Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
In Ayurveda, remedy has been categorized into many varieties by many Acharyas. A twofold classification of remedies into Brimhana and Langhana may be very well-liked amongst the physicians.
Acharya Vagbhata, in Ashtanga Hridaya Chapter 14 makes an necessary assertion. He states that Brimhana and Langhana are the one two necessary remedy varieties in Ayurveda. This text is to throw extra gentle on this opinion of Grasp Vagbhata, which many physicians of Ayurveda agree with.
Ref – A.Hr.14/37
Brimhana and Langhana: Two finest remedy varieties
दोषगत्याऽतिरिच्यन्ते ग्राहिभेध्यादिभेदतः।
उपक्रमा न ते द्वित्वाद्भिन्ना अपि गदा इव॥३७॥
Acharya Vagbhata emphasizes that despite there being so many remedy varieties and varieties, brimhana and langhana are the 2 finest remedy varieties from the lot.
Additional, Acharya says,
There are innumerable states of doshas. Due to this fact, the sorts of remedies are additionally innumerable, like grahi – withholding or constipating remedies, bhedi – purgatives and many others. Regardless of this, the remedies don’t surpass these two sorts of remedy i.e. brimhana – stoutening therapies and langhana – thinning therapies. Similar to the ailments, although are innumerable, fall beneath two classes i.e. sama – related to ama and nirama – not being related to ama.
Analyzing this rationalization
Brimhana means – nourishing, strengthening, constructing or rising bulk. In brief, brimhana is including one thing to the system and attempting to compensate for what has been misplaced.
Langhana – means lightening therapies i.e. people who take away sure pointless issues from the physique like morbid doshas, malas and many others and produce about lightness within the physique, a sort of depletion remedy.
The easy logic of bringing all remedies beneath the wing of Brimhana or Langhana is the goal of all remedies might be both so as to add issues which the physique has misplaced or deplete issues which the physique has unnecessarily gained.
On this context, we have to see that Acharya Vagbhata has used the phrase ‘Upakrama’. The prefix Upa – means sub or affiliate. Upakrama, whereas grossly means remedies or interventions for a illness or medical situation, it particularly refers to supportive or accent remedy. So, an upakrama could also be a preparatory process for a Panchakarma remedy – like snehana, swedana and many others. It can be a person remedy like Shidodhara, Pindasweda and many others.
So, are the larger therapies included in Panchakarma included amongst these two therapies or remedies aside from Panchakarma ought to be thought-about?
Panchakarma therapies too are included beneath Langhana remedy kind itself since they convey about lightness within the physique.
Acharya Vagbhata additional says, in the identical chapter that the 4 necessary therapies i.e. snehana – oleation / lubrication, rukshana – imparting dryness, swedana – sudation and sthambana – constipating – are additionally included beneath brimhana and langhana itself. Snehana and Stambhana are sorts of Brihmhana whereas Rukshana and Swedana are sorts of Langhana.
Together with Brimhana and Langhana, they’re referred to as as Shad Vidha Upakrama i.e. six sorts of remedy.
The six Upakramas are –
- Brimhana
- Langhana
- Snehana
- Swedana
- Stambhana
- Rukshana
Acharya Sushruta has defined a set of 60 remedies and has named them Shashti Upakrama. This set additionally consists of all surgical procedures and Panchakarma Therapies. So, undoubtedly the time period Upakrama additionally means ‘remedy’ typically and shall be understood contextually.