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Ayurvedic
Treatment:
Panch-karma
- Virechan
Dr.
Satish Kulkarni.
This article
will discuss virechan
(purgation). Virechan comes
second in the series of panch-karma
(five main procedures). Ayurveda
believes that in pitta prakop
(aggravation of pitta—
one of the basic body constituents), virechan
helps in eliminating the cause of
aggravation and in reestablishing a
status of health. When pitta
crosses its normal limits, it
accumulates in the dhatu (body
tissues) and in the strotasa
(body channels). This accumulated pitta
is liquefied, directed towards an
outlet and then pushed out of the
body by means of virechan.
Virechan
is useful in skin problems like acne,
allergic skin conditions,
inflammatory skin conditions and
dermatitis. It helps in settling
digestive tract problems like
indigestion, loss of appetite, food
intolerance, suspicion of entry of
toxic substances through
food/milk/water (except in case of a
foreign body in the digestive tract),
tendency to constipate, digestive
disturbance due to contradictory food
consumption, acid peptic disease
(early stage), nausea or vomiting
without any particular reason,
biliary vomiting, jaundice, etc. Virechan
lubricates the digestive tract in
case of chronic fever. It is advised
for certain urinary problems as well.
One ayurvedic school
recommends virechan in case of
enlargement of the spleen. Virechan
is part of the treatment in motion
sickness, nightmares and mental
stress and strains. Virechan
is recommended for repeated eye
inflammation, burning eye syndrome,
and other eye problems occurring due
to high temperatures in summer.
According to ayurvedic
scholars, the administration of virechan
(purgation in therapeutic doses)
eliminates aggrieved pitta dosha
from the body and re-establishes the vaat-pitta-kafa
balance which in turn brings back
physical and mental health.
There exists a
range of purgatives from mild to
strong. Senna leaf concoction, tea, 2
to 4 teaspoonfuls of clarified butter
mixed with warm milk, grapes, raisins
and mango juice are mild purgatives.
Prune, flax seed husk, dandelion root
and psyllium seed are moderate
purgatives and a few of the above
substances in a higher dose, triphala
powder (myrobalan, beleric
myrobalan and dried rind of amla
fruit), castor oil and a few ayurvedic
combinations like ichchabhedi,
narach-rasa are strong
purgatives. Choosing laxatives
appropriate for the individual, for
the particular condition and suitable
to the season is where the skill of
the ayurvedic therapist is
called into action.
Procedure:
The patient is
given snehan and/or swedan
early in the morning. A light and
preferably bland diet is given as
lunch. This is followed by good rest.
It is important to check the diet
when the patient is subjected to virechan.
The patient should not eat food (both
qualitatively and quantitatively)
which will aggravate the vaat-pitta-kafa
(basic body constituents). The
patient is given plenty of water or
natural fluids by mouth in order to
avoid post virechan
dehydration. Again, bland food in
small quantity is given as dinner.
This avoids post virechan fatigue.
Virechan
is given at bedtime and the results
are observed the following morning. 3
to 4 loose motions are sufficient for
complete cleansing.
Contraindications:
Virechan
is contraindicated in impaired
immunity, dehydration, agnimandya
(demeaning of body fire), acute
fever, acute diarrhea, gastritis and
gastroenteritis, ulcerative colitis,
haematemesis and PR bleeding.
If virechan
is carried out properly, the person
feels light and fresh. Virechan gives
a feeling of confidence in addition
to positive thoughts in the mind.
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