Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Abhakta is among the ‘aushadha sevana kala’ i.e. time for taking medication.
Abhakta = A + Bhakta
A = no, Bhakta = meals
So, in Abhakta, the medication is run when the particular person / affected person has not taken meals. This additionally implies that the particular person has an empty abdomen when she or he is taking the medication.
Abhakta can be known as by different names –
Ananna = Na + Anna = no meals = medication taken when she or he has not consumed meals
Niranna = with out meals – medication needs to be taken with out having taken the meals
All these phrases imply the identical.
Understanding Abhakta Annakala
When is the medication administered in ‘Abhakta’?
As already talked about, the medication in Abhakta is run to an individual who has not consumed any meals or when the abdomen is empty / devoid of any meals.
By which a part of the day the medication is run?
Normally, this medication is supposed to be given early within the morning. At the moment, the particular person has simply woken up from sleep. He needs to be allowed to keep away from his urine and faeces in order to really feel lightness within the intestine, as felt after full evacuation of bowel.
She or he needs to be instructed to not take any meals and maintain the abdomen empty.
The opposite preferable time is at / throughout dawn.
Why ought to medication be given presently? Dosha relation
At the moment i.e. early within the morning or throughout early morning, the dosha actions will probably be very much less within the abdomen and intestine. The drugs won’t be influenced by the dosha or doshas.
When the abdomen is empty, the abdomen will probably be free from kapha dosha or its affect.
This time could be thought-about as ‘breakfast time’ these days. So, if not early within the morning or at dawn, medication could be administered at an alternate time i.e. breakfast time. Even right here, the abdomen will probably be empty as per rule.
Indications and advantages of Abhakta
Medicinal efficacy – When the medication is run on empty abdomen, its therapeutic impact will probably be excessive and good.
Absorption – The absorption and motion of the medication administered on an empty abdomen will probably be optimum.
Shodhana – The medicines that are directed in the direction of inducing therapeutic emesis – vamana and therapeutic purgation – virechana needs to be administered presently. When performed, they’ll set within the motion rapidly and induce vomiting or purgation effortlessly.
Weight Discount – If the affected person is on the lookout for weight discount, the medicines administered presently will assist in reaching the targets. Due to this fact, Abhakta medication is one of the best one for administration of obese and weight problems circumstances. So, it may be thought-about in medovaha sroto dushti i.e. contamination of fats forming and conveying channels within the physique and illnesses brought on by the identical.
Medicines for morbid kapha and pitta and illnesses brought on by them – Medicines given on empty abdomen will assist in combating morbid pitta and kapha. Additionally it is one of the best to deal with and take below management the illnesses brought on by aggravated pitta, kapha or each doshas.
Kapha and Pitta are drava doshas i.e. they’re partly liquid in nature. Placing it the opposite manner, dravatva or presence of liquidity is among the qualities of each pitta and kapha. Langhana i.e. fasting or therapeutic hunger, as we all know, when performed in a managed manner, will take away the extreme fluidity of pitta and kapha, that are antagonistic to the metabolism and metabolic fireplace – the agni.
Right here, the empty abdomen will present an analogous setting and added by the impact of anti-pitta or anti-kapha medicines administered presently, the therapeutic impact in combating morbid kapha and pitta will probably be optimum. Identical issues work in favour of treating kapha and pitta issues.
Preferrred for Vyana Vata dysfunctions – Medicines given early within the morning on empty abdomen are finest in treating vyana vayu dysfunctions and likewise issues brought about because of vitiation of vyana vata. Vyana vata is the subtype of vata which is concerned in distribution of issues, together with diet and oxygen and circulation within the physique. It’s continuously shifting throughout the physique. Medicines administered in Abhakta time will assist in balancing vyana vata and curing the illnesses brought on by dysfunctions of vyana vata.
Individuals who’ve good power are match / eligible to take medication within the abhakta time. This contains good bodily and psychological power. Individuals who have much less power and fewer tolerance won’t tolerate medicines given on an empty abdomen.
Contraindications for giving medicines in Abhakta Kala
Excessive efficiency medicines – Medicines having increased potencies shall be given on empty abdomen to those that are sturdy however not the sufferers who’re weak. It must also not be given to youngsters, aged individuals, girls or debilitated individuals.
These having tiredness and weak point – Medicines given on empty stomachs presently may cause tiredness and weak point. Due to this fact, the dose and tolerance needs to be monitored commonly. Additionally, medication presently shouldn’t be given to those that have already got tiredness and weak point.
The opposite circumstances whereby abhakta aushadha is contraindicated are –
– People who find themselves thirsty
– People who find themselves hungry
– Individuals who have consumed chilly water
– Folks affected by indigestion
We have to observe that although this type of medication is given on an empty abdomen, care needs to be taken to see that the particular person shouldn’t be feeling hungry or thirsty whereas administering medication. So, the rule is – this medication needs to be given to an individual who’s on an empty abdomen however is neither hungry nor thirsty.
Chilly water meddles with the motion of the medication by not solely diluting the medication but in addition the agni. It would additionally enhance kapha and vata.
When medication is given to these affected by indigestion, throughout this time, the medication will probably be overcome by ama. The drugs won’t be absorbed correctly and put into circulation because of the weak point of agni.
Some illnesses which could be cured by medicines administered in Abhakta state
Abhakta medicinal timing could be thought-about within the under talked about circumstances –
– Circulatory illnesses like hypertension / hypotension brought about because of imbalances of vyana vata
– Pores and skin illnesses – because of deficiency of diet and oxygenation because of vyana vata imbalances
– Kapha issues – diabetes, swelling / oedema in physique components, heaviness of the physique and so on.
– Pitta issues – inflammatory illnesses, gastritis, colitis, arthritis and so on.
– Weight problems and obese points
– Ailments of fats associated channels and errors of fats metabolism, Hypothyroidism
– Shodhana Sneha – the amount of medicated ghee / oil utilized in metered doses, till the physique will get saturated with the medication and indicators of correct oleation / lubrication are discovered, for making ready the particular person for shodhana – cleaning of the physique is given to the affected person on empty abdomen when she or he has not consumed any meals but.
References
– Ashtanga Sangraha Sutra Sthana, Chapter 23 (23/14, 23)
– Sushruta Samhita Uttara Sthana, Chapter 64 (64/67)
– Charaka Samhita Chiktsa Sthana, Chapter 30 (30/299)
– Sharangadhara Samhita Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2 (2/2,4)