and on gourd mouths.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 9: Yogya Sutriya Adhyaya - Training on Practice Models

The patient should be properly treated with basti (enema), snehana (oleation), and virechana (purgation), followed by tarpana (eye nourishment), putapaka (medicated poultice), dhuma (fumigation), and ashchyotana (eye drops).

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis)

Also with nasya (nasal medication), sneha-parisheka (oil irrigation), shiro-basti (head oil pooling), and irrigation with decoctions of vata-alleviating herbs, aquatic and marshy animal meats, and sour substances.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis)