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 drugs is run when the individual / affected person has not taken meals. This additionally implies that the individual has an empty abdomen when she or he is taking the drugs.
Abhakta can also be known 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 drugs administered in ‘Abhakta’?
As already talked about, the drugs 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 drugs is run?
Normally, this medication is supposed to be given early within the morning. At the moment, 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 preserve the abdomen empty.
The opposite preferable time is at / throughout dawn.
Why ought to medication be given presently? Dosha relation
At the moment i.e. early within the morning or throughout early morning, the dosha actions might be very much less within the abdomen and intestine. The medication is not going to be influenced by the dosha or doshas.
When the abdomen is empty, the abdomen might be free from kapha dosha or its affect.
This time could be thought of as ‘breakfast time’ these days. So, if not early within the morning or at dawn, medication could be administered at an alternate time i.e. breakfast time. Even right here, the abdomen might be empty as per rule.
Indications and advantages of Abhakta
Medicinal efficacy – When the drugs is run on empty abdomen, its therapeutic impact might be excessive and good.
Absorption – The absorption and motion of the drugs administered on an empty abdomen might be optimum.
Shodhana – The medicines that are directed in direction of inducing therapeutic emesis – vamana and therapeutic purgation – virechana needs to be administered presently. When achieved, they may set within the motion rapidly and induce vomiting or purgation effortlessly.
Weight Discount – If the affected person is searching for weight discount, the medicines administered presently will assist in attaining the targets. Subsequently, Abhakta medication is the very best one for administration of chubby and weight problems situations. So, it may be thought of in medovaha sroto dushti i.e. contamination of fats forming and conveying channels within the physique and ailments brought on by the identical.
Medicines for morbid kapha and pitta and ailments brought on by them – Medicines given on empty abdomen will assist in combating morbid pitta and kapha. Additionally it is the very best to deal with and take beneath management the ailments 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 manner, 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 achieved in a managed manner, will take away the extreme fluidity of pitta and kapha, that are antagonistic to the metabolism and metabolic fireplace – the agni.
Right here, the empty abdomen will present an identical setting and added by the impact of anti-pitta or anti-kapha medicines administered presently, the therapeutic impact in combating morbid kapha and pitta might be optimum. Similar issues work in favour of treating kapha and pitta issues.
Best for Vyana Vata dysfunctions – Medicines given early within the morning on empty abdomen are finest in treating vyana vayu dysfunctions and likewise issues brought about 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 continually shifting throughout the physique. Medicines administered in Abhakta time will assist in balancing vyana vata and curing the ailments brought on by dysfunctions of vyana vata.
Individuals who’ve good power are match / eligible to take medication within the abhakta time. This consists of good bodily and psychological power. Individuals who have much less power and fewer tolerance is not going to 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 robust however not the sufferers who’re weak. It also needs to not be given to youngsters, aged individuals, ladies or debilitated individuals.
These having tiredness and weak spot – Medicines given on empty stomachs presently could cause tiredness and weak spot. Subsequently, the dose and tolerance needs to be monitored repeatedly. 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
– Folks 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 drugs by not solely diluting the drugs but additionally the agni. It should additionally enhance kapha and vata.
When medication is given to these affected by indigestion, throughout this time, the drugs might be overcome by ama. The medication is not going to be absorbed correctly and put into circulation because of the weak spot of agni.
Some ailments which could be cured by medicines administered in Abhakta state
Abhakta medicinal timing could be thought of within the under talked about situations –
– Circulatory ailments like hypertension / hypotension brought about resulting from imbalances of vyana vata
– Pores and skin ailments – resulting from deficiency of diet and oxygenation resulting from vyana vata imbalances
– Kapha issues – diabetes, swelling / oedema in physique elements, heaviness of the physique and many others.
– Pitta issues – inflammatory ailments, gastritis, colitis, arthritis and many others.
– Weight problems and chubby points
– Illnesses 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 drugs 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)
