Rectal Drug Administration and Ayurvedic Basti Therapy: An Integrative Narrative Review
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Abstract
Background: Rectal drug administration remains a clinically valuable but relatively underutilized route in modern medicine. In Ayurveda, Basti therapy occupies a central therapeutic position, traditionally linked to the regulation of Vāta Doṣa and considered to exert systemic physiological effects.
Objective: This narrative review examines classical Ayurvedic descriptions of Basti alongside contemporary scientific understanding of rectal absorption, enteric neurophysiology, immune–neural interactions, and microbiota-driven signaling. The aim is to explore potential conceptual intersections and outline plausible mechanistic hypotheses relevant to integrative and translational research.
Methods: This narrative review integrates information from Ayurvedic classical texts (Saṃhitā), pharmacological literature, and recent biomedical research related to rectal drug delivery, mucosal physiology, neuroimmune communication, and gut microbiota–brain interactions.
Results and Discussion: Ayurvedic notions such as Srotas (physiological channels) and the regulation of Vāta show conceptual parallels that can be broadly compared with modern frameworks involving mucosal permeability, lymphatic and venous transport, and enteric nervous system (ENS) activity. Traditional Basti formulations, which combine honey, salt, lipids, and herbal decoctions, echo several principles of modern excipient design. Potential mechanisms by which Basti may exert systemic effects—though not yet experimentally confirmed for classical formulations—include ENS modulation, neuroimmune interactions, microbiota-mediated metabolite signaling, and lymphatic-assisted absorption. These interpretive bridges suggest that Basti-inspired strategies may offer translational value for designing hybrid rectal drug-delivery systems.
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