Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Shodhana means cleaning. The physique wants a daily cleaning and it’s achieved via the Panchakarma Therapies. The 4 kinds of Shodhana, besides Anuvasana Vasti, which is mainly a nourishing remedy are thought-about underneath Langhana therapies – the therapies which result in lightening / lightness of the physique, thoughts and senses. They’re – Vamana, Virechana, Asthapana and Shirovirechana. Grasp Vagbhata contains Raktamokshana too underneath Langhana, making it 5 kinds of Shodhanas which might be included underneath Langhana.

Shodhana is certainly wanted as a first-hand method and necessary cleaning process for many who are diseased. The morbid doshas first should be expelled out of those individuals. In any other case, the illnesses brought on by morbid doshas is not going to be cured, nor the medicines and weight loss program will probably be efficient of their physique. The purpose of Shodhana in these individuals is ‘healing’.

However, wholesome individuals also can take periodic Shodhana with the steerage of an skilled Ayurveda Doctor. Right here, the objective is to have the doshas in a state of stability and in addition to forestall recurrences of illnesses or aggravation of doshas. Usually, Shodhana in wholesome individuals is completed in seasons favorable for his or her aggravation. Instance – Vamana – therapeutic emesis is ideally administered in Vasanta Rtu i.e. Spring Season as a result of that is the season favorable for aggravation of Kapha and when shodhana is run on this season, will probably be simpler to expel the aggravated dosha with out inflicting any complication. The identical rule is relevant for the opposite doshas additionally.

Now allow us to see the remedy rules of administering shodhana in diseased and wholesome people as enumerated by Acharya Vagbhata.

Ref – A.Hr.Su.13/34-36

Guidelines for Shodhana in wholesome people

अत्युष्णवर्षाशीता हि ग्रीष्मवर्षाहिमागमाः॥३४॥
सन्धौ साधारणे तेषां दुष्टान् दोषान् विशोधयेत्।
स्वस्थवृत्तमभिप्रेत्य

Greeshma Rtu i.e. summer time season may have an excessive amount of warmth. Varsha Rtu i.e. wet season may have an excessive amount of rain. Equally, Hemanta Rtu – winter season may have an excessive amount of chilly. That is the pure habits of those seasons.

Due to this fact, these vitiated doshas ought to be eradicated within the interval between these seasons and never in seasons meant for aggravation for specific doshas, when the seasons will not be excessive however are reasonable.

This rule is relevant for administering cleaning therapies in wholesome people.

So, in wholesome people, the perfect time interval for administering shodhana is –

a. In between summer time and wet season
b.   In between wet and winter seasons and
c. In between winter and summer time seasons

Guidelines for Shodhana in diseased people

व्याधौ व्याधिवशेन तु॥३५॥
कृत्वा शीतोष्णवृष्टीनां प्रतीकारं यथायथम्।
प्रयोजयेत्क्रिया प्राप्तां क्रियाकालं न हापयेत्॥३६॥

Acharya Vagbhata says that shodhana ought to be administered within the diseased circumstances as and when the illnesses are manifested.

Earlier than administering Shodhana, the doctor ought to see that the affected person has overcome the results of chilly, scorching and wet seasons suitably, by following appropriate protecting strategies as defined in Rtucharya – seasonal routine of every season. This rule is relevant for the season through which shodhana is being administered.

After the results of seasons are overcome, correct shodhana therapies as appropriate to the aggravated dosha / doshas ought to be administered. Therapies ought to be administered in accordance with the manifested Kriyakala. This includes making an allowance for the suitable time for administering remedy, deliberate in accordance to the successive levels of dosha aggravation and illness formation. Therapies given on this manner, checks the dosha from progressing to the following stage of pathogenesis (kriyakala) and won’t permit the additional development of the illness.

The underside line is that the standards of selecting to manage shodhana in diseased circumstances is ‘the manifestation of illness itself’. If the illness has loads of morbid doshas in its backdrop and if the illness and illness suits into the ‘eligibility of shodhana’ the doctor mustn’t assume twice in administering shodhana.