As a matter of fact basti is the most important item among the samshodhana procedures. However the term basti is derived from the fact that the basti yantra or the apparatus used for introducing the medicated materials is made up of basti or animal urinary bladder. Generally a basti is applied through the rectum though it may also be applied for urethra. In such cases the term Uttara basti is applied. Depending upon the use of different drugs, basti effects samshodhana of doshas. It has also samshamana effects. Thus basti in its different forms has very wide application.

1. Seminar on Basti kalpana
By
Dr. Priyanka Patil
MD(Ayu)
Dept of RS & BK

2. Introduction
 As a matter of fact basti is the most important item
among the samshodhana procedures. However the term
basti is derived from the fact that the basti yantra or the
apparatus used for introducing the medicated materials
is made up of basti or animal urinary bladder. Generally a
basti is applied through the rectum though it may also
be applied for urethra. In such cases the term Uttara
basti is applied.
 Depending upon the use of different drugs, basti effects
samshodhana of doshas. It has also samshamana
effects. Thus basti in its different forms has very wide
application.

3. DERIVATION
 Vasthi is derived from the root
 Vas (Dhathu)+ Thich (Pratyaya)
 Vas- Nivase (To reside)
 Vas- Acchaadane ( to cover or wrap)
 Vas- Vasane Surabhikarane ( to impart fragrance)
 Vasthi : Vaste aavaranoti moothram (that which
covers the urine)

4.  NIRUKTI
 बस्तिना दीयते इतत बस्तििः
यस्मात् बस्तितिश्चर्म पुटक
ै दीयते तस्मात् बस्तििः
(अ हृ सू १९/११)
 बस्तितिदीयते यस्मात्तस्मात् बस्तिरितत स्मृतिः
(शा उ ५/१)
 In the context of panchakarma the word vasti used; has
got a different sense. The bladders of the animals were
used as a device for basti karma in olden days so named
as Basti karma.

5. DEFINITION OF BASTI
नातिप्रदेशं कतटपार्श्मक
ु ति गत्वा शक
ृ द्दोषचयं तिलोड्य
संस्नेह्यं कायं सपुिीषदोषिः सम्यक
् सुखेनेतत च यिः स िास्ति ||(च तस १/४०)
 Basti administerd to Guda marga does vilodana of the doshas
and residual mala residing in nabhi, kati, parshwa and kukshi
 Does snehana of sharera and expels out the pureesha and
doshas .

6. 1.Shodana basti
2.Lekhana basti
3.Utklesha basti
4.Shmana basti
5Bhramana basti
6.Karshana basti
7.Rasayana basti
8.Vajikarna basti
9.Sneha basti
10.Chukshaya
basti
11.Sangrahi basti
12.Vranprasadana
basti
KARMUKATA
BASTI
1.Yapana basti
2.Siddha basti
3.Dwadasa prasruta
basti
4.Prasruta yogika
basti
5.Padahina basti
6.Tikshana basti
7.Mridu basti
8.Pichha basti
9.Rakta basti
ANUSANGIKA
BASTI
1.Pakwashaya
gata basti
2. Mutrashaya
gata basti
3. Garbashaya
gata basti
4.Vrana basti
ADHISTANA
BHEDA
1.Niruha Basti
2.Anuvasana Basti
DRAVYA BHEDA
1.Karma Basti
2. Kala Basti
3Yoga Basti.
SANKYA
BHEDA
CLASSIFICATION

7. Basti can be given by two ways
a) External b) Internal
• janu basti Aasthapana Basti
• kati basti Anuvasana basti
 manya basti Uttara basti
• vrana basti
 ,

8. According to sushruta
(i) shodhana basti (ii)lekhana basti
(iii) snehana basti (iv) brumhana basti
 According to vagbhata
(i) utkleshana basti (ii) doshahara basti
(iii) shamana basti
 According to sharangadhara
 (i) utkleshana basti (ii) doshahara basti
 (iii) shodhana basti (iv) shamana basti
 (v) lekhana basti (vi) brumhana basti
 (vii) picchila basti (viii) deepana basti

9. According to charaka
(i) vaataghna basti (ii) bala
varnakrut basti
(iii) snehaneeya basti (iv)
shukrakrut basti
(v) krimighna basti (vi)
vrushtwa kruta basti

10. WHY BASTI…………………..?
 Various toxins entering our body by food ,air etc. get
accumulated in our gastrointestinal tract. As time
passes these toxins tend to increase and get spread
in all channels of our body causing various diseases .
 These accumulated toxins in the form of dosha’s if
expelled out at right time can prevent the disease.

11. STEPS IN BASTI
Poorvakarma
Pradhana karma
Paschath
karma

12. POORVA KARMA
Pachana
Deepana
Snehana
Swedana

13.  DEEPANA
 दीपनीयं िह्नॆरुद्दीपनाय तितर्् । (च.सू.४/गंगाधि)
The drugs which stimulate or enhance agni.
 पचेन्नार््ं ितह्नक
ृ च्च दीपनं तद्धथा तर्तश: ।
(शा.पू.४/१)
The drugs which enhances agni without performing amapachana.

14.  यदति क
ृ तपचेन्नार्ं दीपनं तद्धथा घृतर्् ।
(अ.ि्. सू.१४/६ अ.द् .)
 दीपनं ह्यातिक
ृ त्वार्ं कदातचत्पाचयेन्न िा ।
(अ.ि्. सू.१४/६ अ.द् . ,िािपाति)
Along with enhancing agni deepana, drugs will also helps in ama pachana
sometimes.

15. IMPORTANCE OF DEEPANA
 दीपनैर्धातुभ्यः पृथक्त्वम्
AH Su 13/28
It helps in separation of Doshas from Dhatus.
 मधत्रधशी स्यधत् आहधरमधत्रधपुनरग्निबलधपेग्निणी
Ch Su 5/3
If the agni is pradipta, it helps in deciding the matra of ahara (here, sneha)
accurately.
 To digest the medicine & to withstand the power of medicine.

16.  PACHANA
 पचत्यार्ं न ितह्न च क
ु यामद यत्रतद्द पाचनर्् ।
नागक
े शििद् …
(शा.पू.४/१)
The drug which undertake digestion of ama alone
without causing agni deepana is PACHANA.

17.  पचतोsिे: पक्ुं शस्तक्र्तधकां यदुतपादयतत तद्रव्यं तिया िा पाचनर्ुच्यते ।
(अ.ि्. सू.१४/६ अ.द् .)
Pachana as the part of activity of agni & drug which improves digestion is
PACHANA.
 पाचनं पाचयेदोषान् सार्ान्..........
(अ.ि्. सू.१४/६ अ.द् .)
 पाचयतीतत पाचनर््…. (अ.ि्. सू.१४/६ अ.द् .)

18. IMPORTANCE OF PACHANA
 सिमदेिप्रतिसृतान् सार्ान् दोषान् न तनिमिेत्|
लीनान् धातुष्वनुस्तलिष्टान् फलादार्ाद्रसातनि
आश्रयस्य ति नाशाय ते स्युदुमतनमिमित्वतिः|
A.H.Su 13/28
 It is not only done in saama avastha but also done in nirama avastha, to Augment
the functions of agni.

19. Snehana

स्नेिनं स्नेितिष्यन्दर्ादमििेदकािकर््
तिष्वन्दिः तिलयनर्् Ca Su22/11
The procedure by which Snigdhata
(oiliness), vishyandana ( liquefication),
mardavata (softness), kledana ( moisteness) of
Shareera is achieved by Snehana.
द्रिं सूक्ष्मं सिं ग्निग्धं ग्नपच्छिलं गुरु शीतलम्|
प्रायो र्न्दं र्ृदु च यद् द्रव्यं तत्स्नेिनं र्तर््||
Ca Su 22/15

20.  तस्नग्धात् पात्राद्यथा तोयर्यत्नेन प्रिुद्यते|
कफादयिः प्रिुद्यन्ते तस्नग्धाद्देिात्तथौषधैिः||११||
 As in a vessel smeared with oil, water falls down, without sticking to the vessel.
Similarly, kapha and other morbid doshas are expelled out easily in a body which
has undergone snehana karma.
 स्नेिोऽतनलं िस्तन्त र्ृदू किोतत देिं र्लानां तितनिस्तन्त सङ्गर््||
Ca Si 1/7
 स्नेिैरुस्तलिष्टत्वर््| AH Su 13/28
 स्नेििातिते काये स्नेिाक्िाजनस्थतर्ि िौद्रर्सज्जन्न Ca Ka 1/5

21. Swedana
िम्भगौििशीतघ्नं स्वेदनं स्वेदकािकर््
Ca su 14/11
Swedana is the procedure, which relieves stambha
(stiffness), gorava (heaviness) , sheetagna (coldness) of
the body and produces sweati
उष्णं तीक्ष्िं सिं तस्नग्धं रूिं सूक्ष्मं द्रिं स्तस्थिर््|द्रव्यं गुरु च यत्
प्रायिस्तद्ध स्वेदनर्ुच्यते||
Ca Su 14/16

22. IMPORTANCE OF SWEDANA
 स्वेदैिः कोष्ठगतत्वर््
• तस्नग्धस्य सूक्ष्मेष्वयनेषु लीनं
स्वेदिु दोषं नयतत द्रित्वर्| च सं तस १/८
 स्नेिस्तिन्नािः कोष्ठगा धातुगा िा स्रोतोलीना ये च शाखास्तस्थसंस्थािः|
दोषािः स्वेदैिे द्रिीक
ृ त्य कोष्ठं नीतािः सम्यक
् शुस्तद्धतितनमतिमयन्ते|
AH SU १७/३१
The Dosha, which are adhered to dhatu, srotas are moistened by snehana, and
attains dravatva by swedana and then bought to kostha, there after it should be
expelled out.

23. Pradhana karma
This includes the actual process of administering basti.
GENERAL BASTI PROCEDURE
 The time of basti administration is jeernanna kaala i.e in the
morning after bathroom routine.
 Make the patient lie down in left lateral position (since malashaya
and pakwashaya lie in a plane left lateral position is preferred).
 Apply oil on basti netra and anal verge for lubrication.
 Keep basti dravya warm to match body temperature.
 Sadravya basti yantra netra is slowly and steadily inserted up to 3rd
knob into the guda.
 Putaka is held with firm hands and the liquid is pushed with even
pressure.
 Avoid pushing all the liquid to prevent chances of air entry.

24.  Ask the patient to breath in as the liquid is pushed.
 Remove out the netra slowly.
 Let the patient to be in same position for a while.
 Later he may shift to supine position and wait for urges.
 Let him get up and pass when urges come.

25. In case of sneha basti
 The time of sneha basti administration is soon after food. The
term aardrapaani used in classical reference indicates the
above fact.
 After administering, ask the patient to get into supine
position, lift both his flexed knees.
 Buttocks of the person are gently stroked with the intention
of retaining basti dravya inside as long as possible.
 Foot end elevation of the cot may be advised, or a pillow is
given below the buttocks.

26.  NIRUHA BASTI PRATYAGAMANA KAALA:
 One muhurta (48minutes) is the pratyaagamana kaala for niruha basti.
It is parama kaala and measures are to be taken to bring it out if it
doesn’t come out in that stipulated time period. (ref- As Hr. Su 19)
Basti pratyagamana kaala and nireekshana
 If the niruha basti dravya doesn’t come out in specified time then it may
cause complications like admana,pakwashaya shula,vata-
pratilomata,hrithpradesha shula,jwara,arati etc

27. Measures to be followed while niruha basti dravya
doesn’t come out are as below
 Administration of another tikshna basti
 Phalavarti administration .
 Ushnadrava sweda over sroni,uru,spik and pakwashaya.
 Utrasana-intimidating the patient to pass the urge .
 Virechana drugs administered.

28. Anuvasana basti pratyagama kaala:
 Three yaama (9hours) is the pratyagama kaala specified for
anuvasana basti.
 However ,the liquid should not come out before 9 hours ,as
we want it to remain inside for at least 9 hours .
 In case the liquid returns within 9 hours ,another basti should
be administered .
 Reasons for early return of basti dravya might be
administration in larger quantity or incomplete evacuation of
bowels before basti administration .
 If basti dravya does not come out even after 9 hours ,then
one has to wait up to 24 hours and later think of other
measures as suggested in niruha basti.
 Some authors advise to ignore the delay of anuvasana basti
pratyagama even after 24 hours ,if no complications appear
in the person.
 After basti dravya pratyagama the patient is asked to take

29. Samyak basti
lakshana
ASamyak basti
lakshana
Atiyoga
lakshana
Srista vata,mutra,vit Ruja ,, Anga supthi
Mala,pitta,kapha&vata
visarjana in order
Prathishyaya Anga marda
Sharira laghutha Hrillasa Klama,nidra
Ruchi Vata,muthrasangha Kampa
Roga upashamana Shwasa,aruchi Dourbalya

30. Basti dosha
Basti netra dosha Basti putaka
dosha
Bastidata
dosha
Hriswata Vishamatha Savata bastidana
Deerghatha Mamsala Drutha bastidana
Tanutha Chidrayukthatha Thiryak pranidana
Sthulatha Sthulatha Ullupthadatta basti
Jeernatha Sirajalatha Sakampa bast dana

31.  Paschat karma
 Pathyadi vichara
 For samyak nirudha person rest of around 30min and
warm water bath is adviced.
 Laghu supachya ahara should be adviced depending
on patients appetite.
 Anuvasana basti may be given on same day evening.
 Dvi Parihara kala followed.
 Asta mahadoshakara varjya :
 Atyasana
 Vegavarodha

32.  Sheetajala pana
 Krodha
 Uccha bashana
 Atapa sevana
 Diva swapna
 Maithuna

33. Uttara basti
Administration of medicaments into the bladder &or
uterus with the help of basti yantra is known as uttara
basti
For uttara basti both kashaya as well as sneha are
used.
In uttara basti size of netra
For females -10 angula long
For males - 12-14 angula long
The orifice of basti netra said to be of mudga pramana
.(ch.si.965)
-

34.  Basti matra :
 For females:
 Drava matra =2tolas(acc to charaka &vaghbhata)
8tola acc to (sushrutha)
16 tola for (garbhashya shodhanartha)
Sneha matra:
8tola =(garbhashyagatha)
4tola-for mutrashayagatha
2tola for chidren
For males:
Sneha -4tola
Niruha drava-8tola

35.  Uttara basti vidhi:
 In females it must be given in lithotomical position
 Time: during ruthu kala or after the cessation of menstrual flow.
 Duration: 3-5 days, repeated 2 or 3 times at an interval of 15-30 days.
 Indication :
 Mutrashaygatha uttara basti:
 Bastigatha vikaras,mutrakrichra,mutraghatha.
 Garbhashayagatha uttara basti:
 Yonivyapat,asrigdhara,yonibhramsha,yonishula,shwethapradara,arthava
vikaras and vandhyathwa.

36.  Uttar basti in males:(cha si 9)
 The patient should asume a sitting posture while the basti is being
administered.
 He should have attended to the natural urges before the basti is given.
 Madhura and snigdha ahara in a specified quantity should be eaten before basti
is begun.
 Anuvasana Basti matra:(sha.u.520)
Uttama matra 6pala Shatapushpa and
saindhava lavana
6masha
Madhyama
matra
3pala 4masha

37. Niruha basti matra :12 prasrutha
Basti netra:
Upto 6yrs 6 angula
(increase 13rd
angula per yr)
For 12yrs 8 angula
(increase
1angula per
yr)

38. Sneha Niruha Sneha
Karma basti 12 12 6=30
Kala basti 6 6 4=16
Yoga basti 3 3 2=8

39.  Types of asthapana basti
 1.lekhana basti
 2.brumhana basti
 3.piccha basti
 4.madhutailika basti
 5.yapana deepana basti
 6.yukharatha basti
 7.siddha basti
 8.samshodhana basti
 9.samshamana basti
 10.utkleshana basti

40.  Lekhana basti :sha.u.621
 Ing : triphala kwatha -8 pala
 Gomutra -8pala
 Kalka dravyas : ushakadi gana dravya(surya
kshara,shilajatu,kasisa,hingu ,tutha,kshara mruthika)
 Honey
 Kshara -yava kshara
 Indication : medo and kapha roga
 Brumhana basti: sha.u.622
 Ing :kashaya of kakolyadi gana dravya
 Draksha &karjura as kalka
 Sarpi and mamsa rasa
 Indication : dhatukshaya and rajayakshma

41.  Piccha or picchila basti :sha u 623-24
 Ing : badara ,nagabala,shleshmanthaka,nagara
musta.
 Prepare the ksheera from above drugs as per ksheera
paka vidhi.
 Add madhu &blood of goat deer and use as basti
dravya .
 Dose : 12 pala .
 Indication : grahani ,atisara,gulma ,virechana and
asthapana basti atiyogajanya vikaras.
 Madhutailika basti : sha u 628-30
 Ing: eranda mula kwatha
 -1pala

42.  Tila taila -12 pala
 Shata pushpa _12 pla
 Saindhava lavana _1karsha
 Indication: udara shula,dhathu
kshaya,agnimandhya,klaibya,apana gata vata chikitsa .
 Yapna /deepana basti : sha u 628-30
 Ing :madhu ,ghritha ,ksheera, tilataila each 2pala.
 Hapusha &saindhava :1karsha
 Indication :agnimandya ,aruchi,amajeerna,amavata.

43.  Yuktha ratha basti :su.chi.38/115
 Any basti which is administered during journey,or war
is called as yuktha ratha basti.
 Ing : eranda mula kwatha
 Madhu
 Tila taila.
 Saindhava lavana
 Vacha
 Pippaali
 Madanapahla

44.  Anuvasana basti :examples
 Guduchyadi taila basti
 Ksheera bala taila
 Sukumara ghritha
 Tikthaka ghritha
 Shatapushpa taila
 Phala ghritha etc

45. Basti karya
पक्वाशये तथा श्रोण्ां नाभ्यधिाच्च सिमत:
सम्यक्प्रातितितो बस्तििः स्थानेष्वेतेषु ततष्ठतत
पक्वाशयात् िस्तििीयं खैदेिर्् अनुसपमतत
िृिर्ूले तनतषक्ानां अपां िीयमतर्ि स्मृतं ||(सु तच ३५/ २४-२५)
Basti when properly administered remains in pakwashaya,
shroni and adho bhaga of nabhi, the veerya of the basti
spreads to the whole body through the srotas, just like water
poured at the roots spread to the whole tree by its power
Further he says Basti remaining in the pakwashaya it draws
the doshas present from head to foot, just as the sun in the
sky draws moisture from the earth.

46. Discussion
तपत्तं पंगु कफ
ं पंगु पंगिो र्लधाति:
िायुना यत्र नीयन्ते तत्र गच्छस्तन्त र्ेघित् ||(शा पू ५/२५)
Pitta, Kapha, the Dhatus and Malas are considered to be (lame
) Pangu and they move in accordance with the movement of
Vayu just as the clouds are been carried by the wind
िातोल्बिेषु दोषेषु िातेिाम बस्तििीष्यते
उपि
् र्ािां सिेषां सिः अग्रातििः तत्रतिधिु सिः ||(अ हृ सू १९/१)
 In diseases caused by vata alone or by combination of vata
with other doshas Basti is the line of treatment
 And it is considered to be shreshta among all the other
upakramas.

47.  Basti is considered to be important due to its ability to
perform various actions
 Which is due to the various forms of medicines that is used in
the prepertaion of basti
 It does Shodhana karma
 Does Shamana of various diseases
 Basti also is used to to grahana karma
 It acts as vajeekarana in ksheena shukra persons
 Does brumhana of Krusha persons
 Also does karshana in sthoulya
 Causes preenana of chakshu
 Removes the valeepalita caused due to result of jara
 Causes vayah sthaapana
 Also enhances the varna, bala, arogya and also Ayu.

48.  Basti is given importance over the other therapies because of
its
 Taking to consideration of bala of dosha, kala, roga and
prakruti the basti which is prepared with specific oushadhas
acts on that specicfic disease and cures it. (C.Si. 10/4)
 Other shodhana therapies takes quite some time to produce
Shodana effect
 Whereas Niruha basti takes only few minutes to show the
Shodana effect. This substantiates its superiority of basti over
other shodanas. (C. Si 10/5)
 It can be given in all ages
 It nourishes all the dhatus from rasa to shukra
 Thus it can be considered as a sampoorna chikitsa and is
superior to all the other types of Chikitsas mentioned

49.  Conclusion
Acharya Sushruta explains the use of Basti in various
doshas by saying
बस्तििामते च तपत्ते च कफ
े िक्े च शस्यते
संसगे सतन्नपाते च बस्तििेि तितिः सदा ||(सु तच ३५/६)
That Basti is a treatment in diseases caused by vata
also in diseases caused by pitta, kapha, rakta by
dwandwaja doshas and also in diseases caused by
sannipataja doshas.
 शाखागतािः कोष्ठगताश्चिोगािः र्र्ोध्व सिामियिांगजाश्च
 ये संतत तेषां न ति कतश्चदन्यो िायोिः पिं जन्मतन िेतुिस्ति
 तिण्मूत्रतपत्तातद र्लाययानां तििेपसंघातकििः स यस्मात्

50.  Here Acharya Charaka says that in all the diseases which are
manifested in shakha, koshta, marma or all other parts of the
body, VATA is said to be the main hetu.
 Also Vata is the main factor for vikshepana as well as
samghata of Vit, Sleshma, Pitta & other Malas
 Once there is Ati Vruddi of the VATA there is no other
treatment modality than Basti which can pacify it
 So some explains it as Ardhachikitsa
 But Charakacharya Opines
 SARVESHAAMAPI BASTIREKAI
 Which means that Basti is the Only treatment modality which
can be used in most Vyadhees.

51.  Basti does the vikshepana & samghatana of the malas too
 Basti is the main line of treatment in vyadhis caused by Vata
which in turn provide chala guna to the other dhatus and
malas
 As we know:
 दोष धातु र्ल र्ूलं ति शिीिं
 Thus Basti is the only treatment modality which acts on
Tridoshas, Saptadhatus and Trimalas
 Hereby we conclude saying that:
 क
ृ त्स्ना तचतकत्साऽतप च बस्तििेक
ै िः