Panchakarma: The Ayurvedic Cleansing Method

According to Ayurveda, our natural state is one of health, happiness and an inner sense of well-being. Health is defined as the body being clear of toxins, the mind is at peace, emotions are calm and happy.

Everyday life, especially in this hectic world filled with large amounts of environmental toxins, rushing schedules and huge amounts of stress, causes a huge accumulation of poisonous materials within the body. The large amount of toxins being introduced because of the polluted environment plus the ones created by the body when it encounters things like stress is stored within the muscles and tissues of the body. This eventually weakens our systems, which opens the door for chronic, degenerative diseases to develop. These can evolve into serious specific diseases, ultimately damaging an individual's health and wellness.

Panchakarma can help by reversing these negative effects of daily living. It can restore your natural state of health and wellness by cleansing your body of toxins, bringing balance into your system and improving bodily function. It can also help you sustain this process by making positive changes in lifestyle.

What is Panchakarma?

Panchakarma is a form of treatment in Ayurveda where treatment is done by using various procedures like massage, steam, medicated enemas etc. This treatment constitutes of five basic forms of treatment each of which is known as a karma. These five basic procedures are

• Medicated puking (vamana) to remove excess kapha.
• Therapeutic purgation (viracana) to clear excess pitta.
• Medicated clyster (vasti) to eject excess vata.
• Nasal drops or snuffs (nasya) for diseases of the head & neck.
• Bloodletting (raktamokshana) in case of blood disorders.

How does it Work?

When our digestive energies, known as Agni (fire), are robust, we create healthy tissues, eliminate waste products efficiently. On the other hand, if our agni is weakened, digestion is incomplete and creates toxins that get stored in the body. This toxic residue is known as ama. In Panchakarma, through a series of treatments and dietary practices the toxins in our body are returned to the Gastro Intestinal tract and then eliminated. Additionally, Agni, the digestive fire, is stimulated and strengthened to prevent Ama from forming in the future.

What is the process?

• Purva karma
  

  Prior to panchakarma, Purvakarma is administered. "Snehanam" and "Swedanam" are basically the purvakarma aspect of Panchakarma. Snehanam in either words meaning "Oleation" and "Swedanam" meaning sweating. Purvakarma is all about preparing the toxins for elimination, through oil and sweating therapies. The oil application and sweating therapy helps in bringing the toxin into the digestive tract for elimination.

• Pradhan Karma
  

  Pradhan karma is the main step in the entire process of panchakarma. Specific type of Panchakarma therapeutic measure is selected among 5 processes for specific type of disease and type of toxins. These five cleansing methods which are included in Pradhan karma are Vaman (Induced vomiting), Virechan (Induced purgation), Basti (Medicated enema), Nasya (Nasal medicine) and Rakta Mokshan (Artificial bloodletting).

  • Vaman: If the lungs are clogged then there are repeated attacks of bronchitis, colds, cough or asthma. In such cases, Ayurveda suggests vaman or induced vomiting which helps the body to get rid of kapha that causes excess mucus.
  • Virechan: When excess of bile is secreted, it gets collected in the gall bladder, liver and small intestine thereby producing rashes, acne, skin inflammation, chronic attacks of fever, vomiting, nausea and jaundice. These can be cured by virechan or purgation therapy.
  • Basti: Basti is the application of herbal potions through the rectum that reaches the colon and relieves disorders caused due to abnormalities of vata dosha. It is a remedy for a wide range of disorders such as constipation, chronic fever, cold, sexual disorders, kidney stones, backache, muscle spasms, heart pain, gout, sciatica, rheumatism, arthritis and headaches.
  • Nasya: Since the nose is the entryway to the brain as well as consciousness, nasya or nasal administration of medication is an important process. It helps in the removal of bodily humors clogging the sinus, throat, nose or head through the nasal passage.
  • Raktamoksha: Presence of toxins in blood is exhibited in the form of skin diseases like urticaria, rashes, herpes, eczema, acne, leukoderma, chronic itching or hives. If such things occur, then purification of blood is done by raktamoksha therapy.
• Paschat Karma
  

  Paschatkarma is the last step in the process of panchakarma and it includes the methods, sansarjan karma and rasayana. In Sansarjan karma a particular diet is given to the patient to fortify his or her digestive capability. Rasayana incorporates those methods that rejuvenate a person after pradhan karma has been completed.

What are the benefits of Panchakarma?

The benefits of Panchakarma are as follows

• Toxins are eliminated from body.
• Doshas get Balanced.
• Stress is reduced and body gets relaxed.
• Slows ageing process and increases the lifespan.
• Increases glow and luster of skin.
• Boosts body immunity and body energy level.
• Enhances strength, energy, vitality and mental clarity
• Reduces dependence on alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Help to implement healthy diet and lifestyle.

If you want to experience optimal health, it is crucial to maintain a strong digestive fire and eliminate toxins from the body. Panchakarma is a time-proven natural therapy that detoxifies and restores the body's inner balance and vitality.