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

Shodhana means cleansing. The body needs a regular cleansing and it is done through the Panchakarma Therapies. The four types of Shodhana, except Anuvasana Vasti, which is basically a nourishing therapy are considered under Langhana treatments – the treatments which bring about lightening / lightness of the body, mind and senses. They are – Vamana, Virechana, Asthapana and Shirovirechana. Master Vagbhata includes Raktamokshana too under Langhana, making it five types of Shodhanas which can be included under Langhana.

Shodhana is definitely needed as a first-hand approach and mandatory cleansing procedure for those who are diseased. The morbid doshas first need to be expelled out of these people. Otherwise, the diseases caused by morbid doshas will not be cured, nor the medicines and diet will be effective in their body. The aim of Shodhana in these people is ‘curative’.

On the other hand, healthy people can also take periodic Shodhana with the guidance of an expert Ayurveda Physician. Here, the goal is to have the doshas in a state of balance and also to prevent recurrences of diseases or aggravation of doshas. Generally, Shodhana in healthy people is done in seasons favorable for their aggravation. Example – Vamana – therapeutic emesis is ideally administered in Vasanta Rtu i.e. Spring Season because this is the season favorable for aggravation of Kapha and when shodhana is administered in this season, it will be easier to expel the aggravated dosha without causing any complication. The same rule is applicable for the other doshas also.

Now let us see the treatment principles of administering shodhana in diseased and healthy individuals as enumerated by Acharya Vagbhata.

Ref – A.Hr.Su.13/34-36

Rules for Shodhana in healthy individuals

अत्युष्णवर्षाशीता हि ग्रीष्मवर्षाहिमागमाः॥३४॥
सन्धौ साधारणे तेषां दुष्टान् दोषान् विशोधयेत्।
स्वस्थवृत्तमभिप्रेत्य

Greeshma Rtu i.e. summer season will have too much heat. Varsha Rtu i.e. rainy season will have too much rain. Similarly, Hemanta Rtu – winter season will have too much cold. This is the natural behavior of these seasons.

Therefore, these vitiated doshas should be eliminated in the period between these seasons and not in seasons meant for aggravation for particular doshas, when the seasons are not extreme but are moderate.

This rule is applicable for administering cleansing therapies in healthy individuals.

So, in healthy individuals, the ideal time period for administering shodhana is –

a. In between summer and rainy season
b.   In between rainy and winter seasons and
c. In between winter and summer seasons

Rules for Shodhana in diseased individuals

व्याधौ व्याधिवशेन तु॥३५॥
कृत्वा शीतोष्णवृष्टीनां प्रतीकारं यथायथम्।
प्रयोजयेत्क्रिया प्राप्तां क्रियाकालं न हापयेत्॥३६॥

Acharya Vagbhata says that shodhana should be administered in the diseased conditions as and when the diseases are manifested.

Before administering Shodhana, the physician should see that the patient has overcome the effects of cold, hot and rainy seasons suitably, by following suitable protective methods as explained in Rtucharya – seasonal regimen of each season. This rule is applicable for the season in which shodhana is being administered.

After the effects of seasons are overcome, proper shodhana therapies as suitable to the aggravated dosha / doshas should be administered. Therapies should be administered in accordance with the manifested Kriyakala. This involves taking into consideration the appropriate time for administering treatment, planned in accordance to the successive stages of dosha aggravation and disease formation. Treatments given in this way, checks the dosha from progressing to the next stage of pathogenesis (kriyakala) and will not allow the further progression of the disease.

The bottom line is that the criteria of choosing to administer shodhana in diseased conditions is ‘the manifestation of disease itself’. If the disease has plenty of morbid doshas in its backdrop and if the disease and disease fits into the ‘eligibility of shodhana’ the physician should not think twice in administering shodhana.