ETYMOLOGY

The term Basti is derived from the verb root ‘Vas’ by ad ding ‘Tich’ Pratyaya and it is a Pullinga Shabda. According to Vācaspatyam:

• वस् निवासे | – means to reside, to stay, to dwell.
• वस् आच्छादने | – to cover.
• वस् स्नेहाच्छादन प्रहरणेषु | – overlaid with Sneha for the elimination
• वस् वासने सुरभिकरणे | – produce fragrance.
• बस्ते आवृणोतिमूत्रम्। – denotes an organ which upholds urine.
• नाभिरधोभागे मूत्राधारे स्थाने ।   – denotes an organ which is situated below the Nābhi

Pradeśa, which holds the urine.              

• औषध दानार्थे द्रव्य भेदे । – it is an instrument which is used for the administration

of medicine.

We can say that Basti Karma is a procedure, in which the drugs are administered through the anal canal and is retained for a specific time duration and draws the malas from all over the body and eliminates out, resulting a desired effect. It is also considered as an organ for the collection of urine.

DEFINITION

• बस्तिना दीयत इत् बस्तिः| (A.Hr.Su.19/1)
• बस्तिना दीयते बस्तिं
  वा पूर्वमन्वेत्यतो बस्तिः| (A.Sa.Su.28/2)
• बस्तिभिर्दीयते यस्मात् तस्माद् बस्तिरिति स्मृतः । (Vangasena, Sha.Sam)

It is a procedure by which bladder of the animals are used for the administration of Basti Dravya.

The drug administered in Basti karma reaches the Basti area (nabheradhobhāga) first. That’s why it is called as Basti.

नाभिप्रदेशं कटिपार्श्वकुक्षिं गत्वा शकृद्दोषचयं विलोड्य [१] || ||
संस्नेह्य कायं सपुरीषदोषः सम्यक् सुखेनैति च यः स बस्तिः |४१| (Cha.Si.1/40)

In a properly administered Basti Karma, the Basti Dravya reaches up to Nābhi, Kaṭī, Pārśva, Kukṣi Pradeśa and a part of its Snehāmśa is absorbed into the body and the remaining Dravya churns accumulated Doṣa along with Purīṣa and eliminates them out.

शाखागताः कोष्ठगताश्च रोगा मर्मोर्ध्वसर्वावयवाङ्गजाश्च |
ये सन्ति तेषां न हि कश्चिदन्यो वायोः परं जन्मनि हेतुरस्ति ||
विण्मूत्रपित्तादिमलाशयानां  विक्षेपसङ्घातकरः स यस्मात् |
तस्यातिवृद्धस्य शमाय नान्यद्बस्तिं विना भेषजमस्ति किञ्चित् ||
तस्माच्चिकित्सार्धमिति ब्रुवन्ति सर्वां चिकित्सामपि बस्तिमेके | (Cha. Si. 1/38-39)

The diseases of Śākhā, Koṣṭha, Marma Pradeśa, Ūrdhvāṅga and Sarvānga is caused due to the vitiation of Vāta Doṣā. Vāta is responsible for the dislodgement and combination of vit, Mūtra, Pitta and Kapha with their Āśaya. Hence any malfunctioning in the body is caused by Vāta Doṣā and Basti is the prime line of management for Vāta Doṣā. So it is considered as Ardha Cikitsā and some even say it is Pūrṇa Cikitsā or complete treatment.

नाभिप्रदेशं कटिपार्श्वकुक्षिं गत्वा शकृद्दोषचयं विलोड्य |
संस्नेह्य कायं सपुरीषदोषः सम्यक् सुखेनैति च यः स बस्तिः || (Cha. Si. 1/40)

In a properly administered Basti Karma, the Basti Dravya reaches up to Nābhi, Kaṭī, Pārśva, Kukṣi Pradeśa and a part of its Snehāmśa is absorbed into the body and the remaining Dravya churns accumulated Doṣa along with Purīṣa and eliminates them out.

आपादतलमूर्धस्थान् दोषान् पक्वाशये स्थितः|
वीर्येण बस्तिरादत्ते खस्थोऽर्को भूरसानिव|| (Cha. Si. 7/64)

Basti introduced into the Pakvāśaya acts upon the whole body and on every system of the body, from head to toe and draws out the impurities by its potency similar to the sun which evaporates the water from the earth by its heat.

इह खलु बस्तिर्नानाविधद्रव्यसंयोगाद्दोषाणां संशोधनसंशमनसङ्ग्रहणानि करोति, क्षीणशुक्रं वाजीकरोति, कृशं बृंहयति, स्थूलं कर्शयति, चक्षुः प्रीणयति, वलीपलितमपहन्ति, वयः स्थापयति || शरीरोपचयं वर्णं बलमारोग्यमायुषः |  कुरुते परिवृद्धिं च बस्तिः सम्यगुपासितः || (Su. Chi. 35/3-4)

Due to the combination of different kinds of drug, Basti produces Śodhana, Śamana and Saṅgrahaṇa of Doṣās. Basti causes increased libido in Kṣīṇa Sukra, stoutens the emaciated, slims the obese, causes optimal functions of eyes, removes wrinkles and grey hairs and retards ageing. Properly administered enema therapy promotes growth and colour of the body, augments strength, health and life span.

बस्तिर्वयःस्थापयिता सुखायुर्बलाग्निमेधास्वरवर्णकृच्च|
सर्वार्थकारी शिशुवृद्धयूनां निरत्ययः सर्वगदापहश्च||
विट्श्लेष्मपित्तानिलमूत्रकर्षी दार्ढ्यावहः शुक्रबलप्रदश्च|
विश्वक्स्थितं दोषचयं निरस्य सर्वान् विकारान् शमयेन्निरूहः|| (Cha. Si. 1/27-28)

Nirūha Basti prevents ageing process of the body, promotes happiness, longevity, strength, Agni, Medha, voice and complexion, performs all functions, Nirūha Basti is harmless for infants, old persons and youth, helps in curing all diseases, helps in drawing out faeces, Kapha, Pitta, Vāyu and urine, provides fitness or compactness to the body, enriches semen and promotes strength. While eliminating accumulated Doṣās from the entire body, Nirūha Basti alleviates all the diseases.

बस्तिर्वाते च पित्ते च कफे रक्ते च शस्यते |
संसर्गे सन्निपाते च बस्तिरेव हितः सदा || (Su. Chi. 35/6)

According to Ācārya Suśruta, Basti is beneficial in disorders of Vāta, Pitta and Kapha Doṣās and even in the derangement of Rakta Dhātu. It is also effective in curing the diseases caused by combination of two or three Doṣās.