FOUR TYPES OF VIRECHANA (PURGATIVE THERAPY) BY SHARANGDHARA: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Abstract

Sharangdhara had stated four types of virechana i.e. Anulomana, Sramsana, Bhedana, Rechana explaining them with the help of example of one drug each. To understand their practical aspect and clinical use one need to think on certain bullets like – potency of the drug, their site of action, duration of action, effect on the consistency of the excretory product, contribution in the process of formation of feces etc. This article enlightens the practical aspect of these 4 types as above along with their mode of action, speed of action, their effect on excretory product, and their action on formation of feces and also about the nature of the drugs that should come under these four types. It also enlightens us to understand whether these four are the types of virechana or the grades that define virechana.