Vasti is the specialized Panchakarma procedure to cure Vata related disorders. It is used to promote elimination of the vitiated vatadosha out through the rectum. In this Panchakarma procedure medicated oil or decoction is administered through the anus to pacify the aggravated Vatadosha. Usually Vasti is of two types –
NiroohaVasti in which herbal decoction is used and AnuvasanVasti in which herbal oil is used in form of Enema.Since medicines reach your bowels directly without enzymatic actions, its effectiveness is very high. Hence, vasthi is also done along with many other Ayurvedic treatments. Due to its potential healing ability, vasthi is considered as “half the treatment”, for many of these types of diseases. Medicated enemas are used for various specific reasons. In general, this treatment is used to flush the loosened doshas out through the intestinal tract. There are over 100 specific enemas listed in Ayurveda.
First as a preparatory process, the patient is given oil massage (abhyanga) and fomentation (swedana). After that in a special posture the patient is administered with an enema consisting herbal decoction or herbal oil. Then the patient has to wait till the enema material comes out through the anal passage. Usually this procedure takes 45 minutes to 1 hour time.
Uttara Vasti:
Urovasthi is described as the herbal oil treatment, which is an important Panchakarma therapy that is used for the treatment of muscular chest pain. It cures problems like pain in the sternum, deep seated anxiety, chest pain and many others. The therapy is the best of its kind as it can restore the elasticity of the skin as well.
Kashaya Vasti (Decoction enema):
Kashaya Vasti is one type of vasti in which heat is applied to specific portion of the body by retaining warm medicated oils. A dam of herbal dough is built on the affected area, poured with oil and then left to rest. As a result, it helps in rejuvenating your body by relieving pain, tension and swelling. This Ayurvedic therapy helps to get rid from chronic and acute back pain, prolapsed disc, lumbar spondylitis, sciatica and osteoporosis.
This has cures for many chronic pains and diseases.
- Relieves sciatica pain
- Reduces pain in Inter-vertebral Disc Prolapse (IVDP)
- Stimulates nerves thus relieving pain and numbness
- Recommended for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, disc bulge, and lumbosacral strain.
Sneha Vasti (Oil enema) :
In sneha vasti, only medicated oils / ghrithams are used, whereas in Kashaya vasti, a mixture of various ingredients with a predominance of decoctions is used.
Benefits of Vasti treatment :
- It alleviates constipation, distention, chronic fever, the common cold, sexual disorders, kidney stones, heart pain, vomiting, backache, neck pain, and hyper acidity.
- Vata disorders as sciatica, arthritis, rheumatism, and gout can also be treated by Vasti treatment. There are about 80 vata related disorders in Ayurveda. About 80 percent of them can be treated with medicated enemas.