Classical understanding of role of Ksheer Basti in the management of Vaatarakta

Abstract

Failure in treating number of patients of joint disorders with diagnoses of Vaatarakta made to think in depth about the concept of Vaatrakta. Objective of the article is to understand role and preciseness of  indications and contraindications of ksheer basti, concept of ksheer basti, type of ksheer basti in the management of Vatarakta. An importance of classical diagnosis of Vaatarakta so as to be specific about following the classical line of treatment to use Ksheer basti for the breakdown of pathophysiology need to be understood in depth is highlighted in this article. Understanding a concept of Ksheer Basti and its methodology becomes an important aspect while making use of it in certain disease conditions where it has been mentioned classically as a part of chikitsa sootra. Understanding of any treatment mentioned in ancient classical texts of Ayurveda (samhitas) without making alterations helps not only in treating cases of joint disorders successfully but also help understand various important principles of Ayurveda treatments. Understanding aetiology (hetu), clinical features (linga), pathophysiology (samprapti), differential diagnosis and prognosis (sadhyasadhyata) are essentials factors to reach absolute diagnosis upto vyakta and bhed level of kriya kaal of the disease which is the first and foremost important step of classical approach. Charts of hetu, lakshan and sadhyasadhyata makes it easy to chalk out samprapti and hence samprapti vighatan becomes relatively easier. Line of Treatment, its principles to be followed and cautions mentioned while considering line of treatment is second essential part to decide classical way of treatment as mentioned in Samhitas. Treatment (Chikitsa) of vaatrakta is mentioned stepwise to counter samprapti systematically which seems to be easier task if diagnosis is precise and error free. This approach helps a lot to hit the goal in an appropriate time by using ksheer basti as an important tool of treatment ultimately leading to the best output and apuanrbhav chikitsa.

Most of the times diagnosis Vaatarakta is confused with Aamavaata (a stage of a disease). Aamavaata hasn’t been given any importance in Bruhatrayee as a separate entity or diseases. It seems to be a condition of several diseases and not a separate disease.

Importance of the classical approach towards Vaatarakta and the use of ksheer basti at an appropriate stage and condition of pathophysiology assures its successful treatment to achieve Dhatu Samya and Apunarabhava.