Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
In Ayurveda, therapy has been categorized into many sorts by many Acharyas. A twofold classification of therapies into Brimhana and Langhana could be very common 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 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 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. Subsequently, the kinds of therapies are additionally innumerable, like grahi – withholding or constipating therapies, bhedi – purgatives and many others. Despite this, the therapies don’t surpass these two sorts of therapy i.e. brimhana – stoutening therapies and langhana – thinning therapies. Similar to the ailments, although are innumerable, fall beneath 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. Briefly, brimhana is including one thing to the system and attempting 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 many others and convey about lightness within the physique, a kind of depletion remedy.
The easy logic of bringing all therapies beneath the wing of Brimhana or Langhana is the purpose of all therapies can 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 must be thought-about?
Panchakarma therapies too are included beneath Langhana therapy kind 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 beneath 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 referred to 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 contains all surgical procedures and Panchakarma Therapies. So, undoubtedly the time period Upakrama additionally means ‘treatment’ on the whole and shall be understood contextually.
