Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
In Ayurveda, therapy has been categorised into many sorts by many Acharyas. A twofold classification of therapies into Brimhana and Langhana could be very widespread amongst the physicians.
Acharya Vagbhata, in Ashtanga Hridaya Chapter 14 makes an vital assertion. He states that Brimhana and Langhana are the one two vital therapy varieties in Ayurveda. This text is to throw extra mild on this opinion of Grasp Vagbhata, which many physicians of Ayurveda agree with.
Ref – A.Hr.14/37
Brimhana and Langhana: Two finest therapy varieties
दोषगत्याऽतिरिच्यन्ते ग्राहिभेध्यादिभेदतः।
उपक्रमा न ते द्वित्वाद्भिन्ना अपि गदा इव॥३७॥
Acharya Vagbhata emphasizes that despite there being so many therapy varieties and varieties, brimhana and langhana are the 2 finest therapy varieties from the lot.
Additional, Acharya says,
There are innumerable states of doshas. Due to this fact, the kinds of therapies are additionally innumerable, like grahi – withholding or constipating therapies, bhedi – purgatives and many others. Regardless of this, the therapies don’t surpass these two sorts of therapy i.e. brimhana – stoutening therapies and langhana – thinning therapies. Identical to the illnesses, although are innumerable, fall below two classes i.e. sama – related to ama and nirama – not being related to ama.
Analyzing this rationalization
Brimhana means – nourishing, strengthening, constructing or rising bulk. Briefly, 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. people who take away sure pointless issues from the physique like morbid doshas, malas and many others and convey about lightness within the physique, a kind of depletion remedy.
The easy logic of bringing all therapies below the wing of Brimhana or Langhana is the intention of all therapies 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 therapies 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 many others. It may also be a person remedy like Shidodhara, Pindasweda and many others.
So, are the larger therapies included in Panchakarma included amongst these two therapies or therapies aside from Panchakarma ought to be thought-about?
Panchakarma therapies too are included below Langhana therapy kind itself since they bring about about lightness within the physique.
Acharya Vagbhata additional says, in the identical chapter that the 4 vital therapies i.e. snehana – oleation / lubrication, rukshana – imparting dryness, swedana – sudation and sthambana – constipating – are additionally included below brimhana and langhana itself. Snehana and Stambhana are kinds of Brihmhana whereas Rukshana and Swedana are kinds of Langhana.
Together with Brimhana and Langhana, they’re known as as Shad Vidha Upakrama i.e. six kinds of therapy.
The six Upakramas are –
- Brimhana
- Langhana
- Snehana
- Swedana
- Stambhana
- Rukshana
Acharya Sushruta has defined a set of 60 therapies and has named them Shashti Upakrama. This set additionally consists of all surgical procedures and Panchakarma Therapies. So, undoubtedly the time period Upakrama additionally means ‘therapy’ normally and shall be understood contextually.
