Literally “Basti” means bag or container or bladder. The toxins accumulated in the lower part of the body and the toxins pushed to the colon, urinary tract or reproductive tract by previous ayurvedic procedures like Oil-therapy (snehan) or Sweat-therapy (swedan) can be cleared with bastis. Ayurvedic Basti includes liquids like medicated oils, ghee, herbal concoctions, milk and buttermilk.

There are 7 types of basti in Ayurveda It increases weight in low weighted people, decreases weight in the obese, improves vision, prevents aging, brings back lustre and strength, and healthy longevity. It is specifically for vatic disorders. It relieves constipation, distensions, chronic fever, cold, sexual disorders, kidney stones, heart pain, backache, sciatica and other pains in the joints. Many other vata disorders such as arthritis, rheumatism, gout, muscle spasms and headaches can also be treated with Basti.

Basti is effective for most of the diseases. In ayurveda 50% of the human body problems can be cured by basti treatment. Digestive disorders like dry colon, dry rectum condition and the tendency towards constipation resulting from diseases get relief through bastis. It also provides relief in conditions like distensions of abdomen, flatulence, spastic colon, dryness of digestive tract, in chronic fever, etc. General debility, impaired immunity bed ridden conditions like paralysis is also is treated by Basti. Facial palsy, muscular dystrophy and other related disorder can be cure by Basti treatment. Basti treatment can also be used for immunity and health promotion in ayurveda there are few bastis, which is meant for nourishment and longevity.

As a whole, basti is meant for top to bottom and head to toe treatment. It extends from skin, the outer layer to our vital organ such as heart, mind, lunges, kidney and intestine etc.

The different types of basti treatments are :

• Anuvasana Basti is used in pure vata disorders and when a person is having excess hunger or dryness related to vata imbalances.
• Niruha-Asthapana Basti is used, among other conditions, for evacuation of vata, nervous diseases, gastro-intestinal vata conditions, gout, certain fever conditions, unconsciousness, certain urinary conditions, appetite, pain, hyperacidity and heart diseases.
• Uttara Basti is used for selected semen and ovulation disorders and for some problems involving painful urination or bladder infections.
• Matra Basti is used by someone emaciated by overwork or too much exercise, too much heavy lifting, walking too long of a distance, too much sexual activity or someone with chronic vata disorders.. It gives strength, promotes weight and helps elimination of waste products.
• Karma Basti it is a series of 30 bastis.
• Kala Basti it is a series of 16 bastis.
• Yoga Basti it is a series of 8 bastis.
• Bruhana Basti is used for providing deep nutrition in select conditions. Traditionally, highly nutritive substances have been used, such as warm milk, meat broth, bone marrow soup and herbs like shatavari or ashwagandha.
• Madhutailika Basti is focused on an important form of an siddha basti and a common disease Madhumeha. Madhutailika basti is believed to have a note worthy role in the management of such impaired metabolic condition by importing equilibrium state of doshasa, nourishes the dhatu and maintains the blood sugar level.
• Vaitarna Basti is used in enema treatment.
• Lekhana Basti is stronger in its effects and generally much larger in volume. Its strong and penetrating. It is particularly useful for kapha and meda dhatu disorders, where excess fatty substances have accumulated that need to be eliminated as in case of obesity and arteriosclerosis.