Cornerstone to Ayurveda, panchakarma is one of the most essential parts of Ayurvedic management of disease. It is a Sanskrit word which means “five treatments”. Panchakarma is the process, which gets to the root cause of the disease (or problem) and re-establishes the essential balance of ‘Tridosha’ (three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha) in the body.
One of the oldest healing systems in the world, Ayurvedic medicine originated in the ancient civilizations of India, 3,000–5000 years ago. Ayurveda in Sanskrit means “knowledge of life”. So is panchakarma based on.
What Is Panchakarma Treatment?
Panchakarma treatment is believed to help cleanse the body of impurities that can lead to many different types of disease. Its treatment is designed to eliminate the toxic materials from the body. A holistic, natural and a unique series of therapeutic treatment that cleanse the body’s deep tissues of toxins, open the subtle channels, bring life-enhancing energy thereby increasing vitality, inner peace, confidence and well-being is the main moto of panchakarma treatment.
This treatment is done in three stages:
- Preparatory procedures (PREP) (purvakarma)
- Main cleansing procedures (MCP) (pradhana karma) and
- Post procedures (pashchatya karma)
It treats almost all the diseases and there are several benefits of this treatment. Moreover it is safe and non-toxic and this treatment can also be used to improve general wellbeing. Panchakarma has been used to treat allergies, asthma, arthritis, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome and colitis. In addition it also treats high cholesterol, depression, diabetes, digestive disorders, heart disease, hypertension, immune problems, infections, inflammation, insomnia, nervous disorders, obesity, skin problems, and ulcers.
Types Of Panchakarma Treatments:
As mentioned above, it is a sanskrit word which means “five treatments”, likewise there are 5 types of panchakarma treatments. Let us see what are the types:
Vamana:
Involving internal and external oleation and fomentation therapies, Vamana is a procedure in which waste products or toxins are eliminated through upper channels i.e. mouth. It refers to therapeutic vomiting. In most of the cases patients are asked to drink gingelly oil or ghee on an empty stomach. Patients are administered an emetic medicine to induce vomiting, to clear out toxins from the body. The oil/ghee drinking continues for a few days until the toxins in your body get liquefied and gather up in your mouth followed by emetic medicine. This treatment is used to treat kapha dosha/ disorders.
Virechana:
Virechana involves an excretion process which eliminates toxins through bowels. This treatment is beneficial to people/ patients who are suffering from constipation. A special kind of food is given that helps the stools come out. It also clears the intestine from stools. Just like Vamana, Virechana too is treated with oleation and fomentation processes and is administered herbal laxative which cleanses bowels of all the toxins. This therapy is used to treat pitta dosha/ disorders.
Nasya:
This therapy is meant for and focuses on clearing up the head region of the body. Nasya therapy is for patients who have a chronic sinus problem or complete blockage of the nose.
The pungent herbal oils or nasal drops are squirted into the nasal area and are gently rubbed against nostrils. It is a little suffocating process and one might keep sneezing all the while. Beneficial for health issues like headache, asthma, running noses, sinus trouble, pertinent cough and also migraine. Hence this therapy is good for people with vata dosha/ disorders.
Basti:
Basti is one of the detoxifying procedures. Medicated oil or herbal decoction is administered through the anal route and is most commonly given to clean the lower bowel as a last resort for constipation treatment. Substances like ghee, herbal decoctions, milk or oils are involved in this therapy for cleaning up the colon. Basti is divided into 2 types, Sneha Basti (Anuvasan) and Niruha Basti (Asthapana). Medicated Oil/ Ghee, lipids are used in sneha basti. Whereas in niruha basti, plants and herbs are the main content.
This therapy should be done only under the supervision of ayurvedic physician and pre & post procedure along with do’s & don’ts are to be followed strictly.
Raktamokshana:
Rakt in Sanskrit means “blood”. Thus this therapy is essentially about blood cleaning or purifying. Can be done on any specific area of the body, it helps in the treatment of diseases caused by impure blood. Raktamokshana also helps in treatment of enlarged liver, spleen gout and few skin diseases.
Benefits of Panchakarma:
- The most important benefit of this treatment is that it assists in balancing all three doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha).
- Eliminates toxins and strengthens tissue functions.
- Reduces stress, improves relaxation & tolerance.
- Detoxing the body and rejuvenating the mind.
- Improves sleep pattern and also helps weight loss.
- Boosts the body’s immunity levels.
