Sorts of Langhana Described by Acharya Vagbhata and never by Acharya Charaka, Reasoning

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

Langhana – Any remedy, drugs, exercise or non-medicine which brings about Laghutva i.e. lightness within the physique and thoughts is named Langhana. This motion is caused by both shodhana – cleaning therapies like Panchakarma or shamana – palliative medicines.

Variations in varieties of Langhana – Charaka vs Vagbhata

Acharya Charaka has described ten varieties of Langhana whereas Acharya Vagbhata has described twelve varieties of Langhana.

Frequent Description of Langhana Varieties in Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya (Vagbhata)

1. Vamana – therapeutic emesis
2. Virechana – therapeutic purgation
3. Niruha Vasti – decoction enema
4. Nasya – nasal medicine – cleaning sort of errhines (Charaka) / Shirovirechana – head purging / cleaning errhines (Vagbhata)
5. Pipasa (Charaka) / Trt (Vagbhata) – withholding thirst
6. Maruta – publicity to wind
7. Atapa – publicity to the warmth of the solar
8. Pachana – ama digesting medicines
9. Upavasa – fasting (Charaka) / Kshut – withholding starvation (Vagbhata)
10.                   Vyayama – train

Extra varieties of Langhana described by Acharya Vagbhata (not described by Acharya Charaka)

Along with the ten varieties of Langhana described by Acharya Charaka, Acharya Vagbhata describes two extra varieties of Langhana. They’re –

11.                   Deepana – medicines which might improve agni – digestive hearth and enhance digestive exercise
12.                   Raktamokshana – bloodletting

Including these two therapies, Langhana could be of twelve varieties based on Acharya Vagbhata.

So as to add up 

Acharya Vagbhata offers a broad classification of Langhana.

They’re – Shodhana and Shamana.

Shodhana – The 5 sorts of cleaning therapies (Panchakarma) are included below Shodhana. They’re – Vamana, Virechana, Niruha Vasti, Shirovirechana and Raktamokshana.

Shamana – The opposite seven sorts of therapies are included below Shamana i.e. palliative therapies. They’re – Pachana, Dipana, Kshut, Trt, Vyayama, Atapa and Maruta.

So, we are able to see that among the many extra varieties of Langhana described by Acharya Vaghbata,

–        Deepana is included below Shamana and

–        Raktamokshana is included below Shodhana

Associated AIAPGET Questions

1. Which extra types of Langhana has Acharya Vagbhata described which aren’t described by Acharya Charaka?
2. Pachana and Raktamokshana
3.   Dipana and Raktamokshana
4. Pachana and Dipana
5.   Upavasa and Raktamokshana

Ans – b. Dipana and Raktamokshana

2. Which Shodhana has been moreover talked about by Vagbhata among the many varieties of Langhana compared to Charaka?
3. Shirovirechana
4.   Niruha Basti
5. Raktamokshana
6.   Vamana

Ans – c. Raktamokshana

3. Which Shamana has been moreover talked about by Vagbhata among the many varieties of Langhana compared to Charaka?
4. Upavasa
5.   Pipasa
6. Pachana
7.   Deepana

Ans – d. Deepana

4. Among the many beneath talked about pairs of Langhana, one pair isn’t accepted by Charaka. Which is the right choice?
5. Dipana and Pachana
6.   Dipana and Raktamokshana
7. Pachana and Raktamokshana
8.   Raktamokshana and Vamana

Ans – b. Dipana and Raktamokshana

Potential speculation why Acharya Vagbhata may need added Deepana and Raktamokshana within the checklist of Langhana therapies

Scope and wish for including new therapies in later treatises – Ashtanga Hridaya was written after Charaka Samhita. Ashtanga Hridaya is very influenced by Charaka Samhita. There was a scope of improvisation, additions and deletions within the later treatises. So, despite accepting and together with Charaka’s Langhana, Acharya Vagbhata felt the necessity to embody Deepana and Raktamokshana within the checklist of Langhana therapies.

Want for including Deepana – Deepana was an integral a part of the therapies even in Charaka period, however not essential to be included below varieties of langhana, because it was in Vagbhata period. This most likely hints in the direction of decline of the capability of agni in the direction of a decrease aspect of the graph with evolution of humanity, which justifies its inclusion.

Want for together with Raktamokshana – Acharya Charaka was elective in indicating Raktamokshana and has executed it with exact readability as and when wanted. Instance – Raktamokshana has been indicated as a primary line of remedy in Vatarakta Chikitsa (remedy of gout and peripheral vascular illnesses?) in Charaka Samhita. Acharya Charaka didn’t most likely really feel it essential to incorporate Raktamokshana amongst varieties of Langhana, which was a remedy adequately utilized by surgeons, which was not the varsity of Charaka.

We are able to assume that with the evolution of Ayurveda down the timeline, Raktamokshana was extra adequately used as essential remedy in lots of circumstances. Acharya Vagbhata thought-about it as a Langhana kind, for a kind of shodhana it at all times was. This additionally factors in the direction of the affect of Sushruta on Vagbhata and the latter’s potential acceptance of Rakta – the blood because the fourth dosha as described by Acharya Sushruta.