A Critical Appraisal of Langhana and Brimhana Upakrama in Ayurvedic Samhitas With Clinical Correlation

Langhana (therapeutic lightening) and Brimhana (nourishing enhancement) represent complementary therapeutic paradigms[1] in Ayurvedic practice that govern tissue metabolism, metabolic efficiency, and systemic balance. Langhana encompasses reducing therapies employed to diminish excessive tissue accumulation[2], rectify channel obstruction, and restore metabolic efficiency through mechanisms including appetite suppression, thermogenic activation, and accelerated energy mobilization. Conversely, Brimhana[3] comprises nourishing interventions intended to augment deficient tissues, reinforce weakened metabolic processes, and establish anabolic equilibrium through enhanced nutrient assimilation and systemic strengthening. This review synthesizes Ayurvedic classical principles[4] with contemporary physiological and molecular evidence, delineating the pharmacological mechanisms underlying both approaches, their tissue-specific applications across metabolic and systemic disorders, contraindication profiles, and clinical integration strategies.