Abstract

Dr. Asmita Uttam Shinde*

ABSTRACT

Basti Karma is one of the modalities among the five bio cleansing or detoxifying performed in ayurved treatements, its mode of action occurs due to effects of drugs used and their mechanism of acton.Basti is known as „ardha chikitsa’. It is important to know the mode of action through which it acts upon body. Superficially it seems that basti dravya act by stimulating peristalsis due to their large volume or they cause osmotic retention of water in the bowel. Rectal veins drain the lower part of the rectum and enter into the inferior vena cava and bypass the liver before entering the general circulation. The two main ingredients used as per types of basti are oil and decoction. According of ancient aacharyas Basti acts on the virtue of its Veerya, it reaches every corner of the body from the toes to head, drags the morbid doshas from every part of the body and expels them from the body. Mainly basti has two actions, expelling the vitiated doshas (morbid substances or toxins) and nourishing the body. Its first significant action is facilitating the excretion of morbid substances responsible for the disease process into the colon from where they are evacuated.