Types of Langhana Described by Acharya Vagbhata and not by Acharya Charaka, Reasoning

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

Langhana – Any treatment, medicine, activity or non-medicine which brings about Laghutva i.e. lightness in the body and mind is called Langhana. This action is brought about by either shodhana – cleansing therapies like Panchakarma or shamana – palliative medicines.

Differences in types of Langhana – Charaka vs Vagbhata

Acharya Charaka has described ten types of Langhana while Acharya Vagbhata has described twelve types of Langhana.

Common Description of Langhana Types in Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya (Vagbhata)

1. Vamana – therapeutic emesis
2. Virechana – therapeutic purgation
3. Niruha Vasti – decoction enema
4. Nasya – nasal medication – cleansing type of errhines (Charaka) / Shirovirechana – head purging / cleansing errhines (Vagbhata)
5. Pipasa (Charaka) / Trt (Vagbhata) – withholding thirst
6. Maruta – exposure to wind
7. Atapa – exposure to the heat of the sun
8. Pachana – ama digesting medicines
9. Upavasa – fasting (Charaka) / Kshut – withholding hunger (Vagbhata)
10. Vyayama – exercise

Additional types of Langhana described by Acharya Vagbhata (not described by Acharya Charaka)

In addition to the ten types of Langhana described by Acharya Charaka, Acharya Vagbhata describes two additional types of Langhana. They are –

11. Deepana – medicines which would enhance agni – digestive fire and improve digestive activity
12. Raktamokshana – bloodletting

Adding these two therapies, Langhana would be of twelve types according to Acharya Vagbhata.

To add up

Acharya Vagbhata gives a broad classification of Langhana.

They are – Shodhana and Shamana.

Shodhana – The five kinds of cleansing therapies (Panchakarma) are included under Shodhana. They are – Vamana, Virechana, Niruha Vasti, Shirovirechana and Raktamokshana.

Shamana – The other seven kinds of therapies are included under Shamana i.e. palliative treatments. They are – Pachana, Dipana, Kshut, Trt, Vyayama, Atapa and Maruta.

So, we can see that among the additional types of Langhana described by Acharya Vaghbata,

– Deepana is included under Shamana and

– Raktamokshana is included under Shodhana

Related AIAPGET Questions

1. Which additional forms of Langhana has Acharya Vagbhata described which are not 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 additionally mentioned by Vagbhata among the types of Langhana in comparison to Charaka?
3. Shirovirechana
4. Niruha Basti
5. Raktamokshana
6. Mothers

Ans- c. Raktamokshana

3. Which Shamana has been additionally mentioned by Vagbhata among the types of Langhana in comparison to Charaka?
4. Upavāsa
5. Pipasa
6. Time
7. Deepana

Years – d. Deepana

4. Among the below mentioned pairs of Langhana, one pair is not accepted by Charaka. Which is the correct option?
5. Dipana and Pachana
6. Dipana and Raktamokshana
7. Pachana and Raktamokshana
8. Raktamokshana and Vamana

Ans-b. Dipana and Raktamokshana

Possible hypothesis why Acharya Vagbhata might have added Deepana and Raktamokshana in the list of Langhana therapies

Scope and need for adding new therapies in later treatises – Ashtanga Hridaya was written after Charaka Samhita. Ashtanga Hridaya is highly influenced by Charaka Samhita. There was a scope of improvisation, additions and deletions in the later treatises. So, in spite of accepting and including Charaka’s Langhana, Acharya Vagbhata felt the need to include Deepana and Raktamokshana in the list of Langhana therapies.

Need for adding Deepana – Deepana was an integral part of the treatments even in Charaka era, but not important to be included under types of langhana, as it was in Vagbhata era. This probably hints towards decline of the capacity of agni towards a lower side of the graph with evolution of humanity, which justifies its inclusion.

Need for including Raktamokshana – Acharya Charaka was elective in indicating Raktamokshana and has done it with precise clarity as and when needed. Example – Raktamokshana has been indicated as a first line of treatment in Vatarakta Chikitsa (treatment of gout and peripheral vascular diseases?) in Charaka Samhita. Acharya Charaka did not probably feel it important to include Raktamokshana amongst types of Langhana, which was a therapy adequately used by surgeons, which was not the school of Charaka.

We can assume that with the evolution of Ayurveda down the timeline, Raktamokshana was more adequately used as main therapy in many conditions. Acharya Vagbhata considered it as a Langhana form, for a type of shodhana it always was. This also points towards the influence of Sushruta on Vagbhata and the latter’s possible acceptance of Rakta – the blood as the fourth dosha as described by Acharya Sushruta.