Basti

Basti is considered as the prime treatment among all the panchakarma. It has curative, preventive, and promotive aspects.

Basti karma is a procedure where medicated preparations are administered through anal canal. It stays there for a period and comes out as mala(faeces).

“Bastina diyathe iti basti” (A.Hru.Su. 19/1)

Benefits

• Srotoshudhhi (Purifies all system and clear minute passages)

• Vayasthapana (Sustains age)

• Pushtikara (Provides strength to body)

• Ruchi (Increases taste perception)

• Shoolahara (Relieves pain)

• Kukshiayama (Effective in GI tract disorders)

• Vajikaroti (Aphrodisiac)

• Medhokrut (Improves intellectual power)

• Swapnanuvrutti (Induces sound sleep)

Classification

• Based on location

– Pakvashayagata basti : Administration of basti into colon through anal canal

– Mutrashayagata basti : Administration of basti into urinary bladder through urethra

– Garbhashayagata basti : Administration of basti into uterus through vagina

– Vrana basti : Administration of basti into vrana for purification and healing purpose.

• Based on medication used

Sneha basti : Snehas (medicated ghee,oil…) are administrated into colon through anal canal.

• Anuvasana basti : Uses oil or ghee

• Matra basti : Half dose of anuvasana basti

Niruha basti : Kashaya is the chief constituent of basti dravya along with Madhu (honey), Saindhava (salt), Kalka (paste) and Sneha (oil). In place of Kashaya – Ksheera (milk), Mamsa rasa (meat soup), Gomutra (Cow’s urine) etc are used.

• Based on number of Basti

i)Karma basti : 30 basti are to be administered.

ii)Kala basti : 16 basti are to be administered

iii)Yoga basti : 8 basti are to be administered

This procedure includes : Poorva karma, Pradhana karma, paschat karma

Poorva Karma – Pre Preparation

• Selection of indicated patient

• Examination of the vitals of patient

• Prepare basti dravya

• Patient is asked to pass faeces, urine, and flatus

• Abhyanga (Massage) and Swedana (Fomentation) is given to patient

• Patient is asked to come in empty stomach (Niruha basti)

Advised to take food (Anuvasana basti)

Pradhana Karma – Main Procedure

• Administered in afternoon after digestion of previous meal and not feeling hungry.

• Patient is asked to lie down on left side and keep his/head on his/her arms like pillow.

• Patient is asked to flex his/her right leg, left leg fully extended.

• Anus and enema nozzle is lubricated. Air bubble is removed, and enema nozzle is introduced slowly.

• Slowly inject the basti content and gradually withdraw the nozzle.

• Patient is said to lie on his/her back with his/her body in raised position.

• On urge for defecation, he should not suppress it.

Paschat Karma – Post Preparation

• Niruha basti : Warm water bath

: Diet – Rice with soup of meat or pulses

• Anuvasana basti : Buttocks of patient is patted

: Relax in supine position

: Raise foot end of the table to little extent

Symptoms of Proper Adminitstration

• Prasrushta vit (Evacuation of bowel without discomfort)

• Prasrushta mutra (Evacuation of urine without discomfort)

• Ruchi in ahara (Taste in food)

• Agni vruddhi (Good appetite)

• Ashaya laghava (Lightness of body)

• Rogopashamana (Recovery of disease)

• Bala (Increases strength)

• Clarity of senses, intellect

• Returning of faeces and oil separately without sticking with each other

Indications

• Kukshi roga(GI disorders)

• Obstruction to flow of Varcha(Faeces), Mutra(Urine)

• Adhmana(Distension of abdomen)

• Shiroshula(Headache), Karna shula(Earache)

• Shosha(Emaciation)

• Arthritis

• Cardiac disorders

• Tremors

Contraindications

• Ajeerna(Just after meals)

• Yanaklanta(Excessive traveling)

• Kshut trushna(Hungry, Thirsty)

• Ama atisara(Diarrhoea due to indigestion)

• Visuchika(Gastroenteritis)

• Intestinal obstruction

• Kushta(Skin disorders)

Article By :
Ms. Arpitha (Final year BAMS student)