Asthapana basti or niruha basti (therapeutic decoction enema) is a prime treatment for disorders due to vitiation of vata dosha. It can expel out the increased dosha. [Cha.Sa. Siddhi Sthana 1/27][1] Niruha basti (therapeutic decoction enema) can pacify vata at its root i.e. colon. Thus, it protects the whole body from diseases due to vata dosha. Both asthapana (therapeutic decoction enema) and virechana (therapeutic purgation) remove the doshas from the body through the colon. Asthapana basti (therapeutic decoction enema) has the advantage of eliminating dosha without causing difficulties like belching, pain in the heart region and koshtha (gut). [Cha.Sa. Siddhi Sthana 10/07][1] Niruha (therapeutic decoction enema) can be administered in weak persons, where virechana is contraindicated. (therapeutic purgation) [Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 28/86][1] Virechana (therapeutic purgation) is contraindicated in children and old people, whereas asthapana (therapeutic decoction enema) can be used for lifetime. [Cha.Sa. Siddhi Sthana 10/07][1] This chapter focuses on the concept and practices of asthapana basti (therapeutic decoction enema).
| Section/Chapter/topic | Concepts/Basti/Asthapana basti |
|---|---|
| Authors |
Adarsh P. M. 1, Deole Y.S. 2 |
| Reviewer & Editor | Basisht G.3 |
| Affiliations |
1 Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India 2 Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India 3 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. |
| Correspondence emails |
dryogeshdeole@gmail.com, carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India |
| Date of publication: | August 25, 2023 |
| DOI | 10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.145 |
Etymology and derivation
Asthapana: The word asthapana is derived from aan, stha with lyut suffix in Sanskrit. This means to stay in one place (for longer time). Asthapana prevents the aging process by fixing the malfunctioning dosha.[2]
Niruha: The word niruha is derived from nir (निर्) (privative)+ uha (ऊहा) (reasoning)+ karane (करणे घञ्). Thus, the word niruha stands for the treatment whose effect is beyond reasoning (or effective without any doubt).
Synonyms: Asthapana basti, niruha basti, kashaya basti
Types of asthapana basti
- Based on veerya (potency):
- Mridu asthapana basti (mild potency): The basti with mild potency is indicated in diseases of short duration, easy to cure, and having minimum strength.[Cha.Sa.Siddhi Sthana 10/15,16][1]. It is indicated in persons of inferior mental strength (avara sattva).[Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 38/90][3]. It is indicated explicitly in old age and children.[Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 35/10][3]The basti becomes mild (mridu), when milk (ksheera) etc. are added to it.[Cha.Sa.Siddhi Sthana 7/63][1]
Prasrutika basti is an example of mridu basti (basti with mild potency), which is indicated for tender/delicate persons(sukumaras). There are chatur prasrutika, pancha prasrutika, shat prasrutika, sapta prasrutika and nava prasrutika bastis mentioned in prasruthayogika siddhi. - Teekshna asthapana basti (strong potency): The basti with strong potency is indicated in diseases of prolonged duration, challenging to cure, and having maximum strength. It can be administered in persons having superior mental strength (pravara sattva). The basti will get sharpness (teekshnatvam), when it gets added with cow’s urine (gomutra), pilu (Salvadora persica Linn), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica), salt (lavana) and alkali (kshara).
- Based on effect (karma):
- Utkleshana basti: This type of basti is intended to aggravate dosha in dormant state (leena avastha). After initial aggravation, the basti expelles the dosha to create equilibrium. Eranda beeja (seed of Ricinus communis), madhuka (Madhuka longifolia), pippali (Piper longum), saindhava (rock salt) and hapusha phala (Juniperus communis Linn.) as kalka are the ingredients of utkleshana basti. [Su.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 35/93][3]
- Doshahara basti : This pacifies dosha by removing them.The ingredients of doshahara basti are satahva (Anethum sowa), madhuka (Madhuca longifolia), kutaja beeja (Holarrhena antidysenterica), madanaphala (Randia dumetorum) along with kanjika (fermented rice gruel) and gomutra (cow’s urine). [Su.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 35/94][3].
- Dosha shamana basti: This pacifies dosha with mild potency.Priyangu (Callicarpa macrophylla), Madhuka (Madhuca longifolia), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Rasanjana (semisolid extract obtained from decotion of Berberis aristata with milk) along with cow’s milk (goksheera) are the ingredients. [Su.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 35/95][3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Charak. Charak Samhita. Edited by Jadavaji Trikamji Aacharya. 1st ed. Varanasi: Krishnadas Academy;2000.
- ↑ www.wisdomlib.org. Asthapana, Āsthāpana: 7 definitions [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2023 July 31st]. Available from https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/asthapana.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 20Sushruta. Sushruta Samhita. Edited by Jadavaji Trikamji Aacharya. 8th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia;2005