Asthapana Vasti is Panchakarma therapy. It involves administering a decoction of herbal powders, honey, salt, and oil through anal route. It is similar to an enema, but Ayurveda calls it half treatment (ardh chikitsa). The process is useful in the removal of toxins and morbidity from the human body. It is different from anuvasana vasti. The quantity used in this kind of enema is more, and the medicines do not stay in the patient’s body for long.

The ratio of decoction’s constituents depends on the patient’s disease, condition, and age in question. The process needs to be carried out on an empty stomach.  For the process, the patient needs to comfortably lie down till he/she feels an urge to defecate. The medicine is not supposed to be retained by the body for long.

Vasti is the last step in Panchakarma therapy. Ayurvedic books state that Vata is present in the pelvic region and large intestine of the human body. It facilitates all body movements like menstruation, urination, defecation, physiological events, and placenta & foetus expulsion.

Asthapana Vasti is crucial in managing all medical problems described in the next part of this write-up.