Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Shodhana means cleaning. The physique wants a daily cleaning and it’s accomplished via the Panchakarma Therapies. The 4 forms of Shodhana, besides Anuvasana Vasti, which is mainly a nourishing remedy are thought-about beneath 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 beneath Langhana, making it 5 forms of Shodhanas which will be included beneath Langhana.
Shodhana is unquestionably wanted as a first-hand method and necessary cleaning process for individuals who are diseased. The morbid doshas first have to be expelled out of those folks. In any other case, the ailments attributable to morbid doshas won’t be cured, nor the medicines and food regimen can be efficient of their physique. The purpose of Shodhana in these folks is ‘healing’.
Alternatively, wholesome folks may also take periodic Shodhana with the steering of an skilled Ayurveda Doctor. Right here, the purpose is to have the doshas in a state of steadiness 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, it is going to 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 remedy 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 season 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.
Subsequently, these vitiated doshas must be eradicated within the interval between these seasons and never in seasons meant for aggravation for specific doshas, when the seasons aren’t 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 season and wet season
b. In between wet and winter seasons and
c. In between winter and summer season 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 situations as and when the ailments are manifested.
Earlier than administering Shodhana, the doctor ought to see that the affected person has overcome the consequences 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 during which shodhana is being administered.
After the consequences 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 includes making an allowance for the suitable time for administering remedy, deliberate in accordance to the successive phases of dosha aggravation and illness formation. Remedies given on this means, 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 situations is ‘the manifestation of illness itself’. If the illness has loads of morbid doshas in its backdrop and if the illness and illness matches into the ‘eligibility of shodhana’ the doctor mustn’t assume twice in administering shodhana.