Basti

Bastiis considered as the prime treatment among all thepanchakarma. It has curative, preventive, and promotive aspects.

Basti karmais a procedure where medicated preparations are administered through anal canal. It stays there for a period and comes out asmala(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 intovranafor 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 ofanuvasana basti

Niruha basti:Kashayais the chief constituent ofbasti dravyaalong withMadhu(honey), Saindhava(salt), Kalka(paste) andSneha(oil).In place ofKashaya – Ksheera(milk), Mamsa rasa(meat soup), Gomutra(Cow’s urine) etc are used.

• Based on number of Basti

i)Karma basti: 30bastiare to be administered.

ii)Kala basti: 16bastiare to be administered

iii)Yoga basti: 8bastiare 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

• Preparebasti dravya

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

• Abhyanga(Massage) andSwedana(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 thebasticontent 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)

• Ruchiinahara(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 ofVarcha(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)