Vaitarana

Vaitaranabasti is a therapeutic enema. It is effective in diseases like amavata, katishoola (lumbago), gridhasi (sciatica), klaibya (sexual dysfunction), vishamajwara(fever) etc. The description is available in ayurveda texts likeChakradutta, Vrandhamadhava, Vangasenasamhita.In current scenario, it is used in amavatapatients as a safe, innocuous & custodian therapy for the patient. It is also useful in amadosha predominant conditions like anaha (abdominal distension),shotha (swelling),shula (pain). It has vata-kaphapacifying properties and helps in removing avarana of vata by kapha. The present chapter describes advantages and practical aspects of vaitaranabasti.

Contributors

Section/Chapter/topic	Concepts/Prakriti/Manas prakriti
Authors	Patil Rajkala P.1, Gupta Rishanki2
Reviewer	Basisht G.3,
Editor	Deole Y.S.4
Affiliations	1Department of Panchakarma, Faculty of Ayurveda, I.M.S., B.H.U., Varanasi, India 2Department of Rog Nidana, Faculty of Ayurveda, I.M.S., B.H.U., Varanasi, India 3Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 4Department ofKayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
Correspondence emails	rajkalapatil@bhu.ac.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India
Date of publication:	November 18, 2022
DOI	In process

Etymology and derivation

According to Padma Purana, Vaitarana means ‘Vai’ (meaning truly) to ‘tarana’ (means saving). Vaitarana is called so because the enema is said to prevent many diseases. It means to donate, go across, to leave which helps to expel the dosha. Vaitarana is the name of river, which can bring back the dead to live.It is meant to cross a river, transporting (a departed spirit) over the river that flows between earth and the lower regions [Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary, 1899]. Hence, this basti is so powerful that it can bring back life of a person, who is about to die. The first reference regarding vaitaranibasti is probably found in the Siddhayogaor Vrindamadhava ; narrated as separate section as this formulation does not satisfy inclusion in description ofniruhabasti.The critical edition of Vrindha Madhava by Dr.Premavati Tiwari and Dr. AshaKumari reports a variant reading where gudais replaced by Hingu.

The basic difference in niruha and vaitaranabasti as follow-

NIRUHA BASTI (purification enema)	VAITARANA BASTI (Vaitarana enema)
Contents- Makshika (honey), Lavana (salt), Sneha(oil), Kalka(paste), &Kwatha(decoction).	Contents- Saindhava (rock salt), Guda (jaggery), Chincha (tamrind), Taila (oil), &Drava Dravya (liquids).
Makshika(honey)	Instead of Makshika(honey) ;Guda(jaggery) is there.
here kalka(paste) mainly of satapushpa (dill seed) or madhanaphala (emetic nut).	chincha(tamrind) act as kalka (paste).
sneha(oil)	here rukshnasneha(oil processed with herbs of hot potency and dry property that will not increase kapha) used like bhrityasaindhavaditaila (special medicated oil).
Generally used kwatha (decoction) like dashmoola (group of ten herbs).	Here Gomutra(cow urine) used instead of any kwatha (decoction).

Ingredients described in different texts:

Contents	Chakradutta	Vrindhamadhava	Vangasena	Weight in grams/ml
Saindhava (rock salt)	1 karsha	1 karsha	1 karsha	10gms
Guda (jaggery)	1 shukti(1/2 pala)	1 shukti(1/2 pala)	1/2 pala	25gms
Amlika (tamrind)	1 pala	1 pala	1 pala	50gms
Gomutra (cow urine)	1 kudava(4pala)	1 kudava(4 pala)	Ishattaila	200ml
Godugdha (cow milk)	Not mentioned	Not mentioned	1 kudava	-
Taila(–ilataila- sesame oil)	Quantity not mentioned	Oil insmall quantity	Oil in small quantity	10-25ML