Uttarabasti is a type of Basti Upakrama, Uttarabasti is an important unique Āyurveda procedure, which has been described in Āyurveda classics very descriptively. It is mentioned for the Genito–urinary disorders of both the males and the females. Basti preparations are mentioned in the classics but in many a cases Uttarabasti is to be recommended because of its higher efficacy. The Basti which is given through Uttaramārga or Utkliṣṭa Avayava or therapeutic procedure having Śreṣṭha properties is termed as Uttarabasti. Ācārya Vāgbhaṭa says that the one which is administered after the Nirūha Basti procedure is known as Uttarabasti.

Definition

उत्तरबस्तिसञ्ज्ञा उत्तरमार्गदीयमानतया, किंवा श्रेष्ठगुणतया उत्तरबस्तिः|| 

(Cha. Si. 9/50, Cakrapāṇi commentary)

The Basti which is given through Uttaramārga or the therapeutic procedure having Śreṣṭha properties is termed as Uttarabasti.

स निरूहादुत्तरमुत्तरेण वा मार्गेण दीयत इत्युत्तर– बस्तिः|| (A. S. Su. 28/11)

Basti which is administered after Niruha Basti and through the Uttaramārga.

गुदादुत्तरेण मार्गेण दीयत इत्युत्तरबस्तिः| (A. H. Su. 19/70, Arunadatta commentary)

The administration of drugs through the orifice above Gudamārga.

शुक्रं दुष्टं शोणितं चाङ्गनानां पुष्पोद्रेकं तस्य नाशं च कष्टम् |
मूत्राघातान्मूत्रदोषान् प्रवृद्धान् योनिव्याधिं संस्थितिं चापरायाः ||
शुक्रोत्सेकं शर्करामश्मरीं च शूलं बस्तौ वङ्क्षणे मेहने च |
घोरानन्यान् बस्तिजांश्चापि रोगान् हित्वा मेहानुत्तरो हन्ति बस्तिः || (Su. Chi. 37/125-126)

According to Ācārya Suśruta, Uttarabasti is indicated in vitiation of semen in men, vitiation of menstrual blood in women, untimely menstruation (menorrhagia), loss of menstruation (amenorrhea) and painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea), retention of urine, disorders of urine, vaginal diseases, non-expulsion of placenta, untimely elimination of semen, urinary gravel and calculi, pain in the bladder, groins and penis, other dreadful diseases of bladder and diabetes.

बस्तिजेषु विकारेषु योनिविभ्रंशजेषु च||
योनिशूलेषु तीव्रेषु योनिव्यापत्स्वसृग्दरे|
अप्रस्रवति मूत्रे च बिन्दुं बिन्दुं स्रवत्यपि||
विदध्यादुत्तरं बस्तिं यथास्वौषधसंस्कृतम् | (Cha. Si. 9/63-64)

According to Ācārya Caraka, Uttarabasti is indicated in diseases of urinary bladder, prolapse of uterus, excruciating pain in the uterus, gynecological disorders, menorrhagia, anuria and dribbling of urine.

Prameha – as prameha is not a roga which affects only Basti, there are involvement of Dhātus also. 

Based on form of drug administered
1. Snaihika-uttarabasti – The uttarabasti procedure where only snehadravyas are used
is called as snaihika Uttara Basti. There is no mentioning of addition of any
avapadravyas in it.
2. Niruhika-uttarabasti – The uttarabasti procedure where only kashayadravya are
used. There is no mentioning of addition of madhu, sneha, kalka etc. which are being
added commonly in Niruha Basti.
Based on route of administration
1. Mutrashayagata-uttarabasti – The administration of drugs through urethral route.
2. Yonigata-uttarabasti – The administration of drugs through vaginal route.
3. Garbhashayagata-uttarabasti – The administration of drugs through uterine route.
Based on gender
Male: Mutrashayagata (Vesicular/ urethral route)
Female: Mutrashayagata, Yoni gata and Garbhashayagata (vesicular/ urethral or genital route

MALE UTTARA BASTI YANTRA

It has two parts

1. Basti Netra
2. Basti Puṭaka

Male basti Netra

Synonym: Puṣpa Netra

आतुराङ्गुलमानेन तन्नेत्रं द्वादशाङ्गुलम् |
वृत्तं गोपुच्छवन्मूलमध्ययोः कृतकर्णिकम् ||
सिद्धार्थकप्रवेशाग्रं श्लक्ष्णं हेमादिसम्भवम् |
कुन्दाश्वमारसुमनःपुष्पवृन्तोपमं दृढम् || (A. H. Su. 19/72)

The male Uttarabasti Netra should be 12 Aṅgula in length, in terms of patient’s own fingers. It should be round shape resembling a cow’s tail at its base and endowed with a ridge in its middle and its tip should be capable of permitting a grain of mustard. The Netra should be smooth and made from metals like gold., silver, copper etc. and  resembling the shape of the stalk of flowers such as Kunda, Aśvamāra and Sumana and should be strong.

पुष्पनेत्रं तु हैमं स्याच्छ्लक्ष्णमौत्तरबस्तिकम् ||
जात्यश्वहनवृन्तेन समं गोपुच्छसंस्थितम् |
रौप्यं वा सर्षपच्छिद्रं द्विकर्णं द्वादशाङ्गुलम् || (Cha. Si.9/50)

According to Ācārya Caraka, Uttarabasti Netra should be prepared of gold or silver, and it should be smooth. Its tip should be of the size of the flower stalk of Jāti or Aśvahana, and in shape it should be tapering like the cow’s tail. It must have a hole in the middle which should allow mustard seed to pass through. It should have two rings, and its length must be 12 Aṅgulas.

चतुर्दशाङ्गुलं नेत्रमातुराङ्गुलसम्मितम् |
मालतीपुष्पवृन्ताग्रं छिद्रं सर्षपनिर्गमम् || (Su. Chi. 37/101)

The Basti Netra for male Uttarabasti should be 14 Aṅgula long. Its diameter is the thickness of the patient’s finger. The thickness of the tip is thickness of the stalk of Mālati flower and the orifice at the tip permitting a mustard seed to pass through.

Characteristics of netra for male

Basti Puṭaka

औरभ्रः शौकरो वाऽपि बस्तिराजश्च पूजितः |
तदलाभे प्रयुञ्जीत गलचर्म तु पक्षिणाम् ||

तस्यालाभे दृतेः पादो मृदुचर्म ततोऽपि वा | (Su. Chi. 37/107)

Urinary bladder of either a camel, boar or goat is preferable as enema bag. In their absence, the skin of the neck of birds may be used. In the non-availability of any of the above, bag made from soft leather may be used.

It should be smooth, devoid of Sirā, processed with Kaṣāya dravya, clean and devoid of foul smell.

FEMALE UTTARA BASTI YANTRA

नेत्रं दशाङ्गुलं मुद्गप्रवेशं चतुरङुलम्|
अपत्यमार्गे योज्यं स्याद् ह्यङ्गुलं मूत्रवर्त्मनि||
मूत्रकृच्छ्रविकारेषु, बालानां त्वेकमङ्गुलम्|  (A. H. Su. 19/79)

The female Uttarabasti Netra should be 10 Aṅgula in length. Its tip permitting the entry of a grain of Mudga (green gram). It should be inserted to a length of 4 Aṅgula in case of vaginal passage and to a length of 2 Aṅgula in case of urethral passage in diseases like dysuria etc and in case of children, it shall be 1 Aṅgula.

पुष्पनेत्रप्रमाणं तु प्रमदानां दशाङ्गुलम्||
मूत्रस्रोतःपरीणाहं मुद्गस्रोतोऽनुवाहि च|
अपत्यमार्गे नारीणां विधेयं चतुरङ्गुलम्||
द्व्यङ्गुलं मूत्रमार्गे तु बालायास्त्वेकमङ्गुलम्| (Cha. Si. 9/65-66)

Puṣpa netra for women should be 10 Aṅgula in length. In circumference, it should be of the size of their urethral canal. The hole in the middle of the nozzle should be spacious enough to allow the passage of mudga (green gram).

For giving Uttarabasti in the genital organ of adult women, the nozzle should be inserted up to 4 Aṅgulas, and for Uttarabasti in their urethral passage, it should be inserted up to 2 Aṅgulas. In the case of young girls, the Netra should be inserted up to 1 Aṅgula in their urethral passage.

निविष्टकर्णिकं मध्ये, नारीणां चतुरङ्गुले |
मूत्रस्रोतःपरीणाहं मुद्गवाहि दशाङ्गुलम् ||
मेढ्रायामसमं केचिदिच्छन्ति खलु तद्विदः | (Su. Chi. 37/103-104)

Netra for men should have the Karṇika in the middle and in women, it should be at a distance of 4 Aṅgula from the tip. Netra should have the diameter of the urinary passage, 10 Aṅgula long and with the orifice allowing a green gram to pass through. Some others say it should have the external diameter equal to the size of Meḍhra.

Characteristic of Netra for female

Basti Puṭaka

औरभ्रः शौकरो वाऽपि बस्तिराजश्च पूजितः |
तदलाभे प्रयुञ्जीत गलचर्म तु पक्षिणाम् ||

तस्यालाभे दृतेः पादो मृदुचर्म ततोऽपि वा | (Su. Chi. 37/107)

Urinary bladder of either a camel, boar or goat is preferable as enema bag. In their absence, the skin of the neck of birds may be used. In the non-availability of any of the above, bag made from soft leather may be used.

It should be smooth, devoid of Sirās, processed with Kaṣāya dravya, clean and devoid of foul smell.

Modifications of Uttara Basti Yantra

• Stainless steel Uttarabasti Yantra

• Plastic Uttara basti Yantra

• Rubber bell vaginal douche

• Simple rubber catheter and plastic syringe

• I V cannula

• Infant feeding tube

• IUI cannula