Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Abhakta is likely one of the ‘aushadha sevana kala’ i.e. time for taking medication.
Abhakta = A + Bhakta
A = no, Bhakta = meals
So, in Abhakta, the medication is run when the individual / affected person has not taken meals. This additionally signifies that the individual has an empty abdomen when she or he is taking the medication.
Abhakta can also be referred to as by different names –
Ananna = Na + Anna = no meals = medication taken when she or he has not consumed meals
Niranna = with out meals – medication needs to be taken with out having taken the meals
All these phrases imply the identical.
Understanding Abhakta Annakala
When is the medication administered in ‘Abhakta’?
As already talked about, the medication in Abhakta is run to an individual who has not consumed any meals or when the abdomen is empty / devoid of any meals.
Through which a part of the day the medication is run?
Normally, this medication is supposed to be given early within the morning. Right now, the individual has simply woken up from sleep. He needs to be allowed to keep away from his urine and faeces in order to really feel lightness within the intestine, as felt after full evacuation of bowel.
She or he needs to be instructed to not take any meals and hold the abdomen empty.
The opposite preferable time is at / throughout dawn.
Why ought to medication be given presently? Dosha relation
Right now i.e. early within the morning or throughout early morning, the dosha actions shall be very much less within the abdomen and intestine. The drugs won’t be influenced by the dosha or doshas.
When the abdomen is empty, the abdomen shall be free from kapha dosha or its affect.
This time will be thought-about as ‘breakfast time’ these days. So, if not early within the morning or at dawn, medication will be administered at another time i.e. breakfast time. Even right here, the abdomen shall be empty as per rule.
Indications and advantages of Abhakta
Medicinal efficacy – When the medication is run on empty abdomen, its therapeutic impact shall be excessive and good.
Absorption – The absorption and motion of the medication administered on an empty abdomen shall be optimum.
Shodhana – The medicines that are directed in the direction of inducing therapeutic emesis – vamana and therapeutic purgation – virechana needs to be administered presently. When accomplished, they may set within the motion rapidly and induce vomiting or purgation effortlessly.
Weight Discount – If the affected person is on the lookout for weight discount, the medicines administered presently will assist in attaining the targets. Subsequently, Abhakta medication is one of the best one for administration of obese and weight problems situations. So, it may be thought-about in medovaha sroto dushti i.e. contamination of fats forming and conveying channels within the physique and illnesses brought on by the identical.
Medicines for morbid kapha and pitta and illnesses brought on by them – Medicines given on empty abdomen will assist in combating morbid pitta and kapha. It is usually one of the best to deal with and take underneath management the illnesses brought on by aggravated pitta, kapha or each doshas.
Kapha and Pitta are drava doshas i.e. they’re partly liquid in nature. Placing it the opposite means, dravatva or presence of liquidity is likely one of the qualities of each pitta and kapha. Langhana i.e. fasting or therapeutic hunger, as we all know, when accomplished in a managed means, will take away the extreme fluidity of pitta and kapha, that are antagonistic to the metabolism and metabolic hearth – the agni.
Right here, the empty abdomen will present an analogous setting and added by the impact of anti-pitta or anti-kapha medicines administered presently, the therapeutic impact in combating morbid kapha and pitta shall be optimum. Identical issues work in favour of treating kapha and pitta problems.
Ideally suited for Vyana Vata dysfunctions – Medicines given early within the morning on empty abdomen are finest in treating vyana vayu dysfunctions and likewise problems precipitated resulting from vitiation of vyana vata. Vyana vata is the subtype of vata which is concerned in distribution of issues, together with diet and oxygen and circulation within the physique. It’s continuously transferring throughout the physique. Medicines administered in Abhakta time will assist in balancing vyana vata and curing the illnesses brought on by dysfunctions of vyana vata.
Individuals who’ve good energy are match / eligible to take medication within the abhakta time. This consists of good bodily and psychological energy. Individuals who have much less energy and fewer tolerance won’t tolerate medicines given on an empty abdomen.
Contraindications for giving medicines in Abhakta Kala
Excessive efficiency medicines – Medicines having greater potencies shall be given on empty abdomen to those that are sturdy however not the sufferers who’re weak. It also needs to not be given to kids, aged individuals, girls or debilitated individuals.
These having tiredness and weak spot – Medicines given on empty stomachs presently may cause tiredness and weak spot. Subsequently, the dose and tolerance needs to be monitored commonly. Additionally, medication presently shouldn’t be given to those that have already got tiredness and weak spot.
The opposite situations whereby abhakta aushadha is contraindicated are –
– People who find themselves thirsty
– People who find themselves hungry
– Individuals who have consumed chilly water
– Individuals affected by indigestion
We have to observe that although this type of medication is given on an empty abdomen, care needs to be taken to see that the individual shouldn’t be feeling hungry or thirsty whereas administering medication. So, the rule is – this medication needs to be given to an individual who’s on an empty abdomen however is neither hungry nor thirsty.
Chilly water meddles with the motion of the medication by not solely diluting the medication but in addition the agni. It’ll additionally improve kapha and vata.
When medication is given to these affected by indigestion, throughout this time, the medication shall be overcome by ama. The drugs won’t be absorbed correctly and put into circulation because of the weak spot of agni.
Some illnesses which will be cured by medicines administered in Abhakta state
Abhakta medicinal timing will be thought-about within the beneath talked about situations –
– Circulatory illnesses like hypertension / hypotension precipitated resulting from imbalances of vyana vata
– Pores and skin illnesses – resulting from deficiency of diet and oxygenation resulting from vyana vata imbalances
– Kapha problems – diabetes, swelling / oedema in physique components, heaviness of the physique and many others.
– Pitta problems – inflammatory illnesses, gastritis, colitis, arthritis and many others.
– Weight problems and obese points
– Ailments of fats associated channels and errors of fats metabolism, Hypothyroidism
– Shodhana Sneha – the amount of medicated ghee / oil utilized in metered doses, till the physique will get saturated with the medication and indicators of correct oleation / lubrication are discovered, for getting ready the individual for shodhana – cleaning of the physique is given to the affected person on empty abdomen when she or he has not consumed any meals but.
References
– Ashtanga Sangraha Sutra Sthana, Chapter 23 (23/14, 23)
– Sushruta Samhita Uttara Sthana, Chapter 64 (64/67)
– Charaka Samhita Chiktsa Sthana, Chapter 30 (30/299)
– Sharangadhara Samhita Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 2 (2/2,4)
