Rutushodhana - A Unique Disease Preventive Measure

Introduction

Ayurveda is a life science which aims towards maintenance of health of a healthy individual and curing the disease of a diseased one. A person with normal activity of Dosha, Dhatu, Mala and Agni along with Prasanna Aatma, Prasanna Indriya and Prasanna Manas is considered as Swastha (healthy).¹ For the achievement of the same, classics of Ayurveda explains various concepts like dinacharya (daily regimen), rutucharya (seasonal regimen), sadvrutta (code of conduct) etc. among which Rutushodhana is an unique one.

Shodhana

Shodhana is a purificatory therapeutic measure in which accumulated morbid doshas are expelled out from the body through the nearest route. It includes five procedures namely Vamana, Virechana, Niruha basti, Shirovirechana and Raktamokshana. ² Among these, Vamana, Virechana and Basti are specially indicated for the elimination of Kapha, Pitta and Vata respectively.³

Benefits of timely performed Shodhana⁴ –

• Improves digestive power

• Pacifies diseases

• Maintains homeostasis of the body

• Improves functions of sense organs, mind, intellect

• Improves complexion, strength and nourishment

• Improves quality of progeny

• Delays aging

• Provides long life without affliction of diseases

Rutushodhana

Literatures of Ayurveda explains about the diet and regimen to be followed in a specific season in detail. The unwholesome diet and lifestyles followed in a particular season causes accumulation of doshas (sanchaya) in the body. This accumulated doshas should be eliminated from the body in the next season when they attain the stage of aggravation (prakopa) and this is called as Rutushodhana.

A year is divided into two parts based on the direction of movement of Sun namely Summer solstice (Uttarayana) and Winter solstice (Dakshinayana). Each half is made up of three seasons consisting two months.⁵ There are two types of naming of seasons namely Shishiradi Krama and Pravrudadi Krama (Table 1).

The rationale behind two types of naming of seasons was explained by Kashyapa Samhita. In geographical areas above Ganga, where cold temperatures are experienced Shishiradi Krama is followed and below Ganga, where excessive rain is experienced Pravrudadi Krama is followed.⁶ Charaka Samhita opines that for the purpose of Shodhana, Pravrudadi krama has been explained.⁷

In Rutushodhana, doshas accumulated in sheeta rutu should be removed during vasantha rutu, greeshma rutu should be removed during varsha rutu and varsha rutu should be removed during sharat rutu. ⁸

Basis for Rutushodhana

Along with Ahara, Vihara and Desha, Kala also has an important role in the maintenance of status of doshas in the human body.⁹ Different qualities of a particular season causes a particular dosha to attain sanchaya, prakopa and prashama stages (Table 2). 

Based on these factors, sanchaya, prakopa and prashama of doshas occur in human body in a specific season (Table 3).

When Shodhana should be done?

Always Shodhana should be done in sadharana kaala, the season when there will not be excessive cold, heat and rain.¹² Pravrut, Sharat and Vasanta are considered as Sadharana rutus where Basti, Virechana and Vamana should be done respectively.¹³ Shodhana is indicated in second month of a particular season and not in the first month, as there will not be severe aggravation of doshas in the first month and hence can lead to improper elimination of doshas. ¹⁴

Classics clearly explain that during the months which are just prior to Madhava, Nabhasya and Sahasya i.e. during Madhu, Nabha and Saha months, one should perform elimination of accumulated doshas¹⁵ (Table 4).

Accumulated kapha dosha because of cold and unctuous weather of winter season, will liquefy in the spring because of harsh rays of sun. This will affect digestive fire and if not tackled will lead to many diseases.¹⁷ Hence Vamana is indicated in Chaitra month of Vasanta.

In summer, even though the weather is very dry, because of hot nature of the season, only accumulation of Vata dosha happens and not aggravation. Because of cold nature of rainy season, it will undergo aggravation and hence for tackling it, Basti is advised in Shravana month of Pravrut. ¹⁸

Because of reduced digestive fire, amlapaka, polluted water and cold nature of rainy season, Pitta accumulation occurs and this will undergo aggravation in autumn season because of hot nature of the season. Hence Tiktasarpipana, Virechana and Raktamokshana are indicated in Margasheersha month of Sharat. ¹⁹

If Shodhana of a Swastha is not done during a particular season, it leads to diseases like atisthulya, meha, kushta etc.²⁰

Discussion

Doshas are varying constantly. Human physiology is designed in such a way that major chunk of metabolic waste comes and settles in koshtha as evidences in synonym of koshtha as Mahanimna²¹ (great or big pit/ depression). Major chunk of this accumulation gets removed as urine and feaces. Even though body removes all these doshas on a daily basis, and even with all dinacharya aimed to remove the excess doshas, the doshas tend to accumulate and periodic cleansing of the body becomes imminent. Hence timely elimination of the dosha through rutu shodhana gains importance.

One more main point which should be considered for discussion is that whether all the Shodhanas told for the rutu are necessary to be carried out and their practical feasibility.

Even after following all the diet and regimens explained for a particular season, if there is Prakopa of doshas, it is considered as Pathyaja prakopa or Achayapoorvaka prakopa. In such conditions, shamana is indicated. Prakopa of dosha which occurs by not following diet and regimens explained for a particular season is considered as Apathyaja prakopa or Chayapoorvaka prakopa and only in such conditions Shodhana is indicated.²²

Caution to avoid Shodhana in Swastha just like caution to avoid waking up a sleeping poisonous snake makes the rationality behind the performance of Rutushodhana debatable one. But this caution is only applicable for Asanchita dosha Swastha and not for Sanchita dosha Swastha. Sanchita dosha Swastha is always indicated for Shodhana. ²³

As Rutushodhana is not an emergency management, kramatah Shodhana is to be done rather than Sadyoshodhana. Practically, for persons suffering from seasonal diseases like bronchial asthma, urticaria etc. a good improvement has been observed in terms of reoccurrence and intensity.

Conclusion

Rutushodhana is a preventive management for Nijaroga, which resets the human physiology. In this no time era, where no one is following seasonal regimen, there will be Sanchaya poorvaka prakopa leading to many diseases. Hence, Rutushodhana is one of the best methods to prevent lifestyle disorders. It is the duty of an Ayurvedic physician to educate the people to undergo regular Rutushodhana to avail its maximum benefits.

Conflicts of Interest

None