Vasti, one of the five therapeutic procedures in ‘Panchakarma’ is an important ‘Ayurvedic therapy’. It is always compared with conventional evacuation and retention enema. According to Ayurvedic principles ‘Vasti’ plays a much more vital role in the disease management than conventional enema.
Vasti is considered superior to other detoxifying procedures like vaman ( therapeutic emesis) and virechana( therapeutic virechana) because it can achieve any therapeutic goals. In the current clinical practice situations, vasti is effective procedure for various diseases.
The correct method of vasti preparation is of utmost importance for maximum benefits. ‘Aasthaapana Vasti’ also termed as ‘Niruha Vasti’ is a mixture of oil, honey, ‘kwaatha’ (decoction) and ‘Kalka’ (fine paste obtained after wet grinding of the plant material). These ingredients are immiscible with each other. A homogenous mixture is required for actual administration of ‘Vasti’.
Vasti is considered superior to other detoxifying procedures like vaman ( therapeutic emesis) and virechana( therapeutic virechana) because it can achieve any therapeutic goals. In the current clinical practice situations, vasti is effective procedure for various diseases.
The correct method of vasti preparation is of utmost importance for maximum benefits. ‘Aasthaapana Vasti’ also termed as ‘Niruha Vasti’ is a mixture of oil, honey, ‘kwaatha’ (decoction) and ‘Kalka’ (fine paste obtained after wet grinding of the plant material). These ingredients are immiscible with each other. A homogenous mixture is required for actual administration of ‘Vasti’.
‘Vasti’ is oil in water o/w emulsion. Honey is used as an emulsifying agent over others on account of its stability yielding and specific therapeutic effect. The serial order of mixing the ingredients mentioned by classics should be maintained to get a homogenized emulsion.
Serial order of mixing of ingredients as described by Charaka, honey and rock salt are mixed together in the beginning followed by addition of oil. This mixture is then thoroughly mixed. The finely wet grinded paste of prescribed medicinal plants is then mixed in it. The mixture is then again mixed thoroughly. The prescribed liquids such as kwaatha (decoction) is then added to it and the mixture is subjected to thorough churning to produce a homogeneous mixture. The mixture thus produced acquires a physical state of emulsion.
The significance of the procedure described in the classics, emphasizing the serial order of mixing of basti dravyas is mandatory process during vasti preparation, affecting the outcome of treatment.
For more details
Serial order of mixing of ingredients as described by Charaka, honey and rock salt are mixed together in the beginning followed by addition of oil. This mixture is then thoroughly mixed. The finely wet grinded paste of prescribed medicinal plants is then mixed in it. The mixture is then again mixed thoroughly. The prescribed liquids such as kwaatha (decoction) is then added to it and the mixture is subjected to thorough churning to produce a homogeneous mixture. The mixture thus produced acquires a physical state of emulsion.
The significance of the procedure described in the classics, emphasizing the serial order of mixing of basti dravyas is mandatory process during vasti preparation, affecting the outcome of treatment.
For more details
