In classics, Basti is classified into three on the basis of number as Karma Basti, Kāla Basti and Yoga Basti.

KARMA BASTI

प्राक्स्नेह एकः पञ्चान्ते द्वादशास्थापनानि च |
सान्वासनानि कर्मैवं बस्तयस्त्रिंशदीरिताः || (A. H. Su. 19/63)

Here 30 Basti’s are administered. From this 18 Anuvāsana Basti and remaining 12 Nirūha Basti’s are administered. On the first day one Sneha Basti is given which is followed by 12 Nirūha and 12 Anuvāsana alternately. And at the last 5 Sneha Basti is given.

According to Kaśyapa: 30 Basti is scheduled. Here 24 Anuvāsana Basti and 6 Nirūha Basti is scheduled. Initially 5 Anuvāsana are given, then 1 Nirūha and 3 Anuvāsana are given alternately. At the last 4 Anuvāsana is given.

According to Bhela: 24 Basti is given.

चतुर्विंशतिसङ्ख्याताः निरूहास्सानुवासनाः॥ (Bhe. Si. 5/28)

Indication:

——————————–कर्मसंज्ञितम्
अत्युदीर्णबले जाते प्रयोज्यं तद्यथाविधि || (Ka. Khi.8/7)

Karma Basti can be given only to a person having Uttama Bala.

गम्भीरानुगता यस्य क्रमेणोपचिता मलाः २८
कुपिता वातभूयिष्ठा बस्तिसाध्या विशेषतः
संपन्नस्य सहिष्णोश्च कर्म तस्य परायणम् २९ (Ka. khi.8/28-29)

Karma Basti is indicated for deep seated mala and gradual accumulation of Mala, Vātapradhāna Roga, Basti indicated diseases, the persons who are rich, and who is capable of withstanding the treatment for longer duration.

According to Gayadāsa in Su.Chi.37th chapter, Karma Basti is indicated to Uttama Śarīra and Satva Bala.

KĀLA BASTI

In our classics Ācārya Caraka mentions, it is half the number of Karma Basti. According to chakrapani it includes 16 Bastis. And according to Vāgbhaṭa, it includes 15 Bastis. On the first day Anuvāsana Basti is given and afterwards 6 Nirūha Basti and 6 Anuvāsana Basti is given alternately. Lastly 4 Anuvāsana Basti is given.

कालः पञ्चदशैकोऽत्र प्राक् स्नेहोऽन्ते त्रयस्तथा|
षट् पञ्चबस्त्यन्तरिताः————————-| (A. H. Su. 19/64)

According to Vāgbhaṭa, the number of Basti mentioned is 15. Hence on the first day one Sneha Basti, then 6 Anuvāsana and 6 Nirūha Basti’s is given alternatively and at the last 3 Sneha Basti is given.

Indication:

तदर्धकलनात् कालः स हि मध्यबलान्वये ८
पवने पित्तसंसृष्टे विधातव्यो विजानता| (Ka. Khi. 8/8-9)

Administered for Pitta Saṃsarga, Madhyama Bala Roga and Rogi.

According to Gayadāsa in Su.Chi.37th chapter, Kāla Basti is indicated for Svastha Vātadi Doṣā Prakopa occurred due to seasonal changes.

YOGA BASTI

योगोऽष्टौ बस्तयोऽत्र तु ||
त्रयो निरूहाः स्नेहाश्च स्नेहावाद्यन्तयोरुभौ | (A. H. Su. 19/64)

This pattern of Basti includes 8 Basti’s, from this, 5 Anuvāsana Bastis and 3 Nirūha Basti’s are administered.

Indications:

अल्पत्वात् स्नेहबस्तीनां युक्तेर्योगः स लाघवात् ९

प्रयोज्यः कफसंसृष्टे नातितीव्रबलेऽनिले|| (Ka. Khi.8/9-10)

Administered to persons having Kaphanubandhi Vāta Prakopa, persons having Alpa Bala and mild vitiation of Vāta Doṣa.

According to Gayadāsa in Su.Chi.37th chapter, Yoga Basti is indicated for Svastha for the attainment of Vṛṣyatva.

According to Dalhana Ācārya: Karma, Kāla and Yoga Basti is administered for Vāta, Pitta and Kapha predominance respectively.

Utility:

• These type of Basti schedule does not cause Vāta and Agni Duṣṭi.
• Anuvāsana and Nirūha Bastis alone cannot be given for a longer duration.
• According to the Doṣa involvement the number of Basti’s varies.
• By practicing these types of Basti schedules, Doṣa Śodhana, Śamana, and Dhātu Poṣana occurs in a better way by avoiding complications.