What Is the Basti Treatment in Ayurveda?

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, believes that an imbalance of doshas causes health hazards and diseases. It stresses using natural procedures and lifestyle changes to achieve the right balance between an individual’s body, mind and soul. Basti in Ayurveda is one of the most important components of Panchakarma therapy of Ayurveda.

This blog provides every crucial detail related to Basti. Read on.

According to Ayurveda, Basti is an important procedure of Panchakarma therapy. This treatment of Panchakarma removes toxins and unwanted substances from one’s body. When it comes to Basti Karma, Ayurvedic practitioners administer herbal decoctions or medicated oils via the anal route.

This treatment is immensely beneficial as it has a therapeutic effect on an individual. The following sections will explore more details.

An important area of Vata dosha happens to be the colon in an individual’s body. Intricacies of doshas vary from one individual to another. The Panchakarma treatment first accumulates every dosha of an individual's body in his/her abdomen. This is done through Abhyanga massages of Panchakarma therapy.

After accumulating doshas in the abdomen, they are removed from one’s body with the help of Basti procedure.

In the Basti procedure, Ayurvedic practitioners administer medicated oils into the body via the anal route. The intestine absorbs the good properties of both the carrier oil and medicines.

Detailed below are the steps of Basti in Ayurveda:

Step 1: The practitioner asks the patient to eat food appropriate for the diseases he is suffering from.

Step 2: Ayurvedic practitioner gives the patient an Abhyanga massage with requisite oil. Moreover, the patient’s waist is mildly sedated.

Step 3: The patient has to lie comfortably in the left lateral position. He needs to stretch out his left leg and fold his right leg in the front. Furthermore, he must keep his left hand under his head. 

Step 4: Ayurvedic practitioner or his helper lubricates the patient’s anal region. 

Step 5: The expert inserts a soft rubber catheter into the patient’s anus.

Step 6: The medicated oil is inserted into his rectum with the help of a syringe or enema pot.

Step 7: After the Basti treatment is over, the Ayurvedic practitioner asks his patient to strictly follow the diet prepared for him.

Now that the Basti procedure has been enumerated let's move on to take a look at its benefits.

The following are the various benefits of the Basti treatment:

• Basti therapy effectively treats health disorders arising from abdominal Vata and systemic Vata.
• This treatment effectively addresses health conditions like chronic constipation, sciatica, low back pain, arthritis, gout etc.
• It helps in internal nourishment of one’s body.
• The Basti treatment improves immunity.
• It improves the strength of one's body and mind. 
• This treatment has anti-ageing benefits.
• Besides rejuvenating one’s body, Basti in Ayurveda improves the quality of semen and eggs.
• It cleanses an individual’s body of the doshas.
• Improving the texture and tone of one's skin is another important benefit.

One should undergo Basti treatment to solve health problems caused by an imbalance of Vata dosha. Basti therapy, as prescribed by Ayurveda, leads to balancing and nurturing of Vata dosha. It extracts the toxins and impure substances from the cells of an individual’s body and ultimately removes them.

The following points state which times are appropriate for receiving the Basti therapy:

• Early morning or evening happens to be the best times for Basti treatment.
• Additionally, if an individual is suffering from any of the following health conditions, it is time for him to consider opting for Basti treatment:
  • Diverticulosis
  • Nervous disorders
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Arthritis
  • Lumbago or slipped disc
  • Hernia
  • Gout
  • Rheumatism
  • Constipation
  • Sciatica
  • Tinnitus

Basti therapy can be categorised as per the nature of therapy and its timings. Given are its important details:

Categorisation of Basti as Per Nature of Treatment

• Anuvasana Basti- This is a medicated oil or ghee-based Basti and provides appropriate lubrication.
• Ksheer Basti- This Basti treatment makes use of medicated milk and provides nourishment to one’s body.
• Niruha Basti- Here, an Ayurvedic practitioner uses herbal tea, which cleanses one’s body.

Categorisation of Basti as Per the Number of Required Days

• Yog Basti- Requires 8 Days
• Kala Basti- Requires 15 Days
• Karma Basti- Requires 30 Days

Given below are the details of people who should not undergo this treatment:

• Pregnant or menstruating women should not opt for Basti.
• When one is suffering from diarrhoea or inflammation of the anus, one should refrain from this treatment.
• If someone is bleeding from the rectum, Ayurvedic practitioners will not administer Basti to him/her.
• If one is extremely weak, he or she should rest and not undergo this treatment.

Enumerated below are certain important points that one must remember before undergoing Basti therapy:

• Materials required for undergoing Basti treatment include a syringe or enema bag, medicated oil or herbal substances, towels, hotplates or a stove.
• One must wait for a minimum of 3 hours after eating for Basti treatment. In other words, one’s stomach needs to be empty while undergoing Basti.
• This treatment should be done in a comfortable, clean and warm room. The best room for Basti would be a room near washroom.

This blog has enumerated crucial details related to Basti in Ayurveda. This is an important Ayurvedic treatment that cleanses an individual’s body of impurities. It successfully addresses various health issues and improves the general well-being of a person.