Role of Bastikarma in Shalya Tantra

ROLE OF BASTIKARMA IN SHALYA TANTRA

Basti is considered as “sampoorna chikitsa” by many ancient scholars.
Importance of bastikarma in the field of shalya tantra can be mainly taken as
one of the necessary karma to be performed as a part of paschat karma after
shastrakriya.

Bastikarma helps in dosha samyata, dhatu pushti, aam nashan,
srotovaigunya, koshta shuddhi etc. With the help of various medicinal
dravyas it leads to shodhan as well as shaman of the doshas. There is no
other best treatment to normalise excessively aggravated vata other than
basti. Even in conditions like raktapitta when there is blood loss; acharyas
have advised to give rakta basti of mrugadi animals mixed with drugs like
shyama, gambhari, durva or anjan mixed sheeta basti.

Further, Sushruta has also said that purishdhar kala includes asthidhar
kala as well as pakwashaya and asthidhatu both is the sthana of vata. Vata
dosha and asthidhatu have ashraya ashrayi bhava. Due to vata prakopa there
is kshaya of asthidhatu which further leads to deformity in sandhis as well.
Thus vatahara treatment should be given in any asthigat vyadhis. Hence in
conditions like aam vaat; vaitaran basti shows wonderful results. In various
other asthigat vyadhis like vaatrakta etc basti given with drugs like patoladi
group, bhadradarvyadi group, kakolyadi group , ksheer etc proves to be useful. Also in conditions like urethral stricture uttarbasti given with kshar
dravyas helps to clear the path.
Guda basti is instillation of medicines into the body through rectal route.
Here the basti medicines are expected to enter the large intestine. The basti
netra is inserted into rectum. Length of rectum is about 5 inches in adults. Its
length changes according to age of patient hence size of basti netra also
changes accordingly. Medicines given through bastikarma enter the rectum
upto the pakwashaya i.e. upto the sigmoid colon. Superior part of rectum is
in relation with hepatic portal system and inferior part is in relation with the
inferior vena cava. This clearly shows that the medicines instilled inside
directly gets absorbed into the blood.
According to Ayurveda, normally when any ingested material passes
through the pakwashaya the kledak kapha present acts on it. This kledak
kapha is nothing but the mucin which is alkaline in nature secreted by the
mucosa. Its function is to lubricate the intestine from inside so as to avoid
any adhesions of the ingested materials thus keeping the intestine clean. But
to today’s stressful life, intake of kapha vardhak diet, lack of exercise etc
leads to kledak kapha dushti and thus disturbance in mala formation. Lot of
kledak kapha is secreated which in modern system can be considered as
mucoid plaque which is due to excessive production of mucin. Due to these
there is adhesion of the mala into the intestines which further leads to many
diseases. It increases the intraluminal colonic pressure which causes
conditions like diverticulisis, intestinal obstruction, obesity etc. Hence basti
karma is very necessary and effective for cleaning of the pakwashaya and
normalising tridoshas.
Advantages of rectal transmucosal administration:
1) Rapid administration of drugs
2) Easy alternative to IV route
3) Relatively painless
4) As an OPD procedure5) Before any ano rectal/pelvic surgery
6) Can be used as post op procedure to reduce pain, discomfort etc.
7) Can be used in Asthidhatu vikritis for asthidhatu poshan like fpr eg
ksheer basti.
8) To reduce post op pain :

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Author: Dr.Supriya S.Desai (PG scholar Shalya Tantra)
Guide: Dr. Laxmi M. Narhare (MD Shalya Tantra)
Yashwant Ayurveda College PGT & RC, Kodoli.