Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Shodhana – means cleaning the physique of its impurities. Impurities right here means – morbid doshas and malas – excreta and undesirable issues which have settled within the physique.
When morbid doshas and excreta stay within the physique for very long time, they create blocks within the channels of the physique i.e. sroto avarodha, weaken the agni and dhatus, construct toxicity, deplete power and endurance and trigger many illnesses on the long term. So, you will need to flush out these doshas occasionally and see that the physique is clear and clear. A clear system is an indicator of complete well being. Correct cleaning of the physique is ‘apunarbhava chikitsa’ i.e. a technique to forestall recurrences of illnesses.
Ayurveda has advocated Shodhana as a very powerful line of remedy and must be introduced into play in all these illnesses whereby shodhana has been indicated.
It’s stated that the doshas and illnesses conquered by shodhana won’t bounce again and therefore present long-standing immunity and endurance and likewise will enrich the standard of life, offering longevity.
There are a lot of advantages of Shodhana therapies. However on this article, we’ll focus on the 5 major advantages of shodhana talked about by Acharya Vagbhata, in Ashtanga Hridaya SutraSthana, Chapter 18.
I cherished the way in which Grasp Vagbhata has included a wide selection of advantages of shodhana in these 5 phrases indicating 5 indications. We have to learn in between the traces and phrases and perceive that these are usually not ‘solely 5’ advantages, however enlarge into explaining ulterior advantages when keenly peeped into what the grasp is making an attempt to say.
Be aware –
Shodhana right here means 4 measures included in Panchakarma therapies. They’re Vamana, Virechana, Asthapana Vasti and Shirovirechana (Nasya). Anuvasana Vasti is extra supportive than cleaning and therefore shall be omitted.
Advantages of Shodhana: Purification therapies in line with Acharya Vagbhata
बुद्धिप्रसादं बलम् इन्द्रियाणां धातुस्थिरत्वं ज्वलनस्य दीप्तिम् ।
चिराच् च पाकं वयसः करोति संशोधनं सम्यगुपास्यमानम् ॥ ६०ऊ ॥
Under talked about are the principle 5 advantages of Shodhana therapies –
1. Buddhi Prasadam – supplies readability and tranquility to the mind
It’s seen that the thought course of, resolution making abilities and reminiscence and lots of mental capabilities get fine-toned in an individual who undergoes shodhana therapies. Buddhi is the mediator of knowledge which passes into us after they’re perceived by our sense organs. A sane and wholesome buddhi is answerable for all our actions involving ideas. Buddhi is current within the Hridaya – mind / coronary heart. When these seats are affected by doshas, the particular person suffers from a wide selection of issues pertaining to the mind and ideas. Shodhana expels the morbid doshas and establishes steadiness in capabilities of buddhi.
These advantages replicate the rejuvenation of the nervous and endocrine techniques and their well being.
Associated Studying – ‘Buddhi Prasadam impact of Shodhana’
2. Balam Indriyanam – supplies power to the sense organs
The indriyas embrace jnanendriyas – sense organs, karmendriyas – organs of motion (motor organs) and ubhayendriya – twin indriya i.e. manaas – thoughts.
They’re beneath fixed stress, put on and tear throughout our day lengthy actions. Once we consistently put them into use for extended durations of time, with out giving them relaxation, they’ll fail of their capabilities. They may even get debilitated with time. The well being of jnanendriyas is crucial for notion of knowledge and data of all the things. The well being of karmendriyas is crucial for locomotion, speech, sexual and excretory capabilities. The well being of thoughts could be very important for us to do all of the actions on a day-to-day foundation. Asatmya Indriyartha Sannikarsha – improper coordination of sense organs with their objects is among the major causes for a lot of illnesses.
Shodhana would bestow power to those indriyas and allow their easy functioning. Indriyas may even not perform correctly when affected by morbid doshas. Shodhana expels these doshas and helps the indriyas to get well their power and energy of notion, motion and psychological capabilities.
These advantages replicate the impact of shodhana on the sensory and motor techniques and likewise on the thoughts.
Associated Studying – ‘Indriyanam Balam impact of Shodhana’
3. Dhatu Sthiratvam – supplies assist and stability to the tissues
Dosha Dushya Sammurchana – the invasion of weak and vulnerable dhatus by robust and morbid doshas is the essential occasion within the manifestation of any illness.
Remedy is reversing this equation by breaking the sammurchana i.e. amalgamation between the morbid doshas and dhatus.
This may be achieved solely by shodhana. Shodhana expels the morbid doshas after they’ve been remoted from their contact with the dhatus. That is the primary stage of restoration of tissues. Correct food regimen, medicines and Rasayana therapies given after shodhana would assist in offering assist and stability to the tissues.
These advantages replicate the impact of shodhana on circulatory, reticuloendothelial, musculoskeletal, adipose and reproductive techniques.
Associated Studying – ‘Dhatu Sthiratvam impact of Shodhana’
4. Jwalanasya Diptim – kindles the digestive fireplace and therefore enhances the digestive capability of the abdomen / intestine
Allmost all illnesses are precipitated resulting from sluggish functioning of or disturbances within the functioning of the core agni i.e. jathara agni, kayagni – situated in our abdomen / intestine. If this agni is balanced, it digests the meals correctly and supplies diet to the entire physique. If this agni turns into weak or will get disturbed, it will trigger many systemic and metabolic illnesses in the long term. Imbalance in core agni may even have a suggestions impact on the dhatu agni and Bhuta agni. They too would get imbalanced.
Agni will get disturbed when influenced by the morbid doshas, ama or accrued mala. Shodhana helps in flushing off these morbidities from the physique and assist in kindling and recovering of the core in addition to associated agnis.
These advantages replicate the advantages of shodhana on the gastrointestinal system.
Associated Studying – ‘Jwalanasya Diptim’ impact of Shodhana
5. Chirat Pakam Vayasah – slows down the ageing course of, acts as anti-ageing interventions
Shodhana would result in rejuvenation of tissues by expelling the morbid doshas and malas, as stated above. Thus, Shodhana would act as an anti-ageing remedy. This good thing about shodhana could be a collective impact of all of the above stated 4 advantages of shodhana.
The presence of the morbid doshas within the physique would have a toll on well being and immunity. The diet and oxygenation of the physique too shall be compromised. This may make the particular person seem older than his or her organic age and likewise diseased and lack lustre. We will observe that individuals who have undergone shodhana would look youthful, more healthy and match. This additionally displays the impact of endeavor shodhana recurrently and retaining the physique clear, clear and wholesome.
These advantages replicate the influence of shodhana on the immune system and in balancing the doshas, dhatus, agni, malas, indriyas and manas, thus serving to the particular person in reaching complete well being.
Associated Studying – ‘Chirat Pakam Vayasah impact of Shodhana’
Summing up
Below these 5 advantages, Grasp Vagbhata has intelligently coated the big selection of advantages of shodhana, masking all of the techniques of our physique which shall be benefitted by this set of particular remedies, as defined above. He has touched upon the advantages of shodhana on all doshas, tissues, excreta, srotas, organs, organ techniques – nearly all the things.
The phrase shodhana means ‘dosha or mala shodhana’. So, not directly the grasp has additionally talked about one other profit which has not been counted amongst the 5 advantages of shodhana i.e. cleaning of dosha and malas from the physique.
Lastly, there’s a catch.
Acharya Vagbhata ends the verse by quoting – ‘Karoti Samshodhanam Samyag Upasyamananam….’ – ‘the advantages talked about might be achieved provided that the purification therapies are correctly accomplished / undertaken’.
