Basti Yoga for Washing Intestine

Basti is the technique of yoga used for washing of the intestines with water. To practice ‘basti’ successfully it is essential to get mastery over ‘nauli’ first. Stand in a river or pond keeping water level up to the navel (or sit in the ‘Utkatasana’ position). Then practice madhyama nauli and the water will immediately rise into the large intestine. When you are unable to hold back breathing (when nauli is to be released), close the anus with the finger so that the water may not come out. Again practice nauli and take finger away from the anus.

The water will rise again into the Intestine. If this ‘kriya’ is practiced five to seven times a good quantity of water will rise into the intestine. If possible, practice ‘naulichalan’ and hold back the water for some time. Then come out of the water and go to stools at some proper place.

Note

1. It is necessary to practice this ‘Kriya’ under the guidance of an expert.
   
2. Basti should be practiced on an empty stomach early in the morning.
   
3. Those who are unable to practice nauli can get the benefits of ‘basti’ through enema.
   

Repetition: Once or twice a week.

Benefits

1. Basti washes away the stool accumulated in he intestine. Thus ‘basti’ is a sure remedy for constipation.
   
2. Basti activates the intestines.
   

Asanas Practicing for Health

Practicing the above-mentioned five asanas in the order explained above, sphincter muscles gradually become loose with the result that the saline water drunk through the mouth flows to the anus carrying with it waste food and stool. Drink again two glassfuls of water and practice the above five asanas eight times.

Now go to the toilet. Do not force the stool to come out of the bowels. Keep the muscles of the abdomen relaxed. If the stool does not come out, wait for a minute and then come out of the toilet.

Drink two glassfuls of water again and practicing the above-mentioned asanas eight times. Go again to the toilet. Never give force to the stool to come out.

Continue this technique (kriya)-drink two glassfuls of water, practice the five asanas and then go to the toilet.

At last you will be relieved of the stool. In the beginning the stool will be hard and then the stool mixed with water will come out.

To drink water, to practice asanas and to go to the toilet-if this technique continues in that order, only water would come through the anus. It means that the whole gastro-intestinal tract is completely evacuated.

To reach the condition that only water should come through the anus, one has to drink 16 to 20 glasses of water.

As this varisar dhauti is tiring, one who practices it should, after completing it, take rest practising Shavasan for 45 to 60 minutes.

Note

1. Varisar dhauti should be practiced on an empty stomach after evacuating the bowels.
   
2. This kriya should be practiced under the supervision of expert.
   
3. Persons suffering from peptic or gastric ulcers should not practice varisar dhauti. Persons suffering from high blood I’ or having ailments of the kidney and the blood circulation are advised to practice varisar dhauti under the supervision of an expert.
   
4. One who practises varisar dhauti should eat khichadi one hour after the kriya is completed.
   

Repetition: This kriya should generally be practiced once in two or three months. If needs be, ‘laghu Shankhprakshalana’ kriya should be practiced during the days that follow varisar dhauti. In ‘laghu Shankhprakshalana’ one has to drink two glassfuls of water and practise the above-mentioned asanas three times. This kriya helps one to evacuate the bowels and avoid abundant urine.

Benefits

1. Varisar dhauti gives rest to all the organs of the digestive system with the result that the organs become more active.
   
2. Varisar dhauti is an unfailing remedy for chronic constipation, acidity, gas, indigestion and other ailments of the digestive system.
   
3. This kriya reduces the quantity of sugar in the blood and so it is useful for those suffering from diabetes.