About the Panchakarma
The Panchakarma therapy of Ayurveda is comprised of five basic typer of advanced treatment for the evacuation of
vitiated Dosha (toxic materials) from the body. Panchakarma is extremely helpful in relieving deep seated disease as well as being beneficial for maintaining and improving physical and mental health.
Panchakarma includes three parts namely
| Poorva Karma : Pre-purification Measures for Panchakarma it includes : |
| 1. Paachan (Digestion) 2. Snehan (Internal and external Oleation) 3. Swedan (Fomentation) Before the actual operation of purification begins, there is a need to prepare the body in prescribed methods to encourage the body to let go of the toxins. The two main procedures are ‘Snehan’ and ‘Swedan’ Snehan is of the two types-internal and external. external oleation is known as Abhyanga. |
Abhyanga
Abhyanga is the oil massage. Oil is applied to the entire body with a particular type of massage, which helps the toxins to move towards the gastro intestinal tract.
Swedan (Sudation)
Swedan is sudation or sweating and is given everyday immediately following the Snehana. Swedan liquefies the toxins and increases the movement of toxins into the gastro-intestinal tract.
After three to the seven days of snehan and swedan, the doshas become well “ripened”.
Pradhankarma: Main Purification measures of Panchakarma
| Vaman- | Emesis therapy When there is bronchitis, cold, cough, or asthma, the Ayurvedic, treatment is therapeutic Vomiting-Vaman, to the eliminate the kapha. Therapeutic vomiting is also indicated in asthama, Diabetes, chronic, lymphatic congestion, chronic indigestion and edema. |
| Virechana- | Purgation therapy When excess bile, pitta, is recretedand accumulated in the gall bladder, liver and small intestine, is tends to result rashes, acne, chronic attacks of fever, billous vomiting, nausea and jaundice, Ayurvedic literature suggests in these conditions the administration of therapeutic purgation or a therapeutic lexative. |
| Basti- | Enema therapy Ayurvedic Basti involves the introduction into the rectum of herbal concoctions of sesame oil, and certain herbal preparations in a liquid medium. Basti, is the most effective treatment of Vata disorders. It relieves constipation distension, chronic fever, cold, sexual disorders, kidney stones, heart pain, backache, sciatica, and other pains in the joints, arthritis, rheumatism, gout, muscle spasms and heart |
Nashya : Nasal Administration
The nasal administration of medication is called nasya.
Nasya is indicated for prana (life force) disorders, rinus congestion, migraine, headaches, convulsions and certain eye and ear problems.
Raktamokshana
Ayurvedic Method for Purification and cleansing of the blood.
This includes, repeated attacks of skin disorders such as urticaria, rashes, herpes, eczema, acne, leukoderma, chronic itching, enlarged liver, spleen and gout.
Pashchat karma (Post therapeutic measure)
This includes Sansarjan karma (Specific dietetics), Dhuma Pana (Smoking of medicinal Cigars) and some ruler to follow specific activities.
Other miscellaneous therapies at Panchukarma:
 | Pizhichil or Kaya-Seka In Pizichil, pieces of linen, dipped in comfortably warm medicated oils, are squeezed on to the body of the patient. |
| Navarakkizhi or Pinda-sweda Navarakkizhi involves massaging of the body with small linen bags filled with Novara rice (Shastika). |
| Dhara Dhara consists of the liberal application of medicated oil on the head and body of a patient. Then the specified medicine is made to drop gently and continously on the for head of the patient. |
| Sirobasti In the Sirobasti process, long leather cap, open at the top, is fitted around the patients head. Through this opening, medicated oil at a moderate temperature is poured on to the head. |
| Siro-Lepana It is measure consisting of application of pastes at certain medicinal herbs and drugs to the head. |
| Tarpanam Useful in the ailments of the eye. |
| Udvartana It is a medicated ‘Ubtan’ to be applied over the skin for fair and glowing skin. |
