Ayurveda is a complete medical science that treats illnesses at their root.
Ayurveda offers mainly two types of treatments:
What is Panchakarma in Ayurveda?
Panchakarma Treatment is a specialized Ayurvedic therapy that involves the internal purification of the body through five specially designed procedures. One key characteristic of Panchakarma is that it can provide both prevention and cure for various health concerns. It’s not just a bio-purifying therapy, its broad therapeutic effects can also deliver visible relief from many diseases.
What are the 5 Panchakarma Procedures?
Panchakarma treatments involve:
Ayurvedic Panchakarma Treatment & How it works
Ayurveda is based on the principle of promotion of health and prevention of illness rather than disease elimination. Ayurveda focuses on maintaining health by balancing the three physiological forces of the body (Doshas) – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
The balance of these forces ensures good health. If the balance is disturbed, toxins may accumulate in the body. These toxins can create blockages in the functions of various body systems, including the digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems. This can lead to disease.
Panchakarma therapy can help the body eliminate wastes that have accumulated and lodged in the body. When these toxins are removed through panchakarma, the body can regain its original strength and normal functions.
The Process of Panchakarma Therapy
The complete Panchakarma process involves three stages: Purvakarma, Pradhana Karma, and Paschat Karma.
Stage 1: Purvakarma
For a better outcome of Panchakarma treatment, it is essential to prepare the body before the main purification procedure. For this, we have three pre-purification measures –
Deepana-pachana means oral administration of digestive herbs to increase Agni (the digestive fire) and liquefy the toxins so they can be removed easily from the body.
Snehana means Oleating the body. There are two types of Snehana- Internal and External.
Both are aimed at channelizing and collecting the toxins towards the gastrointestinal tract. It also softens the superficial and deep tissues and nourishes the nervous system.
Swedana is inducing sweat with the help of steam. It is done by making the person sit in a chamber filled with steam from herbal decoctions. It detaches toxins from tissues and expels them through the tiny pores of the skin along with the sweat.
Stage 2: Pradhana Karma – The Main 5 Panchakarma Therapies
Vamana (Medicated Emesis)
Purpose: Vamana helps in removing ama (toxins) from the body tissues and digestive tract.
Benefits: Vamana promotes lightness of body, clarity of the chest and throat, and also improves appetite.
Commonly recommended in treating: Obesity, Asthma, Hyperacidity and other common Kapha-dominated disorders.
Virechana (Medicine-induced Purgation)
Purpose: Eliminate toxins through the bowels, as well as to provide internal and external oleation
Benefits: Reduces accumulation of Pitta dosha as well as eliminates toxins from the GI tract
Commonly recommended in treating: Jaundice and other liver disorders, Colitis, Celiac Disease, Herpes and Pitta-dominated health disorders
Nasya (Herbal Nasal Therapy)
Purpose: Nasya clears the nasal canal as well as the head region. It eliminates blockages and clears the path for smooth prana flow
Benefits: Nasya enhances mental and sensory circuitry, promotes mental clarity and lightness of the body
Commonly recommended in treating: Headache, Migraine, hair problems, sleep disorders, neurological disorders, Sinusitis, Chronic Rhinitis and respiratory disorders
Sneha Vasti (Medicated Oil Enema)
Purpose: Sneha Basti nourishes and cleanses the entire colon and helps in detoxifying the body
Benefits: Promotes lightness in the body, reduces pain, stiffness and lethargy
Commonly recommended in treating: Arthritis, Piles, Urinary infections, Constipation and several vata-dominated disorders.
Kashaya Vasti (Herbal Enema)
Purpose: Kashaya means medicated decoction and this Kashaya Vasti is administered through rectum.
Benefits: Kashaya Vasti is used to treat constipation, neurological ailments, paralysis, flatulence, lower backache, gout and rheumatism.
Commonly recommended in treating Pain Management, Gastric Problems, De-toxification and Paralysis
Stage 3: Paschat Karma.
Lifestyle and diet recommendations during panchakarma therapy
During any step of panchakarma therapy, traditional Ayurveda recommends certain lifestyle and diet guidelines. It is advised to get plenty of rest during the panchakarma experience and to avoid strenuous exercise, sexual activity, late nights, loud music, television and other such stimulating experiences. It is also advised to take particular care to keep warm and away from the wind and to observe one’s thoughts and experiences during this time.
Paschat karma is further divided into two procedures, namely samsarjan karma and rasayana. Samsarjan Karma: After the pradhan karma treatments are done the patient loses some weight and the digestive power becomes feeble. In such cases he is advised to follow samsarjan karma, which involves embracing a special diet and life style for about two weeks. This therapy brings back the digestive power and strength by starting from a bland diet and gradually moving towards a heavy diet. Rasayana: This implies rejuvenating therapy. This process yields excellent results if followed the Panchkarma.
RASAYANA THERAPY: AYURVEDIC CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE
Rasayana therapy of Ayurveda is a dedicated stream of medication for immune promotive, antidegenerative and rejuvenative health care and is known for preventing the effects of ageing and improving the quality of life of healthy as well as diseased individuals.
Rasayana is not only a drug therapy, but is a specialized procedure practiced in the form of rejuvenation recipes, dietary regimen and special health promoting right conduct and behavior.Acharya Sushruta (an ancient Ayurvedic surgeon) has narrated that Rasayana therapy arrests ageing (Vayasthapam), increase life span (Ayushkaram), intelligence (Medha) and strength (Bala) and thereby enable one to prevent disease [6]. Rasayana enhances the functions of the whole-body system. Rasayana drugs act inside the human body by modulating the neuro-endocrino-immune systems and have been found to be a rich source of antioxidants. These Rasayana plants are said to possess the following properties: they prevent ageing, re-establish youth, strengthen life, brain power, and prevent diseases, all of which imply that they increase the resistance of the body against any infection or degeneration. Ayurvedic Rasayana drugs are also reported to act as adjuvant and shown significant effects in reducing the adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Recent researches prove incorporation of Rasayana therapy in the management of certain lifestyle disorders such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis and obesity can play a crucial role.