Panchakarma

What is Panchkarma?

Ayurveda focuses on healing and preventive therapies along with various procedures of rejuvenation and purification. It is not just a healing system but an art and a science which helps to achieve longevity. It guides us in the proper choice of living habits, diet, and exercise to create balance in the body, mind, and consciousness so that the body can be prevented from diseases. As per Ayurveda every individual is a unique phenomenon of cosmic consciousness, manifested through the basic five elements- Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Vata is the combination of ether and air, Pitta is the combination of fire and water and kapha is the combination of water and earth, are called the tridosha.
Every person constituting has its unique balance of vata, pitta, and kapha as per its own nature. It creates an imbalance when the balance of doshas is disturbed. Health is order; the disease is disorder. Order is the condition of health, according to Ayurveda. This happens when digestive fire (Agni) is in balanced condition, three doshas (vata, pitta, kapha) are in equal condition, the three waste products (urine, feces, and sweat) are produced and eliminated normally, seven bodily tissues (rasa, rakta, mamsa, meda, asthi, majja, and shukra) are working properly and the mind, senses, and consciousness are functioning harmoniously together. The disorder (disease) begins if the balance of these systems is disturbed.

The internal system of the body is governed by three doshas vata, pitta and kapha which constantly react to the body are Panchkarma which literally means ‘ Five Actions’. Moreover, Panchkarma is a healing technique that is based on five distinctive activities namely vomiting. Purgation, Niruham, Anuvaasan, and Nasyam. In other words, it is a pillar of healing techniques on which most of the Ayurvedic techniques stand.

Panchakarma Treatment in Ayurveda

Panchakarma Treatment in Ayurveda is as follows-

  1. Oleation: – It consists of the use of oil on the body. Ayurveda has the use of various home growth and mineral oils for external use. Apart from oils and ghee are also utilized for internal application.
  2. Fomentation: – Sweat producing treatments are called fomentation treatments. Oleation treatment followed by fomentation treatments when the tissues become delicate by oleation treatments, fomentation therapies make them more flexible. Major toxins relaxed by fomentation and help it to eliminate the body.

Benefits of Panchkarma

  • Purification of the body
  • Riddance of toxins
  • Spedding up the metabolism
  • Weight reduction
  • Enhancing the strength of digestive fire
  • Opening of blocked channels
  • Relaxing the mind and body
  • Rejuvenation of tissues
  • Boosting of immunity
  • Relieving of stress

Five Ayurvedic Panchkarma Therapies

  • Vaman
  • Virechan
  • Basti
  • Nasya
  • Raktamokshan

Vaman

For a few days, a patient undergoes the process of oleation and fomentation inside and outside in this treatment. Vaman is applied to eliminate the excess of mucus caused by kapha. The patient gets relaxed after the mucus is released. It is just like that congestion, breathlessness and wheezing will disappear and that the sinuses will become clear. The person feels relaxation in the lungs after vamana is administered in a proper way. It brings some good chances in the patient like lightness in the chest, clear thinking, a clear voice, free-breathing, good appetite and the rest of all symptoms of congestion disappear.

Virechan/ Purgation Therapy/ Purgation or disposal

This is the ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy in which toxins are done through the clearing of the bowels. Mainly virechan treatment is prescribed for pitta dominated patients such as skin inflammation, ache, chronic attacks of fever, rashes, nausea, and jaundice. After purgation, the patient cannot eat foods that aggravate the predominant humor and causes all three doshas again imbalanced.

Basti/ Energy Therapy

 Vata is the main active principle in pathogenesis. We can go to the root cause of most diseases if we are able to control vata with the help of basti. Vata is the main causal factor in the manifestation of diseases. Mainly, vata is located in the large intestine but it is found in bone tissue as well. This is a great treatment against diseases like arthritis, piles, and constipation.

Nasya

This is the ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy which helps in clearing and purging the head area. First of all, a delicate massage is given to the head and shoulder area in this treatment. Then nasal drops are put in both the nostrils. Most of the body’s humor accumulates in the throat, sinus, nose and head area. So, the nasal administration of medication is done through nasya. This reduces all prana disorders, sinus congestion, convulsions, migraine headaches, and some certain eye and ear problems, through nasal massage, breathing can also be improved. This treatment can be used by an individual. Every morning and evening to release the blocked emotions in the respiratory treatments.

Rakta Moksha

Traditional Ayurvedic Panchkarma therapy for purification and cleansing the blood toxins which are present in the gastrointestinal tract gets absorbed into the blood and start circulating throughout the body. This is called toxemia which is the main cause of infection, hypertension and some other circulatory conditions. This includes some skin disorders like urticaria, herpes, eczema, rashes, scabies, acne, chronic itching, and leukoderma. Then, the purification of blood and the elimination of toxins become necessary with internal medication.
Pitta is produced from red blood cells in the lives. So, there is great connectivity between pitta and blood. Blood causing toxicity may occur due to the increase of pitta. It relieves the tension created by pitta when a small amount of blood is extracted from a vein.
There are certain substances like salt, sugar, yogurt, sour tasting foods and alcohol which create toxins in the blood. These substances should be avoided in the conditions of certain blood disorders. There are some blood purifying procedures other than bloodletting which include herbs, gem therapy or color water therapy for rakta moksha treatment.

Benefits of Panchkarma

Some Benefits of Panchkarma are as follows:-
  • It helps to restore metabolic fire (AGNI)
  • Eliminates (AMA) toxins and strengthens tissue functions
  • Helps to balance all three doshas
  • Helps to implement a healthy diet and lifestyle
  • Reduces stress, improves relaxation and tolerance
  • Slows the aging process
  • Boosts the immunity level of body
  • It improves strength, endurance, and vitality.