Description

Basti Karma (medicated enema)

Life Synergy’s MatB Kit offers one time, hygienic, easy, and ready-to-use experience for Matra Basti karma.
In Basti Karma the medicated oil or herbal decoction is administered through the anal route. Basti Karma mentioned in Ayurvedic classics is having broader therapeutic action on almost all the tissues of the body and have rejuvenating, curative, preventive and health-promotive actions.

Basti Karma is one of the modalities among the five bio cleansing/detoxifying procedures (Panchakarma procedures/ Samshodhan Chikitsa) advocated in Ayurveda as i.e.Vaman (Therapeutic emesis), Virechan (Therapeutic Purgation), Basti (Medicated Enema), Nasya (Infiltration of drugs through nostrils) &Raktamokshana (Bloodletting by different methods).

Through basti, the active constituents in the medicine are more bioavailable and produce optimal effects.
As per Ayurvedic classics, Basti works as plant watered at its root & then root circulate it in all branches (su.ch.35/24-25). It has also been described as Ardha Chikitsa (Ch.si.1/39). i.e. half treatment for the management of diseases.

Basti have been categorized according to the type of ingredients & number of sessions of Basti required etc. Medicines/ ingredients used in Basti Karma are selected as per the condition of disease & its clinical correlation with the current prognosis of patient. Basti is commonly used alone or along with Ayurveda medication, in all Vata Vyadhi (neurological disorders) & is also indicated in various diseases as Anaha, Malavrodh, Rajokshay, Adhman, Vatrakta, Pleeha, Parshva graham, Prishta graham, Akshepak, Pakshaghat etc.

It is also used for increasing weight in emaciated peoples (by Brihan Basti), & for reduce weight in obese (by Lekhan Basti). It can also be used in children as well as in the elderly; but with utmost care under a physician’s supervision.

Basti Karma is broadly divided into three types according to the consistency of the drugs Sneha Basti (Matra ), Niruha Basti (Aasthaapana) and Uttar Basti.

In Sneha Basti/ Matra Basti i.e. in this type medicated Oil/ Ghee, lipids are used, word Matra indicates “To stay”, the administrated medicines stay inside for a longer duration at site of administration.

In Ayurvedic classics its Contraindications, features of Samyak, asmyak, (proper/inadequate) Basti &Vyapad (compilations) have been described in details. Basti Karma is though seems to be the simple procedure, but should be carefully done only under the supervision of ayurvedic physician and pre & post procedure along with do’s & don’ts are to be followed strictly.

बलदोषकालरोगप्रकृतीःप्रविभज्ययोजिताःसम्यक्
स्वैःस्वैरौषधवर्गैःस्वान्स्वान्रोगान्नियच्छन्ति||४||
कर्मान्यद्बस्तिसमंनविद्यतेशीघ्रसुखविशोधित्वात्|
आश्वपतर्पणतर्पणयोगाच्चनिरत्ययत्वाच्च||५|| CH. SI. 10/ 4-5

Basti if properly administered in accordance with the strength of the patient, dosha, time, nature of the disease, and constitution of the person by using the specific group of drugs prescribed for the treatment of the respective diseases will cure those diseases. No other therapeutic procedure is equivalent to Basti as far as its actions like rapid and comfortable cleansing, immediate depletion and replenishment and is devoid of complications.

अनुवासनंनिरूहश्चोत्तरबस्तिश्चसत्रिविधः||८||
शाखावातार्तानांसकुञ्चितस्तब्धभग्नरुग्णानाम् |
विट्सङ्गाध्मानारुचिपरिकर्तिरुगादिषुचशस्तः||९||
उष्णार्तानांशीताञ्छीतार्तानांतथासुखोष्णांश्च|
तद्योग्यौषधयुक्तान्बस्तीन्सन्तर्क्यविनियुज्यात्||१०|| CH. SI. 10/ 8-10

The basti is of three types viz: Matra abasti (enema with fatty substance like oil etc.), niruhabasti (enema with herbal decoction, honey, rock salt, herbal paste and fatty substance) and uttarabasti (trans- urethral/vaginal administration of medicine). The basti is beneficial for the patients who are suffering with the affliction of shakha (extremities) by vata, sankuchita (contractures), stabdha (stiffness), bhagna (fractures), vitsanga (constipation), adhmana (gaseous distention of abdomen), aruchi (anorexia), parikartika, (cutting pain in anal region), rug (pain) etc. ushnartanam (patients afflicted with heat) should be given cold basti and for sheetartanam (those who are afflicted with cold) should be given warm basti by using suitable drugs based on proper reasoning.