PANCHAKARMA
“Panchakarma is a Sanskrit word that means “five actions” or “five treatments”
What is Panchakarma
Panchakarma means five-folds of ayurvedic therapy to complete detoxification from the body? It is essential and helpful before undergoing any major treatment. it helps in cleansing toxins from the body. Panchkarma reduces the toxic materials, the cause of diseases and discomfort. The disease prevention and life extension, it has a vital role so it is also known as the heart of healing in Ayurvedic treatment.
Most of the diseases are caused due to an individual’s lifestyle, poor dietary habits and no exercise patterns. The Results of this builds toxins in the body. This treatment does very effectively & various treatment methods remove these toxins from the body. Ama is a sticky, foul-smelling, harmful fluid builds in the body, the treatments of Panchkarma removes it very effectively. Oil baths, herbal enemas, daily massage, and nasal administrations are involved in the treatment of people. This treatment always maintains good mental balance and physical hygiene this is one of the reasons to make it globally popular treatment.
Benefits of Panchakarma
- Helps in improving body immunity.
- Helps in blood purification and circulation.
- Helps in restoring body radiance and calms body, mind, and spirit.
- Helps in removing body impurities, inflammation.
- Helps in and strengthening the tissues and bones.
Five Panchakarma Therapies
- Vaman
- Nasyam
- Sneham
- Virechanam
- Basti
Panchakarma means 5 actions of removing toxins from the body which may be caused because of a disease or an unhealthy lifestyle.
Once toxins removed from the body ultimately it provides mind and body healing new experience.
As treatment method differs from person to person so Ayurvedic practitioner customized treatment after consulting and considering the needs of the person.
PANCHAKARMA TREATMENTS
To increase the effectiveness of this treatment, we recommend pre-and post rituals in 5 steps. They are:
- Abhyanga treatment method relaxes the mind and body. In this method, herbal oil massage deeply penetrates deep into the skin. This process helps in removing the stagnant waste of the body.
- Shirodhara is another treatment method to use herbalized oil on smooth flow& poured over the forehead in a specific manner. Systematic Shirodhara method has a calming effect on the body by synchronizing the brain waves
- Swedana treatment method keeps the heart and heads cool by giving a person an herbalized steam bath while physical toxins removed deep within the tissues by systematically heating the body. Continues warm herbalized oil’s steam penetrates deep into the tissues and rejuvenates the person’s entire body.
- Darshana
- Pizichili
These all treatment methods are extremely safe and can be undertaken by anyone. It is advisable to pregnant women and people older than 75 years to avoid this treatment as some of the herbal remedies might not suitable to their body. After this treatment Ayurvedic doctor may suggest herbal tonics or herbal syrups so that the herbal remedies given during treatment work effectively.
Samana Chikithsa And Sodhana Chikirhsa
Ayurveda’s two suggestive methods to cure diseases and correct the body imbalance are
Samana Chikitsa
Literally, the word Shaman means to suppress or balance. In case the doshas are not deep-rooted and the disease is not chronic these therapies are advised. On the other hand, the elimination therapy is time taking and time is an important factor for curing ailments in this modern age. In Shaman therapies a special diet, contradictory to the qualities of the increased dosha is prescribed to the patient for suppressing or balancing the aggravated doshas.
Sodhana Chikitsa
When the diseases are chronic it is difficult to treat through the balancing methods of shaman therapy as it takes a lot of time. Here comes the role of the elimination therapy that takes less time and cures the diseases in which the doshas are situated at a much deeper level. Shodhana therapies expel the aggravated doshas from the body by the use of different types of elimination therapies called the Panchakarma.
Five methods of panchakarma purifications Are
VAMANA
Vamana treatment is targeted to expel increased Kapha Dosha out of the body.
When Kapha dosha gets increased, it causes certain types of diseases – such as cold, cough etc.
If the extent of Kapha increase is less, then some oral medicines can be given to suppress it. But if it has increased to a large extent and if it has moved from its natural place to other places, then it needs to be expelled out of the body.
By expelling it out, the disease gets cured, often completely. Since Kapha is situated in the chest region, expelling it from the oral route is very easy. Hence, Vamana treatment is designed.
To expel it out, first the Kapha Dosha needs to be forcefully brought from the extremities and different organs into the stomach, and then vomiting is induced.
NASYA
Nasya is an Ayurvedic practice that encourages the nasal administration of medicinal herbs, decoctions, and oils. Commonly such treatments are known to clear sinus congestion, help clear accumulated toxins from head and neck region. However, in Ayurveda, the purpose of Nasya and many different application of Nasya are used for therapeutic purposes.
For therapeutic purposes, medicated ghee, oils, herbal decoctions or herbal powders are administered for 30 days depending on the health condition.
SNEHAM
Snehan is a process wherein the body is lubricated with the help of oil or medicated ghee (clarified butter). The person is advised to consume medicated oil or ghee in large quantities. After this, the person is instructed to observe restrictions such as drinking only lukewarm water throughout the day, eating only when hungry and refraining from sleeping during daytime. Even the food has to be very simple – as advised by the doctor.
Snehan is a precursor to the main procedure of panchakarma.
VIRECHANA
The Virachana therapy is medicated purification therapy, cleansing the body from excess pitta accumulation, purifying blood and clearing toxins. The therapy primarily concentrates on the toxins accumulated in the liver and gallbladder, thus cleansing the gastrointestinal tract completely.
Virechana Karma, mentioned in the Charaka Samhita, is known to be the best cure for treating the diseases emerging from vitiation of the pitta dosha.
VirechanaKarma, mentioned in the Charaka Samhita, is known to be the best cure for treating the diseases emerging from vitiation of the Pitta Dosha.
BASTI
Considered as the mother of all treatments, it cleanses the accumulated toxins from all the 3 doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, especially Vata toxins, through the colon. Basti is also highly beneficial as a rejuvenating treatment, especially in convalescent periods. Medicated oil or ghee and an herbal decoction are given as an enema to clean the colon and increase the muscle tone. This procedure is usually applied for 8 to 30 days, based on the medical condition of a person.
PANCHAKARMA TREATMENTS
Panchakarma treatments have been shown to create measurable brain wave coherence and to lower metabolic activity. They allow the body and mind to drop into a profound level of peacefulness.
In this state of relaxation, it is possible to cleanse toxins from tissues as well as to release deeply held emotional tensions.