Different Methods of Treatment

2. Brmhana cikitsa (Nourishing or Restorative therapy)

One suffering from vitiated Vata or Vata-Pitta provocation, tuberculosis, debility, emaciation, senility and old-age, those who are addicted to excessive coitus and intoxication, those who get tired by frequent and long journeys and excessive physical work require nourishing therapy. The treatment that is strength-promoting and nourishing is Brmhana cikitsa. This treatment is very useful and much needed in the summer.

The treatment includes a healthy regime and intake of milk, ghee, cottage cheese, butter, honey and other nutritive and beneficial substances that provide nourishment and strength. In this therapy heavy, cool, emollient, slow, oily, stout, thick and dense substances are considered useful. A healthy regime involves baths, ubatana, good deep sleep; basti (enema) with sweet and oily medicines, to keep away grief and anxiety and related conditions.

3. Ruksana cikitsa (Drying therapy)

This is useful in diseases which cause blockage in the body channels, excessive provocation of Vata and other dosas and when diseases affect the vital organs of the body such as stiffness of the legs, gout and obstinate urinary disorders.

Substances with pungent, bitter and astringent tastes, oil cakes prepared from sesame and mustard seeds and honey are used in this therapy. For this treatment rough, dry, light, penetrating, hot in potency, stout, nonsticky and strong medicines are used.

4. Snehana cikitsa (Oleation therapy)

Treatment which increases smoothness of the body, fluidity, softness and moistness is oleation therapy. Ghee, oil, fat and other oily substances are used for oleation therapy. Ghee is considered the best among them. According to Ayurveda, when medicines are processed with ghee it absorbs various beneficial properties itself, it alleviates vitiated Pitta and Vata dosas, and it also nourishes rasa and sukra dhatus. Other than that, ghee clears the voice and enhances the complexion. It is useful for the skin. Its intake helps to treat diseases of the male and female genital tract. It strengthens the body and enhances sexual vigor and is also useful in trauma, fractures, prolapse of the uterus, otalgia (ear pain) and headache.

Bone marrow is also used as an emollient in oleation therapy. It enhances physical strength, especially of the bones. It nourishes sukra dhatu (semen), rasa dhatu (plasma), meda dhatu (adipose tissue), majja dhatu (bone marrow) and increases Kapha dosa.

For alleviation of Pitta, ghee is the best among all, followed by bone marrow, fats and oils respectively. To the contrary, in Vata alleviation, oil is the best emollient whereas bone marrow and ghee are less effective, respectively.

5. Svedana cikitsa (Fomentation or Sudation therapy)

A treatment which cures stiffness, heaviness and coolness and produces sweating is called fomentation therapy. There are thirteen types of fomentation therapies described in Ayurveda. Their procedure, compatibility and contra-indications are different. They are useful for cold, cough, hiccoughs, bronchial asthma; heaviness in the body, bodyache, otalgia (ear pain), neck pain, headache and migraine; for hoarseness of the voice, sore throat and spasmodic obstruction in the throat; for hemorrhagic strokes or paralysis in a particular organ, of the full body or half the body; for excess yawning, body bending, contraction, chills, tremors, numbness, neuralgia of upper and lower extremities, and edema; for distention or flatulence, constipation, and abdominal cramps; for urinary obstruction, dysuria and testicular hypertrophy; for pain in the flanks, lumbago, sciatica, pain and cramps in legs, calf muscles and knee joints; for diseases produced due to abnormal digestive and metabolic activities; and for Vata deformities in ankle joints and other Vata disorders affecting the entire body. Hot, penetrating, smooth, dry, minute, stable, mobile, liquid and heavy substances are used in sudation therapy.

6. Stambhana cikitsa (Astringent or Binding therapy)

A procedure which can hamper the movement of any kind of flowing substances is an astringent or binding therapy. This procedure is useful in Pitta aggravation, burns caused by chemicals and fire, for those suffering from diarrhea, vomiting and for one who is a victim of poisoning and excessive sudation.

After stambhana treatment, if a patient gets relief and regains strength, it indicates that the therapy is successfully accomplished. The substances which are liquid, less viscid with cool potency, stable, sweet, bitter and astringent in taste are used in astringent or binding therapy.

In all the above-mentioned therapies, drying therapy, fasting therapy and sudation therapy comes under apatarpana cikitsa; and oleation therapy, nourishing therapy and astringent therapy conies under santarpana cikitsa.

(Excerpted from the book ‘A Practical Approach To Th Science Of Ayurveda: A Comprehensive Guide For Healthy Living’ authored by Acharya Balkrishna)

A PROCEDURE WHICH CAN HAMPER THE MOVEMENT OF ANY KIND OF FLOWING SUBSTANCES IS AN ASTRINGENT OR BINDING THERAPY. THIS PROCEDURE IS USEFUL IN PITTA AGGRAVATION, BURNS CAUSED BY CHEMICALS AND FIRE, FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM DIARRHEA, VOMITING AND FOR ONE WHO IS A VICTIM OF POISONING AND EXCESSIVE SUDATION.