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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
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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.
Click here to see
Equipments used in Panchakarma :
&
Oils used in Panchakarma :
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