Panchakarma
Panchakarma is the ultimate mind-body healing experience for detoxifying the body, strengthening the immune system, and restoring balance and well-being. It is one the most effective healing modality in Ayurvedic Medicine. It promotes Detoxification and Rejuvenation. It is recommended on a seasonal basis, as well as when an individual feels out of balance or is experiencing illness.
Panchakarma is a Sanskrit word that means “five actions” or “five treatments”. This is a process used to clean the body of toxic materials left by disease and poor nutrition.
Panchakarma includes Vamana, Virechana, Basti, Nasya and Raktamokshana.
Vamana :
The kapha toxins accumulated in the body and the respiratory tract are effectively removed by Vamana, one of the five therapies of Panchakarma in Ayurveda. Vamana is therapeutic vomiting, which is a medicated emesis therapy. People with high imbalance of kapha are given this type of treatment, which loosens and mobilizes the toxins, in an effort to eliminate them from the body.
Virechana :
Virachana therapy is defined as the medicated purgation therapy, which cleanses the Pitta and purifies blood, by clearing the toxins from the body. The treatment concentrates on the toxins that are accumulated in the liver and gall bladder. The gastro-intestinal tract is also cleansed by Virachana therapy. This treatment is usually administered for three days after Vamana treatment, but its duration may vary from case to case.
Basti :
Considered as the mother of all treatments, Basti cleanses the accumulated toxins from all the three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, especially the Vata toxins, through the colon. The importance of Basti Karma is that other than providing thorough detox, this procedure effectively balances the Vata dosha. This is much needed because Vata dosha causes majority of diseases in the human body.
Nasya :
Nasya karma is the best procedure for treating Sirorogas (diseases affecting the head area) like migraine, chronic headaches, sinusitis, ear, nose and throat disorders. This involves the purification of the head region of the patient. In this process, the imbalanced doshas above the neck are removed through the nasal openings. Nasal errhines are given to the patient in the form of medicinal oils, medicated powders or churnas, medicated juice/milk or medicinal fumes.
Raktamokshana :
It is made of two words – Rakta i.e blood and Mokshana i.e to leave, and combining both these words makes the word Raktamokshana which means ‘to let out blood’. Raktamokshana is an effective blood purification therapy, in which carefully controlled removal of small quantities of blood is conducted to neutralize accumulated Pitta toxins of many blood borne diseases. This is because Raktamokshana decreases the quantum of enhanced Pitta dosha and thus the diseases caused by Pitta are also relieved.
- Dr. Vinesh Nagare
