All you need to know about Basti Karma: the Ayurvedic enema treatment

Is Basti Karma the answer to your health problems?

By: Sandhya Raghavan | | Updated: January 27, 2017 6:02 pm

In this day and age, ensuring one s health has become a real struggle. Years of poor diet and lifestyle can result in accumulation of toxins in one s stomach, which get absorbed into the bloodstream and manifest as diseases. Dr Thulasidas Nair, BAMS CCPT, the resident doctor at the Ayurvedic Village, Navi Mumbai revealed that any problem in the human body like inflammation or arthritis could be attributed to the mischief toxins play in our body. Expelling these toxins is key to restoring the health of the individual. He also states that it is crucial to maintain the natural metabolic activity of the body while doing so. This can be accomplished by administering Ayurvedic enema or Basti to the individual. Also Read - Want to boost overall health? Have apple cider vinegar

How Basti helps: Colon therapy or Basti Karma is one of the five branches of the Panchakarma treatment, explains the doctor. It is a procedure through which a mixture of herbal oils or decoctions is pumped into the rectum of the person. This can help in cleansing the colon of all the toxins and promoting the health and well-being of the individual. The toxins may have stayed in the body for too long and become a friend to it in the long run, says the doctor with a hint of humour. Through the Basti Karma, we create a natural calamity in to cleanse the region and then nourish it. Also Read - Dear moms-to-be, these household items may be toxic for your unborn baby

Types of Basti Karma: There are two major types of Basti according to the doctor. We use oil or water-based decoctions for the Basti procedure. Anuvasana Basti is the procedure where we use medicate oil and Asthapana Basti is where we use a kashayam or a herbal decoction, says the doctor. These oils and decoctions are prepared according to the disease and the capacity of the patient. Also Read - E-cigarettes contain asthma-causing toxins: Study

How Basti Karma is done: The doctor goes on to explain how basti works. These concoctions are pumped into the large intestine of the person through the rectum. The inside of the organ is covered with finger-like projections also known as intestinal villi which help in absorbing the medicines through osmosis within a matter of seconds, directly into the bloodstream, he explains. The body is also intelligent enough to select the right medicine in the concoctions as per its requirements.

Basti, a powerful healer: In Ayurveda, Basti is known as Ardhachikitsa. Which means the disease can be considered half treated by the procedure alone, states Dr Nair. The absorption of the medicine in the kashayam can be optimised through Basti, which may give you better results than drinking the same medicine for a long time. The doctor adds that even diseases such as Parkinson’s can be managed effectively through Basti. By introducing natural dopamine into the person s body through the colon, we can significantly mitigate symptoms such as tremors and stooping in the patients, says Dr Nair.

Who shouldn t opt for Basti: Dr Nair says that anyone can go for Panchakarma treatment with proper consultation. But when it comes to Basti Karma, the clinical issues of the patient have to be considered. Anyone with issues like liver disorders, jaundice, tuberculosis, urinary disorders, piles, hernia and cardiac diseases is discouraged from the treatment, he concludes.

Read this in Hindi.

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Published : January 19, 2017 5:11 pm | Updated:January 27, 2017 6:02 pm

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