Effective Basti Treatments Vata disorders

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay)
Among the Panchakarma therapies, Basti (Niruha and Anuvasana) are the best treatment to combat morbid Vata and to cure all disorders caused by vitiated Vata. 

Vasti is said to be ‘Ardha Chikitsa’ or half the treatment of all the other treatments available in the world.

Vata is said to be the main controlling force of all the activities of the body. Pitta and Kapha are incapable of producing a disease or disease process unless they are motivated, provoked and mobilized by vitiated Vata. Similarly the functions of all the tissues and organs, the functions of mind, sense organs, motor organs and all the discharges and movements in the system is carried by the governance of Vata. The expulsion of wastes from the body is also under its control. To sum up, Vata is the remote control of all the activities of the body. If this Vata gets vitiatied, the remote control will start controlling the body in an undesired way and cause lot of diseases and deformities. Thus Vata being the superior dosha, needs a stronger treatment and attention when it is a in a state of vitiation.
Nothing can control a ‘Vata’ which is ‘out of control’ as is done effectively by Vasti.
Read related: Basti Chikitsa: Benefits, Routes, Types, Indications, Equipment

Vata Rogahara Niruha Vasti

Vata Rogahara Niruha Vasti (Effective decoction enemas to combat vitiated Vata and Vata disorders)

Bilwadi Niruha Vasti or Brihat Panchamula Niruha Vasti –
Ingredients

Vilwadi Kashayam – Decoction prepared using the roots of Brihat Panchamula or 5 greater roots. They are:

• Bilva – Aegle Marmelos
• Agnimantha – Premna mucronata
• Shyonaka – Oroxylum indicum
• Patala – Stereospermum suaveolens
• Gambhari – Gmelina arborea

Chatu sneha (4 unctous materials): Sarpi – ghee, Majja – bone marrow, Vasa – muscle fat and Taila – oil or sesame oil (or medicated oil)
Mamsa Rasa – meat soup
The Niruha Vasti of the above said medicines is prepared and used to administer enema to get rid of Vata disorders.

Shalaparnyadi Niruha Vasti
Ingredients:
Shalaparnyadi Kashayam – Decoction prepared using the roots of:

• Shalaparni – Desomodium gangeticum
• Prishniparni – Uraria picta
• Brihati – Solanum indicum
• Kantakari – Solanum xanthocarpum
• Eranda mula – Ricinus communis

Chatu sneha (4 unctous materials): Sarpi – ghee, Majja – bone marrow, Vasa – muscle fat and Taila – oil or sesame oil (or medicated oil)
Mamsa Rasa – meat soup
The Niruha Vasti of the above said medicines is prepared and used to administer enema to get rid of Vata disorders.

Yavadi Niruha Vasti
Ingredients:
Yava Kashayam – Decoction prepared using the roots of:

• Yava – Barley
• Kulattha – Horse gram
• Badara – Indian jujube
• Shalaparni – Desomodium gangeticum

Chatu sneha (4 unctous materials): Sarpi – ghee, Majja – bone marrow, Vasa – muscle fat and Taila – oil or sesame oil (or medicated oil)
Mamsa Rasa – meat soup
The Niruha Vasti of the above said medicines is prepared. Enema of this Niruha Vasti will combat Vata disorders effectively.

Guduchyadi Niruha Vasti
Ingredients:
Guduchyadi Niruha Kashayam – Decoction prepared using the roots of:

• Guduchi – Tinospora cordifolia
• Haritaki – Terminalia chebula
• Bibhitaki – Terminalia bellirica
• Amalaki – Emblica officinalis
• Rasna – Alpinia galangal
• Shalaparni – Desomodium gangeticum
• Prishniparni – Uraria picta
• Brihati – Solanum indicum
• Kantakari – Solanum xanthocarpum
• Gokshura – Tribulus terristris
• Bilva – Aegle Marmelos
• Agnimantha – Premna mucronata
• Shyonaka – Oroxylum indicum
• Patala – Stereospermum suaveolens
• Gambhari – Gmelina arborea
• Bala – Sida cordifolia
• Mamsa – meat

Each of the above said medicines should be taken in 1 pala (48 grams approximately) quantity each, totally 16 pala (768 grams approximately) and mamsa or meat 16 pala (768 grams approximately) should be taken. Everything should be boiled in 136 pala water (6528 grams approximately). When only ¼ of the total volume remains i.e. 34 tola (1632 grams approximately), it is filtered off. 8 pala (388 grams approximately) of the filtrate is taken.

To this paste of 1 tola each (12 grams approximately) of the below said is added.

• Priyangu – Callicarpa macrophylla
• Musta – Cyperus rotundus
• Saindhava lavana – Rock salt
• Shatapushpa – Dill seeds
• Vacha – Acorus calamus
• Pippali – Long pepper
• Ajamoda – Celery
• Kushta – Saussurea lappa
• Bilwa – Aegle marmelos
• Guda – jaggery

Each of the below said is later mixed in the above said composition in the below mentioned quantity.

• Madanaphala – Randia dumetorum (1/2 pala or 24 grams)
• Madhu – honey (3pala – 144 grams)
• Taila – oil (6 pala – 288 grams)
• Ghrita – ghee (6 pala – 288 grams)
• Dugdha – milk (2 pala – 96 grams)
• Shukta – sour fermented medicine (1/2 pala – 24 grams)
• Kanji – sour fermented medicine (1/2 pala – 24 grams)
• Mastu – supernatant layer of curds (1/2 pala – 24 grams)
• Mutra – urine (1/2 pala – 24 grams)

The Niruha Vasti of the above said medicines is prepared and used to administer enema.

This Vasti will destroy many Vata disorders. Apart from that it enhances teja (reflection or glow, or digestion), varna (colour), bala (strength and immunity), utsaha (enthusiasm), veerya (valour, vigour), agni (metabolism) and prana (life span).

Vata Rogahara Anuvasana Vasti

Vata Roga-hara Anuvasana Vasti (Effective oil enemas to combat vitiated Vata and Vata disorders)

Dashamuladi Anuvasana Vasti
Ingredients:
Tila taila – sesame oil (2 adaka – 6144 grams approximately)
1 pala (48 grams approximately) each of the below said:

• Shalaparni – Desomodium gangeticum
• Prishniparni – Uraria picta
• Brihati – Solanum indicum
• Kantakari – Solanum xanthocarpum
• Gokshura – Tribulus terristris
•  
• Agnimantha – Premna mucronata
• Shyonaka – Oroxylum indicum
• Patala – Stereospermum suaveolens
• Gambhari – Gmelina arborea
• Bala – Sida cordifolia
• Ashwagandha – Withania somnifera
• Rasna – Alpinia galangal
• Punarnava – Boerhavia diffusa
• Bharangi – Clerodendrum serratum
• Vasa – Adhatoda vasica
• Rohisha trina – Cympopogon martinii
• Shatavari – Asparagus racemosa
• Sahachara – Strobilanthes ciliates / Nilgirianthus ciliatus
• Kakanasa – Tricosanthes tricuspidata

2 pala (96 grams) each of the below said medicines:

• Yava – Barley
• Masha – black grams
• Badara – Indian jujube
• Kulattha – horse gram
• Atasi – Flax seed

These should be processed in 8 drona (8192 tola – 98304 ml or gram approximately) water until 2 drona remains (2048 tola i.e. 24576 grams approximately). This decoction is filtered.

To this, the tila taila is added in the above said quantity along with 1 pala (48 grams) each of the herbs of Jeevaneeya Gana group of herbs and heated until all the water evaporates and only oil is left over. The oil is filtered and separated from the herbs. This is called Dashamuladi Tailam.

Jeevaneeya Gana medicines are as mentioned below:

• Jeevaka – Malaxis acuminate
• Rishabhaka – Manilkara hexandra
• Meda – Polygonatum cirrhifolium
• Mahameda – Polygonatum verticillatum
• Kakoli – Fritillaria roylei
• Kshira Kakoli – Roscoea purpurea
• Mudgaparni – Phaseolus trilobus
• Mashaparni – Teramnus labialis
• Jivanti – Leptadenia reticulate
• Madhuka – Glycyrrhiza glabra

Anuvasana Vasti administered with this Dashamuladi Tailam will destroy all the Vata disorders.
In another variant of this vasti, the vasa (muscle fat) of the anupa animals and birds (animals living in marshy areas) is mixed in the preparation for added benefits

Shatahvadi Taila
Ingredients:

• Shatapushpa – Dill seeds
• Tila taila – sesame oil
• Yava – barley
• Bilwa – Aegle marmelos
• Amla kanji – sour fermented medicinal fluid

The oil prepared using the above said medicines are called Shatahvadi Taila. The Anuvasana Vasti given with this taila conquers morbid Vata dosha and also cures Vata disorders.

Ghrita Basti –
Saindhava Lavana or Rock salt is heated until it becomes red. It is later mixed with melted ghee. This ghee is administered as Anuvasana vasti. This is said to be an excellent treatment to combat vitiated Vata and also to cure Vata disorders.

Other Tailas which can be used for Sneha Vasti to combat Vata are:

• Ksheerabala tailam
• Dhanwantaram tailam
• Sahachara tailam
• Narayana tailam
• Masha tailam
• Brihat saindhavadi tailam etc

Just before finishing –
Basti is the best treatment to combat vitiated Vata. Vasti is also advised for certain Pitta and Kapha disorders. Those Vastis will also have a beneficial effect on morbid Vata. But the above said Vastis are particularly beneficial to combat Vata disorders.

Since Vata disorders cover most of the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular diseases and degenerative diseases, the above mentioned Vastis will have a good impact on these set of diseases.

By controlling Vata we can control the entire body-mind functional mechanism. Since Vasti is the best controller of Vata, it helps to resuscitate all the failed and slowed down mechanisms in the body and helps obtain energy, enthusiasm and immunity. Thus it can be readily administered wherever the Vata vitiation is suspected.
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)