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What is Panchakarma?

To maintain health and alleviate diseases, ayurved advocates “Panchakarma”- a powerful


purification process- to eliminate mental, physical and emotional toxins.

Panchakarma literally means “pancha” meaning five and “karma” meaning actions or
therapies. It is a five-fold purification therapy aimed at correcting the imbalance of bodily
humors viz. vata, pitta and kapha in order to maintain their inherent equilibrium. This
therapy is widely used to cure neurological ailments like paralysis, arthritis, rheumatic pain,
skin problems, mental disorders, etc. It is also used for rejuvenation.

These five therapies are vaman (therapeutic emesis), virechan (therapeutic purgation), basti
(therapeutic enema), nasya (therapeutic evacuation of vitiated dosha from head) and rakta
mokshana (therapeutic blood cleansing). These main therapies are preceded by some pre-
treatments like snehana or abhyanga (oleation, herbal oil massage) and swedana (herbal
steam bath).
Various Panchakarma Procedures:
Abhyanga / Snehana

Abhyanga is a whole body massage with specific herbal oils. Abhyanga has much deeper and
far-reaching effects than an ordinary massage. Abhyanga achieves deepest healing effects by
naturally harmonizing Body-Mind & Spirit. This massage is usually followed by a medicated
steam bath (swedan). It is one of the most rejuvenating treatments of ayurveda.

Abhyang increases tissue strength, improves blood circulation, rejuvenates the whole body,
removes the cellulite, beautifies the skin, delays aging, induces sound sleep, promotes
vitality, pacifies vata imbalance, reduces stress and removes toxins.

Swedana

It is a process to induce sweating by using steam of special herbs specific to the dosha and
ailments of a person. This herbal steam bath opens the pores and flushes and cleanses the
system through the skin.

Abhyang reduces pain in the body, eliminates toxins, promotes lightness, reduces stiffness
and beautifies the skin.
Vamana (Therapeutic Vomiting)
Vamana, is a therapeutic emesis therapy, which cleanses toxins related with kapha dasha.
Pre-treatment such as intake of medicated ghee, abhyanga (oil massage) and swedana
(medicated steam bath) are administered prior to inducing vamana, to loosen and remove the
toxins from the body.
This treatment is very effective in bronchial asthma, chronic allergies, hay fever, psoriasis,
nasal congestion, obesity, edema, chronic indigestion, skin disorders, vitiligo, psychological
disorders, hyperacidity, etc.
Virechana (Therapeutic Purgation)
This is a medical purgation therapy, which removes toxins related with Pitta dosha from the
body. It is a safe procedure without any side effects.
It is effective in chronic skin disorders, vitiligo psoriasis, diabetes, asthma, paraplegia,
gynecological disorders, elephantiasis, headaches, hyperacidity, constipation, digestive
disorders, Joint disorders, hemiplegia etc.
Basti (Medicated Enema)
Considered as the mother of all treatments, it cleanses the accumulated body toxins and waste
related to all the three doaha namely vata, pitta and kapha, especially that related with vata
dosha. Basti is also highly beneficial as a rejuvenating treatment especially in convalescent
periods. In this procedure medicated oil or ghee and herbal decoction is administered as an
enema. This procedure is usually administered for 8 to 30 days, based on the medical
condition of a person.

This treatment is effective in neurological disorders, paraplegia, hemiplegia, colitis, cervical


spondylosis, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, digestive disorders, piles, backache,
sciatica, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, obesity, convalescence sexual debility and
infertility.

Nasya (Nasal Instillation of Medicine)

Nasya is the administration of medicated oil through the nose, which cleanses and removes
accumulated toxins and waste from the head and neck region. This treatment is usually given
for 7 days. Based on the medical condition of a person, it can be given up to 30 days.

It is useful in nasal allergies, nasal polyp, sinusitis, chronic cold, neurological dysfunctions,
paraplegia, hemiplegia, trigeminal neuralgia, Bel's palsy, insomnia, headaches of various
origin, migraine, premature graying of hair, loss of smell and taste, frozen shoulder, stiffness
of the neck, etc. It also improves memory and eyesight.

Raktamokshna (Therapeutic Blood Cleansing)

This is a very effective blood purification therapy, in which carefully controlled removal of
small quantities of blood is conducted to neutralize accumulated toxins related with Pitta
dosha.

It is useful in allergies, skin disorders such as eczema, allergic dermatitis, etc.

Dr. Prashant Sawant

Ayurlife Positive Health Centre and Research Institute


82/B, Pokar Mansion, Near Railway Station, Chembur, Mumbai – 400 071
Tel: 2521 2390, 55993693

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