Basti is considered as the prime treatment of panchakarma in ayurveda. It has a curative aspect but also preventive and promotive aspects. It is considered as a chief treatment for various disease conditions and the best treatment modality for all types of vata diseases.
Basti is the procedure of administering liquid medicine through the rectal or vaginal route for therapeutic purposes using basti yantra. Basti yantra is the instrument through which basti dravya(liquid) is administered. The word basti means to reside, to stay, or to dwell. The basti dravya stays for a certain time and then they draw the mala (the waste products of the body) from all over the body into the colon and eliminate them by producing movements in the colon resulting in the desired effect.
Utility of Basti Procedure
- Purifies and clears the channels.
- Act on various disorders based on the selection of drugs.
- Has a curative action.
- Can be administered at any age or stage of disease after proper examination.
- Can also be given to a normal person.
Promotive Action
- Sustain life.
- Provide compactness and strength to the body.
- Restores normalcy.
- Increases the perception of taste.
Curative Aspect
- Relieves stiffness.
- Effective in paralytic, dislocation, and fracture conditions
- Relieves pain.
- Effective in disorders of GIT.
Rejuvenative Aspects
- Effective to restore the normal functions of blood.
Effect on mental function
- Improves mental functions.
- Induces sound sleep and cheerfulness.
Basti Yantra is the instrument through which the medicine is administered. It mainly consists of two parts:
- Basti Putaka(bladder)
- Basti Netra(nozzle)
Olden days bladder of animals was used as basti putaka for holding medicine. Nowadays, thick polythene covers are used. The length of the netra(nozzle) changes according to age.
Various toxins enter our body through food, air, etc., and accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract. There is a tendency for these toxins to increase and spread in all channels of the body with the passage of time leading to various diseases. It is necessary to expel these toxins accumulated in the body and basti is the apt treatment for this.
