Ingredients, Method of Preparation, Benefits

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Koshatakyadi Basti

Reference – The reference of this decoction enema is from Charaka Samhita – Siddhi Sthana, Chapter 3, verse 56-57. It is the 10th Niruha Vasti – decoction enema explained in this chapter.

Name analysis & mode of action

This is an enema recipe prepared with a lot of ingredients led by Koshataki – Luffa acutangula as the first ingredient mentioned in the preparation. The naming of the recipe also follows the norm of nomenclature of preparations, formulations or recipes by their first or most important ingredient in the combination.

–        Koshataki – Luffa acutangula

–        Adi – others

–        Basti / Vasti – enema

Koshatakyadi Basti = enema prepared with Koshataki and other herbs (mentioned below).

Action – Phalashruti – i.e. list of indications of this recipe point towards this recipe being ‘the best one’ for all kapha disorders and specifically for those having mandagni – weak digestion fire and strength and anna dwesha – aversion towards food.

Type of Vasti – Koshatakyadi Vasti is a type of Niruha or Asthapana Vasti in which the herbal decoction prepared with Koshataki and other ingredients is administered as enema.

Koshatakyadi Asthapana / Niruha Vasti (Basti)

कोषातकारग्वधदेवदारुशार्ङ्गेष्टमूर्वाकुटजार्कपाठाः |
पक्त्वाकुलत्थान्बृहतींचतोयेरसस्यतस्यप्रसृतादशस्युः||५६||
तान्सर्षपैलामदनैःसकुष्ठैरक्षप्रमाणैःप्रसृतैश्चयुक्तान्|
फलाह्वतैलस्यसमाक्षिकस्यक्षारस्यतैलस्यचसार्षपस्य||५७||
दद्यान्निरूहंकफरोगिणेज्ञोमन्दाग्नयेचाप्यशनद्विषेच|

Ingredients

1. For the preparation of Kashaya / Kwatha – decoction

10 Prasrtha – 4 palas (1 prasrtha = 2 palas = 96 grams) i.e. 960 grams of Kashaya should be prepared using the below mentioned ingredients, each taken in equal quantity (the final prepared Kashaya should be 10 prastha).

–        Koshataki – Luffa acutangula

–        Aragvadha – Cassia fistula

–        Devadaru – Cedrus deodara

–        Sarngesta / Gujna – Abrus precatorius

–        Murva – Marsdenia tenacissima

–        Kutaja – Holarrhena antidysenterica

–        Arka – Calotropis gigantea

–        Patha – Cissampelos pareira

–        Kulattha – Dolichos biflorus – Horse gram

–        Brhati – Solanum indicum (Kantakari – Solanum xanthocarpum)

1. For preparation of Kalka – paste

Paste should be prepared with 1 aksha – 12 grams each of the below mentioned ingredients –

–        Sarsapa – Brassica juncea / Brassica campestris – mustard seeds

–        Ela – Elettaria cardamom – cardamom

–        Madana – Randia dumetorum

–        Kustha – Saussurea lappa

1. For Sneha

1 prasrta – 2 pala – 96 grams each of the below mentioned oils should be taken

–        Phala or Madanaphala Taila – oil prepared from fruits of Randia dumetorum

–        Sarsapa Taila – mustard oil

1. Saindhava Lavana – Rock salt should be taken as mentioned in the classics – 1 karsha = 12 grams quantity.

1. Madhu / Maksika – Honey – Honey should be taken in a quantity of 1 prasrta = 2 pala = 96 grams.

1. For Avapa – Kshara – alkali should be taken in quantity of 1 prasrta = 2 pala = 96 grams.

Method of preparation of Koshatakyadi Vasti

Going through the quantity of ingredients mentioned by Acharya Charaka in the preparation of Koshatakyadi Vasti, the overall quantity of the preparation sums up to more than 12 prasrta which is the standard maximum dose of Kashaya / Asthapana / Niruha Vasti. The quantity, as a rule, should not exceed 12 Prasrta.

So, a wise physician should prepare this recipe by following Acharya Charaka’s instructions while proportionally reducing the mentioned ingredients in such a way that the final product obtained is 12 prasrta.

Nowadays we are not administering 12 prasrtas in a single sitting for enema because the gut does not permeate or tolerate such a large quantity. So, the total quantity of vasti dravya i.e. enema liquid given in one sitting is kept to less than half of the optimum maximum quantity. This depends on the Yukti – situational understanding and experience of the physicians and differs in the way each physician plans the same.

Alternatively, the vasti may be prepared as per instructions by Acharya Charaka and the final quantity of preparation is divided into 3-4 doses and administered as many times. This will lessen the difficulty of preparing the medicine every time, but on the other hand the medicine may lose its freshness and hence the way it acts. Therefore, it is advisable to prepare the Vasti liquid every time but the mathematics of the used ingredients should be proportionally reduced so as to bring the final preparation to the desired dosage for one sitting.

For practical purposes

Below mentioned calculations can be taken into consideration for preparing 12 prasrta vasti ideal for Kapha individuals or Kapha disorders.

1.   Saindhava Lavana = 1 karsha = 12 grams approximately
2.   Makshika – honey = 3 Prasrta = 288 grams
3.   Sneha – Madanaphala and Sarsapa Taila together = 1 ½ Prasrta = 3 pala (1 ½ pala each) = 144 grams
4.   Kalka – paste of Sarsapa etc herbs – 1 Prasrta = 96 grams
5.   Kashaya – Koshatakyadi Kashaya – 5 Prasrta = 480 grams or ml
6.     Avapa = Ksara = 1 ½ Prasrta = 144 grams

So, this sums up to 12 prasrta standard dose and also as designed for Kapha individuals.

Half of this quantity will be ideal for practical purposes. So, calculations should be done accordingly.

For Kashaya – Koshataki etc herbs should be taken in equal proportion. They should be pounded and their coarse powder is obtained. 1 portion of this powder should be boiled with 8 parts of water and reduced to one eighth and filtered.

Benefits of Koshatakyadi Niruha Vasti

Koshatakyadi Niruha Vasti is said to bestow the below mentioned benefits –

1. Kapha roga – it is an unparalleled enema recipe for those suffering from any Kapha roga. So, we can expand our thought process to the wide spectrum of kapha disorders. Whenever there is morbid kapha predominance in the body leading to any kapha disorder, this enema may be thought of. Vamana – therapeutic emesis is the best therapy for kapha disorders. But when Vamana is not yielding better results in kapha disorders, we may think about involvement of vata in the process and hence Vasti will come into play. Even as such, this enema will be effective for kapha and kapha disorders. We can also think of administering this vasti in kapha disorders or kapha predominant persons in whom vamana is contraindicated or they are in a situation wherein vamana cannot be administered.

Symptoms of Kapha increase as explained in the context of Kapha Vrddhi Lakshanas can be considered for administering this enema, like –

–        Agni sadana – diminution of digestive fire and hence deterioration of digestion capacity, leading to mandagni related disorders

–        Praseka – excessive salivation, which is indicative of increase of kapha

–        Alasya – laziness, procrastination

–        Gourava – heaviness of the body

–        Shvaitya – whitish discoloration of the body parts

–        Shaitya – excessive and uncontrolled coldness in the body

–        Shlatha angatva – looseness of the body parts

–        Shvasa – dyspnoea, shortness of breath or diseases presenting with difficulty in breathing – like asthma, bronchitis etc

–        Kasa – cough and diseases having cough as symptom

–        Atinidrata – excessive sleepiness

Other Kapha predominant metabolic / systemic disorders like obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, depression, metabolic syndrome etc may also be considered.

It is also a good enema recipe for all digestive disorders and can be used for metabolic corrections.

2. Mandagni – This enema is highly effective in conditions wherein one’s digestive fire is very sluggish. This causes indigestion. And low digestive fire and indigestion, on long run, are root sources for many systemic ailments. So, mandagni should never be neglected. Mandagni can be caused by all doshas but is predominantly caused by increased kapha in the stomach. This indication also gives us a clue that mandagni can not only be tackled by oral medications but can also be controlled, manipulated and balanced by administration of Vasti.

3. Annadwesha – There are many diseases in which the person will have hatred or aversion towards food. The patients too will not know why they are rejecting food. But keeping away from food is very bad for health since the body and health sustains only on the foods we consume on a daily basis. In chronic conditions, in people who have undergone surgical procedures (many weeks or months after surgery), those who are suffering from ailments like cancer etc or are on chemo and radiotherapy for the same, those suffering from conditions like anorexia etc will have ‘food rejection’ as part of their sufferings and symptoms complexes. This vasti will come in handy for these patients.

Action on Doshas

As specified by Acharya Charaka, this vasti is the best in combating kapha imbalances, kapha aggravation and in effectively curing kapha disorders. Since it is a vasti, it should definitely have a role in ‘vata balancing’. Since it kindles agni and is used for treating mandagni and bhakta dwesha, as described above, it also has a ‘pitta stimulating’ role.

Action on Dhatus

By addressing morbid kapha and curing kapha disorders, it will cleanse, reboot and resuscitate all the tissues which are abodes of kapha i.e. rasa, mamsa, meda, majja and shukra. It also helps in cleansing and rejuvenating the srotas related to these tissues.

By activating jatharagni, it also activates dhatu agnis and helps in improving tissue metabolism by feedback action. This will help in proper formation of all the tissues and ojas. This can be considered as the Rasayana action of this Vasti, though not directly mentioned in the texts.

Action on Malas

Since Koshatakyadi Vasti, like any enema cleanses the colon, it helps in expelling purisha – faeces and adho vata – fart and keeping the gut healthy. It expels kapha depositions from the colon and gut and thus activates these organs. In this way it helps in balancing vata at the gut level. Purisha and Mutra are the abodes of Kapha. So, Koshatakyadi Vasti has a cleansing role on Purishavaha and Mutravaha Srotas. It is a good recipe for gastrointestinal and urinary disorders.

Probable Mode of Action

The probable mode of action has already been touched upon in bits and parcels in the above explanation and discussion of Koshatakyadi Vasti.

To sum up, the main action of this vasti is unique. It tackles morbid kapha when administered in the form of enema against the conventional emesis therapy which is said to be the best for kapha disorders.

Kapha is a supportive matrix and a buffer for each and every cell in the body. It protects the body against the wear and tear which is caused by hyperactivity of vata, pitta and agni. So, a net balance and gross balance of kapha is very vital for health. Increased kapha will meddle with the core agni in the belly, the jatharagni. This will cause mandagni, aruchi, bhaktadwesha, ajirna and other related disorders. This will squeeze the action of the dhatu agnis also.

Increased kapha can also envelope vata and pacify pitta leading to a wide array of metabolic and systemic disorders like prameha, sthoulya, etc and other santarpanottha rogas – diseases occurring due to over-nutrition.

Kapha can cause blocks and clogs in the body and hamper many functions. It also has a depressive effect on the nervous system and causes many mental disorders.

Though vamana is the best remedy for kapha increase and the disorders produced by the same, many times either vamana is difficult to administer or is contraindicated in many conditions which are caused by kapha or the patient himself will not be fit or comfortable enough to undergo vamana therapy. In these conditions, vasti will be an alternative yet effective approach to deal with these disorders.

Koshatakyadi Vasti has very good ingredients which can effectively combat kapha and kapha disorders. The advantage is that it has a stimulative action on agni. Vasti is comparably safe and easy to administer in comparison to vamana.

Being enema, it also has gut cleansing action. So, it also purifies the vata seat. It is an effective way of controlling agni from beneath.

While correcting agni, Koshatakyadi Vasti will also correct the core metabolism and tissue metabolism and is hence an effective recipe for metabolic disorders. This is also a pathway of removing the blocks in cells and channels and also enabling their recovery and healthy rebuilding.

So, the entire therapeutic action of Koshatakyadi Kashaya Vasti is by correcting the agni imbalances and expelling or destroying morbid kapha and hence effectively curing the kapha disorders.