Varieties of Langhana Described by Acharya Vagbhata and never by Acharya Charaka, Reasoning

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Langhana – Any remedy, drugs, exercise or non-medicine which brings about Laghutva i.e. lightness within the physique and thoughts known as Langhana. This motion is led to by both shodhana – cleaning therapies like Panchakarma or shamana – palliative medicines.

Variations in sorts of Langhana – Charaka vs Vagbhata

Acharya Charaka has described ten sorts of Langhana whereas Acharya Vagbhata has described twelve sorts of Langhana.

Widespread Description of Langhana Sorts in Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya (Vagbhata)

1. Vamana – therapeutic emesis
2. Virechana – therapeutic purgation
3. Niruha Vasti – decoction enema
4. Nasya – nasal medicine – cleaning sort of errhines (Charaka) / Shirovirechana – head purging / cleaning errhines (Vagbhata)
5. Pipasa (Charaka) / Trt (Vagbhata) – withholding thirst
6. Maruta – publicity to wind
7. Atapa – publicity to the warmth of the solar
8. Pachana – ama digesting medicines
9. Upavasa – fasting (Charaka) / Kshut – withholding starvation (Vagbhata)
10.                   Vyayama – train

Extra sorts of Langhana described by Acharya Vagbhata (not described by Acharya Charaka)

Along with the ten sorts of Langhana described by Acharya Charaka, Acharya Vagbhata describes two further sorts of Langhana. They’re –

11.                   Deepana – medicines which might improve agni – digestive hearth and enhance digestive exercise
12.                   Raktamokshana – bloodletting

Including these two therapies, Langhana could be of twelve varieties in response to Acharya Vagbhata.

So as to add up 

Acharya Vagbhata provides a broad classification of Langhana.

They’re – Shodhana and Shamana.

Shodhana – The 5 sorts of cleaning therapies (Panchakarma) are included beneath Shodhana. They’re – Vamana, Virechana, Niruha Vasti, Shirovirechana and Raktamokshana.

Shamana – The opposite seven sorts of therapies are included beneath Shamana i.e. palliative remedies. They’re – Pachana, Dipana, Kshut, Trt, Vyayama, Atapa and Maruta.

So, we are able to see that among the many further sorts of Langhana described by Acharya Vaghbata,

–        Deepana is included beneath Shamana and

–        Raktamokshana is included beneath Shodhana

Associated AIAPGET Questions

1. Which further types of Langhana has Acharya Vagbhata described which aren’t described by Acharya Charaka?
2. Pachana and Raktamokshana
3.   Dipana and Raktamokshana
4. Pachana and Dipana
5.   Upavasa and Raktamokshana

Ans – b. Dipana and Raktamokshana

2. Which Shodhana has been moreover talked about by Vagbhata among the many sorts of Langhana compared to Charaka?
3. Shirovirechana
4.   Niruha Basti
5. Raktamokshana
6.   Vamana

Ans – c. Raktamokshana

3. Which Shamana has been moreover talked about by Vagbhata among the many sorts of Langhana compared to Charaka?
4. Upavasa
5.   Pipasa
6. Pachana
7.   Deepana

Ans – d. Deepana

4. Among the many under talked about pairs of Langhana, one pair shouldn’t be accepted by Charaka. Which is the right choice?
5. Dipana and Pachana
6.   Dipana and Raktamokshana
7. Pachana and Raktamokshana
8.   Raktamokshana and Vamana

Ans – b. Dipana and Raktamokshana

Attainable speculation why Acharya Vagbhata might need added Deepana and Raktamokshana within the record of Langhana therapies

Scope and want for including new therapies in later treatises – Ashtanga Hridaya was written after Charaka Samhita. Ashtanga Hridaya is very influenced by Charaka Samhita. There was a scope of improvisation, additions and deletions within the later treatises. So, regardless of accepting and together with Charaka’s Langhana, Acharya Vagbhata felt the necessity to embody Deepana and Raktamokshana within the record of Langhana therapies.

Want for including Deepana – Deepana was an integral a part of the remedies even in Charaka period, however not essential to be included beneath sorts of langhana, because it was in Vagbhata period. This most likely hints in the direction of decline of the capability of agni in the direction of a decrease facet of the graph with evolution of humanity, which justifies its inclusion.

Want for together with Raktamokshana – Acharya Charaka was elective in indicating Raktamokshana and has finished it with exact readability as and when wanted. Instance – Raktamokshana has been indicated as a primary line of remedy in Vatarakta Chikitsa (remedy of gout and peripheral vascular illnesses?) in Charaka Samhita. Acharya Charaka didn’t most likely really feel it essential to incorporate Raktamokshana amongst sorts of Langhana, which was a remedy adequately utilized by surgeons, which was not the college of Charaka.

We are able to assume that with the evolution of Ayurveda down the timeline, Raktamokshana was extra adequately used as major remedy in lots of situations. Acharya Vagbhata thought-about it as a Langhana type, for a kind of shodhana it all the time was. This additionally factors in the direction of the affect of Sushruta on Vagbhata and the latter’s doable acceptance of Rakta – the blood because the fourth dosha as described by Acharya Sushruta.