Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Snehapana means oral consumption of medicated fat. It is a crucial and necessary purvakarma – preparatory process for Panchakarma therapies, primarily Vamana – therapeutic emesis and Virechana – therapeutic purgation.
The aim of snehapana is to saturate the physique with medicated fat given in massive doses, in arohana krama – rising doses, for a time interval of three to seven days or logically till the indicators of correct oleation i.e. Samyak snigdha lakshanas are obtained.
As soon as the physique will get saturated with Sneha, as identified by Samyak snigdha lakshanas, swedana is run to liquify the doshas and produce them from the saka – tissues to the kostha – intestine. As soon as the doshas come to the intestine, they’re eliminated by administering vamana or virechana, relying on which dosha is being handled.
So, for shodhana, snehapana turns into an vital preparatory process which must be performed correctly. Every thing from deciding the dose of snehapana to acquiring correct indicators of oleation ought to work out exactly for the shodhana to be administered.
Planning the food plan for the affected person throughout snehapana is equally vital. The doctor ought to know what sort of meals needs to be given to the affected person present process snehapana and what must be prevented. The individual positively can’t be placed on a normal-regular food plan throughout snehapana.
Within the subsequent a part of the article, we will see what sorts of food plan needs to be deliberate for the one who is present process snehapana as purvakarma for shodhana.
Dietetic routine for these present process snehapana
भोज्योऽन्नं मात्रया पास्यन् श्वः पिबन् पीतवानपि।
द्रवोष्णमनभिष्यन्दि नातिस्निग्धमसङ्करम्॥२५॥
Ref – Ashtanga Hridaya SutraSthana – Chapter 16, verse 25
Acharya Vagbhata says that correct food plan needs to be deliberate and given for the affected person present process snehapana. A dietetic routine shall be deliberate for all of the three phases of snehapana. They’re –
Stage 1 – Shvaha Pasyan – for the one who is about to devour Sneha the subsequent day. This implies to inform that the beneath talked about food plan shall be prescribed proper from the day earlier than administering snehapana. As soon as the snehapana has been deliberate and the affected person is said eligible for snehapana and the primary day of snehapana is mounted, the food plan plan shall be completed and applied the day or evening earlier than snehapana.
Stage 2 – Piban – for the one who is within the means of consuming Sneha or has consumed Sneha on that day. This is a sign for the food plan plan to be applied on the day of Snehapana additionally. Since snehapana can be completed in arohana krama i.e. day by day rising dose, for 3-7 days, the dietetic routine talked about beneath shall be applied on all snehapana days.
Stage 3 – Pitavan api – for the one who has accomplished the course of taking Sneha. This calls for a similar food plan plan talked about beneath to be applied even after the snehapana has been accomplished i.e. post-snehapana interval and shall be continued until earlier than administration of swedana.
So, the dietetic schedule talked about beneath would be the similar in any respect the three phases and shall be applied strictly earlier than, throughout and after snehapana.
What sort of food plan needs to be administered earlier than, throughout and after snehapana?
Drava Ahara – Liquid meals needs to be given for the individuals who’re present process snehapana. Liquid meals are simple to digest. The one that is present process snehapana won’t really feel hungry, as he commonly feels as a result of the Sneha takes plenty of time to digest. In such circumstances, if strong meals is given, there can be no adequate agni to digest that meals. The strong meals will stagnate and plenty of ama can be shaped, which can hamper the therapy course of and also will produce extreme issues attributable to indigestion of meals.
Ushna Ahara – The meals needs to be scorching and recent. Including what has been stated within the above paragraph, the meals shall be liquid, scorching and recent. Chilly meals attributable to their coldness high quality and post-digestion impact, would trigger sthambana i.e. constipation of meals and medicines. So, chilly meals are contraindicated. Likewise, stale, saved and refrigerated meals needs to be prevented in any respect three phases of snehapana.
Anabhishyandi Ahara – Abhishyandi meals are these which might produce extreme moisture or liquidity within the physique after consumption. These meals will even improve kapha. This can in flip result in agnimandya which can additional result in indigestion and lots of issues as a result of similar. Subsequently, anabhishyandi meals needs to be deliberate and given throughout all three phases of snehapana. Anabhishyandi meals have reverse qualities to these of abhishyandi ahara and can neither produce extreme moisture nor will improve kapha.
Na ati snigdham aharam – Meals which aren’t too unctuous needs to be given throughout all three phases of snehapana. So, the food plan needs to be devoid of an excessive amount of oil or ghee or it ought to have solely little or no amount of oil or ghee. For the reason that affected person is already taking massive portions of Sneha throughout snehapana, extra Sneha within the meals would add to the snigdhata – unctuousness within the intestine which isn’t desired. Doing so will produce atisnigdha lakshanas i.e. indicators of extreme oleation.
Asankaram aharam – The food plan given throughout all three phases of snehapana shouldn’t include a combination of many sorts of meals supplies that are mutually contaminating or incompatible. When totally different sorts of meals substances are blended and given, the abdomen finds it tough to digest and the mixtures could produce untoward results. Ama and amavisha might also be shaped which might produce critical issues throughout snehapana.
The meals consisting of the above stated qualities solely needs to be deliberate and given throughout all three phases of snehapana. The meals needs to be served in correct amount i.e. it needs to be lesser in amount, satiating and simply digestible, with out inflicting any issues.
The food plan thus deliberate and given will assist snehana to happen correctly and put together the physique for shodhana.
