Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
In Ayurveda, therapy has been labeled into many sorts by many Acharyas. A twofold classification of remedies into Brimhana and Langhana may be very well-liked amongst the physicians.
Acharya Vagbhata, in Ashtanga Hridaya Chapter 14 makes an necessary assertion. He states that Brimhana and Langhana are the one two necessary therapy kinds in Ayurveda. This text is to throw extra gentle on this opinion of Grasp Vagbhata, which many physicians of Ayurveda agree with.
Ref – A.Hr.14/37
Brimhana and Langhana: Two finest therapy kinds
दोषगत्याऽतिरिच्यन्ते ग्राहिभेध्यादिभेदतः।
उपक्रमा न ते द्वित्वाद्भिन्ना अपि गदा इव॥३७॥
Acharya Vagbhata emphasizes that regardless of there being so many therapy varieties and kinds, brimhana and langhana are the 2 finest therapy kinds from the lot.
Additional, Acharya says,
There are innumerable states of doshas. Due to this fact, the forms of remedies are additionally innumerable, like grahi – withholding or constipating remedies, bhedi – purgatives and so on. Regardless of this, the remedies don’t surpass these two sorts of therapy i.e. brimhana – stoutening therapies and langhana – thinning therapies. Identical to the ailments, although are innumerable, fall underneath two classes i.e. sama – related to ama and nirama – not being related to ama.
Analyzing this clarification
Brimhana means – nourishing, strengthening, constructing or growing bulk. In brief, brimhana is including one thing to the system and making an attempt to compensate for what has been misplaced.
Langhana – means lightening therapies i.e. those who take away sure pointless issues from the physique like morbid doshas, malas and so on and convey about lightness within the physique, a sort of depletion remedy.
The straightforward logic of bringing all remedies underneath the wing of Brimhana or Langhana is the intention of all remedies might be both so as to add issues which the physique has misplaced or deplete issues which the physique has unnecessarily gained.
On this context, we have to see that Acharya Vagbhata has used the phrase ‘Upakrama’. The prefix Upa – means sub or affiliate. Upakrama, whereas grossly means remedies or interventions for a illness or medical situation, it particularly refers to supportive or accent remedy. So, an upakrama could also be a preparatory process for a Panchakarma remedy – like snehana, swedana and so on. It will also be a person remedy like Shidodhara, Pindasweda and so on.
So, are the larger therapies included in Panchakarma included amongst these two therapies or remedies aside from Panchakarma must be thought-about?
Panchakarma therapies too are included underneath Langhana therapy type itself since they create about lightness within the physique.
Acharya Vagbhata additional says, in the identical chapter that the 4 necessary therapies i.e. snehana – oleation / lubrication, rukshana – imparting dryness, swedana – sudation and sthambana – constipating – are additionally included underneath brimhana and langhana itself. Snehana and Stambhana are forms of Brihmhana whereas Rukshana and Swedana are forms of Langhana.
Together with Brimhana and Langhana, they’re referred to as as Shad Vidha Upakrama i.e. six forms of therapy.
The six Upakramas are –
- Brimhana
- Langhana
- Snehana
- Swedana
- Stambhana
- Rukshana
Acharya Sushruta has defined a set of 60 remedies and has named them Shashti Upakrama. This set additionally contains all surgical procedures and Panchakarma Therapies. So, undoubtedly the time period Upakrama additionally means ‘therapy’ basically and shall be understood contextually.
