Post Virechana, the patient feels light, rejuvenated, strong and clear of mind. These exhibitions along with a continued state of overall health are indicators of a successful Virechana.
Virechan (Purgation)
Virechan
पित्ते तु विरेकं श्लेष्मसंसृष्टे वा तत्स्थानगते वा श्लेष्मणीति
Ayurveda utilises a plethora of controlled, systemic elimination processes for tackling dosha imbalances. Virechana is one of them, a therapeutic procedure primarily targeting the Pitta Dosha. It is one of the five purifying procedures aimed at restoring the doshic equilibrium and promoting holistic health. The term "Virechana" derived from the Sanskrit root "Rechana," means evacuation, with the prefix "Vi" indicating ‘a special or specific kind’, thus denoting the specific evacuation of aggravated doshas: chiefly the Pitta dosha, but also Vata and Kapha doshas to some extent.
According to Ayurveda, diseases are a manifestation of accumulated doshas festering beyond their physiological limits, thereby spreading from their natural sites to other parts of the body. Here, Virechana serves as a method of expelling these doshas from their distressing locations and redirecting them toward the gastrointestinal tract before controlled elimination.
Acharya Charaka emphasised that Virechana is effective in eliminating doshas from the cellular level, not just from the GI tract. It is considered particularly effective in treating ailments of the Rasa (plasma), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Asthi (bone), Majja (marrow), Shukra (reproductive tissue), and Pranavaha Srotas (respiratory system).
The Procedure of Virechana
Virechana comprises of three sequential stages
Purvakarma includes the preparatory steps that facilitate the successful execution of Virechana. The primary aim of mobilising the vitiated doshas from peripheral tissues toward the gastrointestinal tract is achieved in this stage.
- Snehapana (Internal Oleation): The patient is administered medicated ghee or oil orally over a few days, gradually increasing the quantity of the dose. This helps loosen the doshas that may be sticking to the various tissues.
- Abhyanga (External Oleation) and Swedana (Sudation): A full-body oil massage is performed, followed by steam therapy to further loosen toxins and open up the bodily channels. This facilitates detoxification.
- Assessment of Samyak Snigdha Lakshana: The signs of proper oleation include increased appetite, softness and oiliness of the skin, clarity in bowel movements, and a sense of lightness. The patient is ready for the main purgative procedure when these signs are observed.
The next stage, Pradhanakarma, is the main phase where the purgative medicine is administered to facilitate the expulsion. This stage’s steps are to be carried out while adhering to a set of guidelines that are essential to be complied with for an effective result, including:
- Timing and Environment: The medicine is to be given in the morning between 8:00 am and 10:00 am, on an empty stomach, while staying in a calm, peaceful and controlled environment.
- Choice of Drug: The drug to be administered always depends on the patient's constitution, patient’ disease, strength, digestive capacity, and bowel tendency. Commonly used drugs in this process include Trivrit (Operculina turpethum), Katuki (Picrorhiza kurroa), Aragvadha (Cassia fistula), Icchabhedi Ras, Erand bhrushta Harde, Trivrut Avaleha, kalyanak gud etc
- Extensive Monitoring: The number of bowel movements of the patient, the nature of the stool, and the patient's physical and psychological response is observed by the practitioner. A typical Virechana produces 15 to 30 bowel evacuations, the. Number varying due to the patient's condition and required level of detoxification.
- Signs of Proper Virechana (Samyak Virechana Lakshana): Wether Virechana has been effective or not can be theorised by a sense of lightness, clarity in the sense organs, improved digestion and emotional balance. If too few or too many evacuations occur, the therapy is not considered effective, being underdone or overdone respectively.
After the main purgation is performed, the digestive fire is weakened due to the removal of both toxins and some essential fluids. The process can be heavy on one’s constitution, which is why there are guidelines that govern the patient’s action during Paschatkarma.
- Samsarjana Krama (Dietary Regimen): A gradual dietary protocol is tp be followed to restore Agni. It starts with thin, soft gruels, followed by thicker food preparations like Peya and Vilepi for a few days before returning to a regular diet. This progressive dietary approach supports tissue nourishment and metabolic restoration, making sure the digestive system is not overburdened.
- Rest and Observation: The patient is advised to avoid exertion, exposure to cold, and mental stress during this recovery phase. A close follow-up is maintained to monitor symptoms like weakness, changes in digestion, or relapse of earlier complaints.
Mode of Action
Virechana Dravyas possess some distinguished properties that allow them to reach deeply rooted toxins and accumulated doshas, aiding in the purgation process. These purgative purgative substances are described in the Ayurvedic annals to be possessing the following properties in their constitution:
- Ushna: Hot properties of the substances catalyse the liquefaction and movement of doshas, enhancing their movement from tissues to the gut.
- Tikshna: The sharp properties break down accumulated doshas and facilitate their movement through the constricted and narrow bodily channels.
- Sukshma: Purgative substances are also subtle in their approach, penetrating small bodily channels and deep tissues to act on a cellular level.
- Vyavayi: The spreading effect allows them to quickly move through the body before undergoing digestion, ensuring systemic effect.
- Vikasi: This allows the substances to loosen the doshas bound to the tissues, making for their easy detachment and elimination.
What are the benefits of Virechan ?
Virechana as a process particularly targets a wide range of Pitta dominant disorders, but it can also be useful in treating various other systemic conditions.
In Pitta dominant disorders, Virechana can be particularly effective in treating the following:
- Jwara (Chronic fever): Chronic fevers where heat and inflammation are in domination.
- Pandu (Anemia): Eliminates excess Pitta dosha, purifies the blood and improves haemoglobin levels through improved nutrient absorption.
- Kamala (Jaundice): Removes aggrevated Pitta Dosha and detoxify the liver, improving bile flow and liver function.
- Halimaka (Chronic Anemia with Jaundice):
Virechana can also help in curing the following Kapha related conditions:
- Prameha (Diabetes): By clearing the accumulated Kapha from urinary and adipose tissues, Virechana improves insulin sensitivity, and stabilises metabolism.
- Shwasa (Asthma) and Kasa (Cough): The process educes phlegm and clears respiratory passages, thus improving breathing and reducing frequency of attacks.
- Shotha (Edema): By removing fluid accumulation and reducing swelling, Virechana is especially useful in calming inflammatory or lymphatic conditions.
Because of Virechana’s properties, it is also useful in tackling Vata-Pitta and Tridoshic imbalances such as:
- Vatarakta (Gout): By alleviating joint inflammation and purifies the blood, the therapy is useful in reducing and maintaining normal uric acid levels.
- Pakvashaya Rujas (Colonic Pain): It manages abdominal discomfort that is caused due to Vata or Pitta dosha aggravation.
- Gulma (Abdominal Tumors): It also helps in reducing abdominal masses and bloating by removing any present doshic congestion.
- Kushtha (Skin Diseases): It is also beneficial in treating chronic skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo, which is does by detoxifying the blood and liver.
- Visarpa (Erysipelas): The therapy aids in reducing skin inflammation, heat, and infections as a side benefit by expelling aggravated Pitta dosha.
And lastly, but not exhaustively, Virechana is also extremely useful in treating any disorders of blood and consequently circulation, such as:
- Pliha (Splenic Disorders): Where it detoxifies and rejuvenates spleen function, helping in haematological imbalances.
- Vyanga (Hyperpigmentation): Where it improves skin complexion and clarity by enhancing blood circulation and purification.
What are the types of Virechan ?
Sharangdhara samhita defines each of these therapeutics devoid of representing the disease condition. The selection of type of virechan depends on pharmacotherapeutic actions necessary to hormonize the Dosha, Dhatu and Mala without causing any side effects.
- Anulomana: Here, the process is gentle and Paka of Mala occurs.(e.g., Haritaki). Anulomaka dravya breaks the samhanana of mala and brings it down without any major hurdles. It is suitable for weak patients or for administering in early stages of disease. Adhamalla, an Ayurvedic guru, says that Sara guna is responsible to bring Anulomana Karma. Haritaki is capable of stimulating digestive fire followed by evacuation of bowel, even though it is known to sometimes have a mild purgative action.
- Sramsana: It is the more serene form of Virechana which does not cause Paka of Mala. Sramsana dravyas are the drugs which brings down the adhered mala. These drugs facilitates the downward movement of sticky waste adhered to Koshtha. Sramsana dravyas may be considered as emollient laxatives, which are used to prevent the hardening of the faeces by adding mosture to the stool.e.g., Aragwadha. Such drugs are anionic surfactants that allow additional water and fat to be accumulated in the stool, thus making it easy to expel from the body.
- Bhedana: Bhedana is the forceful expulsion of faecal matter which is Baddha i.e. dried and united. (e.g., Katuki) and is used to treat conditions showing severe constipation or in obstructive jaundice. Charaka has described Bhedaniya group which includes Shyama, Trivrit, Arka, Danti, Bilwa etc. Bhedana dravyas may be included in choleretics, which creates a forceful constriction of the gall bladder leading to expulsion of excessive bile into the GI tract, which in turn causes excessive Peristaltic movements, thus leading to purgation. Bhedak dravyas are generally liver stimulants used to cause drastic purgation and are anthelminthic.
- Rechana: The drugs which liquify the pakwa lapakwa mala and evacuate it by making it watery are included under Rechana dravya. Trivrit is said to be the best exeemplification of Rechana dravya. The strength of the procedure can thus be modulated by the different kind of drugs.
Four Criterion of Virechana Observation:
Ayurvedic texts have defined four different parameters to observe Virechana and assess their effect on an individual. There is continuing debate on which criteria is the most important while assessing the effect of Virechana, however all of them hold a significant place in assessing the effectiveness of the therapy. While defined in the beginning, they serve useful even today, allowing an Ayurvedic practitioner to cross check the effectiveness of the therapy on an individual by following the parameters as follows:
- Vaigiki: This is based on the number of bouts of Mala Pravritti observed i.e. Vegas. The number of bouts observed also define the stage of the therapy the individual has reached, allowing the practioner to know when the therapy must be stopped Hina ,Madhyam and Pravara shuddhi contains 10, 20 and 30 Vegas respectively.
- Maniki: This criteria is based on the quantity of the bouts observed. Like Vaigiki, the quantity also helps determine when the therapy has performed its function and must be stopped.
- Aantiki: This is argued to be the stage when the therapy must be stopped, since it indicates that the doshas have been effectively expelled from the body. Uttam or best virechan is Kaphant virechan. Kaphant virechan means purgation should be administered until kapha is seen in the faecal matter.
- Laingiki: This criteria reports shuddhi based on the signs and symptoms depicted by the patient post Virechan and is considered to be the most important and acceptable criteria for assessing the effect of Virechana. In this case, Samyak Yog Lakshanas, when observed, signal that Virechana has been effectively competed. Samyak yog lakshanas includes tiredness, slimmness , lightness of the body feeling of clarity in heart ,restoration of normal skin complexion, Timely initiation of natural urges. At the end of proper purgation Kapha - thick frothy material will be expelled out etc. These Symptoms indicate that virechan has been completed successfully.
| Type of Shuddhi | Pravara | Madhyama | Avara |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaigiki | 30 Vega | 20 Vega | 10 Vega |
| Maniki | 4 Prastha | 3 Prastha | 2 Prastha |
| Aantiki | Kaphanta | Kaphanta | Kaphanta |
| Laingiki | Based on the Samyak Yog Lakshanas | ||
Conclusion
Virechana is more than just a purgative treatment. It is a profound, highly effective method of internal cleansing which follows the core principles of Ayurveda: targeting the root cause of disease by eliminating deep, robust toxins and restoring the functional integrity of doshas. When administered properly, by following a systematic protocol and under expert Ayurvedic supervision, Virechana always provides an individual with numerous health benefits, ranging from improved digestion and clearer skin to enhanced immunity and emotional well-being.
In fact, modern research is also increasingly validating these outcomes, suggesting that this ancient practice has a place in modern wellness regimes. With its holistic approach, Virechana is a timeless therapeutic tool for both disease prevention and health promotion. By addressing both the gross and subtle layers of physiological imbalance, Virechana exemplifies the integrative spirit of Ayurveda, a practice that heals more than just the body.
FAQs:
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1. How can one know if Virechana was succesful?
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2. What are the side effects of Virechana?Virechana is a natural, Ayurvedic procedure that cleanses one’s body of toxins. The patient may experience light nausea, fatigue, dizziness and/or cramps but it is important to note that these symptoms are only temporary.
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3. How long does Virechana last?Virechana lasts for a few hours depending from patient to patient. One may experience anything between 15 to 40 bowel movements during the main Virechana procedure. However, all bouts are controlled and under the supervision of an Ayurvedic practioner.
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4. Who can undergo Virechana?Everyone, except pregnant women and under the age of 12, if prescribed, can undergo Virechana to treat a myriad of different issues.