Abstract

CONCEPTUAL STUDY OF LANGHANA UPAKRAMA IN AYURVEDA

Dr. Yogesh Bhalchandra Mhatre*, Dr. Manoj Nimbalkar and Dr. Narayan Sabu

Abstract

Ayurveda is an ancient science of life, i.e. the word “Ayurveda” itself says “Ayusho vedaha” that means veda of life is Ayurveda. This life science has two main purposes first is to maintain the health of healthy people and another is to cure the diseased one. Along with the administration of medicine, langhana is also told by Granthakaras. The word langhana is derived from the word laghu means light. The treatment which provide lightness in body and relieves the heaviness of body is called as langhana treatment. Increase in kapha dosha causes heaviness in body, it causes the blocking of channels. When this kapha is associated with Pitta dosha, then langhana treatment is advisiable. The principle avers that Langhana kindles metabolic/digestive fire which, in absence of food, brings about paachana of vitiated doshas, thereby riposting health. Ayurveda advocates langhana depending upon the dosha, agni, vaya, kala, and bala of the individual, as a preventive as well as therapeutic modality. The Langhana achieved will have Amapachaka effects at the Koshta level as well as Sarvadaihika level. Here special efforts are taken to study Langhanaopkrama with special context to its definition, types, indications, contraindications and its importance.

Keywords: Langahana, Upakrama, Apatarpana, Jatharagni, laghu.