ABSTRACT:

Pregnancy heralds a natural increase in Kapha dosha due to factors such as nourishment augmentation (Rasa vriddhi) and Kapha-promoting dietary and lifestyle habits. Even slight modifications in lifestyle can disrupt doshic equilibrium. Factors like dietary habits favoring Vata aggravation, disrupted sleep patterns (common during pregnancy), seasonal changes, reduced food intake, and vomiting contribute to Vata dosha vitiation. Imbalanced Vata dosha serves as a primary instigator for various physical and psychological anomalies in pregnant women, including conditions like PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes) and IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction). Hence, it becomes imperative to maintain Vata in a balanced state. Basti therapy emerges as a paramount intervention for regulating Vata dosha, which governs a multitude of physiological and pathological processes within the body and mind. Typically, Panchakarma therapies, including Basti, are contraindicated during pregnancy. However, certain specific types of Basti suitable for pregnancy are elucidated in this discourse.

Keywords: Basti, Pregnancy, Vata dosha