Giving the oil enema (anuvasana) after niruha

After the bowel has been cleansed by niruha, the patient is bathed in warm water, given a light meal prepared with dosha-pacifying medicines and then given an anuvasana enema by rule. To keep it in, he is laid on his back, his buttocks and feet are patted, the cot is raised, and he is told to lie comfortably pressing on his right hand. It has succeeded when the oil or ghee comes out mixed with flatus and stool. From the third day it is repeated up to three, four, six or eight times according to strength, dosha and relief, with niruha in between if needed.

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Names and synonyms

Hindi: अनुवासनबस्ति प्रयोग
English: Giving the oil enema (anuvasana) after niruha

Ingredients and preparation

RectalChapter 8 · p. 121 · v. 58-61

Ingredients

Ingredient	As written in the text	Quantity as written
Warm water (ushnodaka)गरम पानी (उष्णोदक)	उष्णोदक / गरम पानी (स्नान)	Not stated
Ghee (ghrita)घी (घृत)	घृत / घी	Not stated
Sesame oil (tila taila)तिल का तेल (तैल)	तैल / तेल	Not stated

Preparation as described

After niruha has cleansed the bowel the patient is bathed in warm water and given a light meal prepared with medicines that pacify the dosha concerned.

उपर्युक्र प्रकार से बस्तिकर्म से कोष्ठशुद्दि होने के बाद गरम पानी से स्नान करा कर तत्तदोषों को शमन करने वाले अैषध योगों से सिद्द किए गए लघुभोजन कराना चाहिए।

How it is used

The anuvasana enema is given by rule; so that it does not come out quickly, the patient is laid on his back, his buttocks and feet are patted and the cot is raised.

अनुवासन बस्तिगतद्रव्य शीघ्र बाहर नहीं आवंे, इसके लिए रोगी को चित्त सुलाकर जघन स्थान व पाद को ताडन करना चाहिए। तरुत को ऊँचा उठाना चाहिए।

Duration as written

repeated from the third day, up to three, four, six or eight enemas · तीसरे दिन ... तीन, चार, छह, आठ तक अनुवासन बस्ति

Therapies involvedOil enema (anuvasana basti)अनुवासन बस्ति Enema therapy (basti)बस्ति कर्म (एनिमा)Decoction enema (niruha basti)निरूह बस्ति

Organs mentionedAnus and rectumगुदा

यथोक्रमनुवासनं विधियुतं नियुजयाचरे-द्धिषग्जघनपादताडन सुमंचकोत़्ोपणै:॥Source wording as converted, Chapter 8 · p. 121 · v. 58-61.

Safety

Needs a trained practitioner. This procedure or preparation is of a kind that should only be carried out under qualified supervision.
Caution in the text: The patient is told to lie comfortably pressing on his right hand so that the stool does not come out quickly; a footnote says an anuvasana enema that comes straight out is of no benefit, so it must stay inside for a while.
Caution in the text: The number of enemas is set by the patient's strength, the aggravation of doshas and the relief of pain, and niruha may be given in between.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, older adults, kidney or liver disease and other medicines all call for professional advice before any traditional remedy is used.