A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF UTKLESHANA, DOSHAHARA AND SAMSHAMANA VASTI IN AYURVEDA

Abstract

The importance of Panchakarma (Penta Bio - Purification Therapy) in Ayurveda is borne out by the fact that it is applicable to all cases covering a wide range of preventive, curative and promotive conditions. It is postulated that the vitiated Dosha's (humors) and Mala's (excrements) of the body need to be eliminated before any specific measure is taken to cure the disease because no therapy works well if Shodhana (bio purification) measures are not taken beforehand. Among these Shodhana (bio purification), Vasti (enema Therapy) itself has super most protagonists in Panchakarma (Penta bio purification). Basically, most of the Acharyas (Seers) explained different varieties of Vasti (enema Therapy) in different frames like Yapana Vasti, Siddha Vasti, Bruhmana Vasti Yukta Ratha Vasti etc. But the ultimate outcome is to normalize the Dosha's mainly Vata Dosha. Vaata is having qualities like Amoortha (intangible), Anavastita (inconstant) and Swayambu (self - existent) in nature while Pitta and Kapha are Moorta dosha's, so called as Mala's, having their common quality of Sneha that is being targeted for Utkleshana (excitation of Dosha) and doshahara (elimination of Dosha) finally looks for Samshamana (palliation of Dosha) therapy. Shodhana refers to mala shodana i.e. Utklista pitta and Utklista Kapha including other mala's. As per classics, dosha utkleshana is mainly by snehana and swedana but acharya Sushruta opines - utkleshana of dosha's via vasti chikitsa also i.e. Utkleshana Vasti along with compendium of Doshahara and Samshamana Vasti for Utklishta Dosha elimination and remnant dosha elimination respectively.