Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Shodhana means cleaning. The physique wants an everyday cleaning and it’s achieved by means of the Panchakarma Therapies. The 4 kinds of Shodhana, besides Anuvasana Vasti, which is principally a nourishing remedy are thought of underneath Langhana remedies – the remedies which result in lightening / lightness of the physique, thoughts and senses. They’re – Vamana, Virechana, Asthapana and Shirovirechana. Grasp Vagbhata contains Raktamokshana too underneath Langhana, making it 5 kinds of Shodhanas which could be included underneath Langhana.
Shodhana is certainly wanted as a first-hand strategy and necessary cleaning process for many who are diseased. The morbid doshas first have to be expelled out of those folks. In any other case, the ailments brought on by morbid doshas is not going to be cured, nor the medicines and food plan can be efficient of their physique. The purpose of Shodhana in these folks is ‘healing’.
However, wholesome folks can even take periodic Shodhana with the steering of an skilled Ayurveda Doctor. Right here, the aim is to have the doshas in a state of stability and in addition to stop recurrences of ailments or aggravation of doshas. Usually, Shodhana in wholesome folks is finished in seasons favorable for his or her aggravation. Instance – Vamana – therapeutic emesis is ideally administered in Vasanta Rtu i.e. Spring Season as a result of that is the season favorable for aggravation of Kapha and when shodhana is run on this season, will probably be simpler to expel the aggravated dosha with out inflicting any complication. The identical rule is relevant for the opposite doshas additionally.
Now allow us to see the therapy ideas of administering shodhana in diseased and wholesome people as enumerated by Acharya Vagbhata.
Ref – A.Hr.Su.13/34-36
Guidelines for Shodhana in wholesome people
अत्युष्णवर्षाशीता हि ग्रीष्मवर्षाहिमागमाः॥३४॥
सन्धौ साधारणे तेषां दुष्टान् दोषान् विशोधयेत्।
स्वस्थवृत्तमभिप्रेत्य
Greeshma Rtu i.e. summer time season could have an excessive amount of warmth. Varsha Rtu i.e. wet season could have an excessive amount of rain. Equally, Hemanta Rtu – winter season could have an excessive amount of chilly. That is the pure habits of those seasons.
Due to this fact, these vitiated doshas must be eradicated within the interval between these seasons and never in seasons meant for aggravation for explicit doshas, when the seasons should not excessive however are reasonable.
This rule is relevant for administering cleaning therapies in wholesome people.
So, in wholesome people, the perfect time interval for administering shodhana is –
a. In between summer time and wet season
b. In between wet and winter seasons and
c. In between winter and summer time seasons
Guidelines for Shodhana in diseased people
व्याधौ व्याधिवशेन तु॥३५॥
कृत्वा शीतोष्णवृष्टीनां प्रतीकारं यथायथम्।
प्रयोजयेत्क्रिया प्राप्तां क्रियाकालं न हापयेत्॥३६॥
Acharya Vagbhata says that shodhana must be administered within the diseased circumstances as and when the ailments are manifested.
Earlier than administering Shodhana, the doctor ought to see that the affected person has overcome the results of chilly, scorching and wet seasons suitably, by following appropriate protecting strategies as defined in Rtucharya – seasonal routine of every season. This rule is relevant for the season by which shodhana is being administered.
After the results of seasons are overcome, correct shodhana therapies as appropriate to the aggravated dosha / doshas must be administered. Therapies must be administered in accordance with the manifested Kriyakala. This entails making an allowance for the suitable time for administering therapy, deliberate in accordance to the successive levels of dosha aggravation and illness formation. Therapies given on this method, checks the dosha from progressing to the following stage of pathogenesis (kriyakala) and won’t enable the additional development of the illness.
The underside line is that the factors of selecting to manage shodhana in diseased circumstances is ‘the manifestation of illness itself’. If the illness has loads of morbid doshas in its backdrop and if the illness and illness suits into the ‘eligibility of shodhana’ the doctor shouldn’t assume twice in administering shodhana.