Topic of the Month
Panchakarma
As the name suggests, Pancha in Sanskrit
stands for Five and Karma are the therapeutic measures, therefore
Panchakarma mean five types of therapeutic measures. These are
undertaken for the purification of the body and Ayurveda considers
it necessary before the start of any other therapy. The logic
being that as a cloth needs to be purified or cleaned of
impurities and dust before it can be permeated with , similarly
the body needs to be purified before it can be permeated with new
colors of youthfulness, health and vigor etc.
In Ayurveda treatment consists of four basic forms, namely -
medicine or drug therapy, pancha (five) karma (actions/ systems),
dietary regime and regulation of lifestyle. It works in two
fundamental ways - cure and prevention.
The preventive aspect of treatment is further subdivided into
swastha varta (personal hygiene) - consisting of dinacharya (daily
routine), ritucharya (seasonal corrections) , sadachara
(appropriate behaviour) - rasayana & vajikarana (rejuvenation &
virlification) and yoga.
The curative aspect consists of three parts antati parimaijana
(internal medicine) - consisting of samsodhana (internal
purification through panchkarma), samsamana (external medicine) as
massage, use of pastes & powders and finally surgical treatment.
Panchakarma consists of medicated emesis (vamana) to remove excess
kapha, therapeutic purgation (viracana) to clear excess pitta,
medicated enema (vasti) to eject excess vata, nasal drops or
snuffs (nasya) for diseases of the head & neck and bloodletting (raktamokshana)
in case of blood disorders. These are the five purification
procedures for removing accumulated toxins and other waste
material in the body. As the humors and tissues are related
closely to each other, this discharge procedure affects the
tissues indirectly ,through strong elimination of related humor.
Three stages of Panchakarma:
This whole treatment of nearly a months duration
is generally broken up in this manner :
1st cycle
1st-7th days of oelation, fomentation and nasal therapies.
8th day emesis therapy.
3 days off.
2nd cycle
1st-7th days of oelation, fomentation and nasal therapies.
8th day purgation therapy.
3 days off.
3rd cycle
1st-7th days of oelation, fomentation and nasal therapies
8th day enema therapy
Benefits
-
Eliminate toxins and toxic conditions from
your body and mind
-
Restore your constitutional balance improving
health and wellness
-
Strengthens your immune system to become more
resistant to illness
-
Reverse the negative effects of stress on
your body and mind thereby slowing the aging process
-
Enhances your self-reliance, strength,
energy, vitality and mental clarity
-
Bring about deep relaxation and sense of
well-being
Diet:
Ayurveda emphasizes that the diet we take has a close influence on
our mind and body. According to ayurveda, the mind has three
possible states (tri-gunas) that are related to the three states
of our physical constitution or the three-dosha types. Sattva, or
peaceful equilibrium, rajas, or excessive activity and tamas, or
inertia—the three tendencies or gunas of mind influence the
imbalances in the three doshas. Specific dietary adjustments
serves to maintain the balance of specific doshas and thus entail
perfect health. Appropriate diet can be used to remove or
neutralize toxins in the body, also. Some of the commonly followed
rules on food habits according to ayurveda are as below:
• Segragating high-protein or high-fat foods
from lighter foods such as starches and vegetables.
• Not mixing milk with yogurt.
• Not eating cooked foods and raw foods at the same meal since
they require different types of digestion.
• Avoiding milk while eating radishes, tomatoes, meat, fish, eggs,
citrus fruits.
• Eating fresh fruit separately from other meals (except the
cooked fruits).
• Some specific vegetables and grains are forbidden in some
specific days of a month. Diet should be compatible with changing
seasons.
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Equipments used in
Panchakarma :
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Oils used in Panchakarma
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