The action SAMSHODHANA deals with variety of systems and its relative activities. Even in Ayurveda this actually denotes the cleansing mechanism in general. But based on the site or region for which this action is employed, the relative effect will be seen. The activities and their emphasis on the cleansing effect in the body totally grouped into this action. Thus, this action is to be subdivided into different individual actions resulted by activities like Emetics, Purgatives, Nasal errhines and enema on a gross level while activities like Vranashodhana (Wound cleansing) are also to be considered as SAMSHODHANA activity.

Thus this activity can be classified into two major types namely Bahya (external) and Abhyantara (Internal) type of SAMSHODHANA. The Bahya (external) variety includes all those actions that perform the cleansing activity like Vranashodhana, etc similar actions while the Abhyantara (Internal) variety includes the activities Vamana, Virechana, Shodhana Basti and Shodhana Nasya.

The important properties that are necessary for the said action are Ushna, Teekshna and Sukshma along with actions like Vyavayi and Vikasi. Most of the substances that are producing the action mainly possess Tikta or Katu while the Veerya being Ushna. The Vipaka in this context is of less importance as the substance that are being used perform the action before they get digested. But for some sub-actions the presence of Prabhava with respect to that action like Urdhwabhagahara Prabhava necessary for the action Vamana action is also necessary else the desired action will not result.

Incase of Vrana shodhana the main property that bring about this action is Kashaya Rasa, Guru, Ruksha Guna and Sheeta Veerya. Here too the Vipaka of the substance plays no role as the substance doesn’t undergo any transformation.