What is panchakarma?
Five karmas / procedures that are mentioned in ayurvedic books, which are most scientific and systematic in removing toxins /doshas from the body. These karmas are:
1. Vamana = emetics
2. Virechana = purgative
3. Basti = medicated enema
4. Nasya = administration of medicine through nostrils
5. Raktamokshana = blood letting ( unwanted,impure blood).
Panchakarma is used for curing of a diseases as well as to prevent the diseases and maintain your body clean and increase the immunity power of body.
before going for any of these procedures snehana [ oiling of the body = massage ] and swedana [steaming of the body ] are advices so that the main procedure becomes easy to handle as our body accumulates the toxins from all over and collects in the center.
Massage/abhyanga/snehana; oiling or snehana is 1.internal [consuming the oil/ghee] 2.external
[massage with oil]. Internal snehana is mostly before pancha karma and massage is done
1. Before any other pancha karma 2.as a main procedure for vata disorders.
2. Doing continuous massage for a stipulated period gives actual relief from deep routed ailments.
3. Relaxation massage is a completely DE-stressing and revitalization essential for a stressful life to withstand the hectic schedules.
Therapeutic massage is for diseases like general weakness, weakness of musculature and inability to work consistently due to neurological and muscular,orthopedic problems.
Along with massage swedana /sudation process=steam is indicated in vata disorders.
Sudation is done using medicated steam, different herbs and oils PATRA POTTALI SWED using other nutritive herbs and milk with certain cereals PINDA SWED. This kind of combination treatment gives, required and faster relief to weak degenerative cases,chronic cases,it improves strength ,power of the muscles and also color of the skin. Massage is of many types according to what you actually aim at. Massage is a pre pancha karma procedure that aids easy and complete elimination of doshas during the main karma.
Advantage of panchakarma :
Vamana :
It relieves kapha and pitta dosha from upper part of the body through the rout of mouth (Vomiting). It is indicated in diseases like
| Cold | Urticaria |
| Chronic cold | Infertility |
| Rhinitis, sinusitis, | Menstrual Disorders |
| Hyper acidity | Psychological Disorders |
| Bronchial asthma, | Anemia, |
| Skin disorders, | Gastric Disorders |
| Ulcerative colitis |
Virechana :
Virechana helps in eliminating of pitta dosha by downward movement(Purgative). Virechana stabilizes pitta dosha and metabolic disorders in our body. Doshas exit through the intestines and anal rout after the taken drug gets digested.
Virechana is indicated in various skin diseases, metabolic disturbances, bleeding disorders, piles, fistula, worm infestations, headache[migraine], anemia, jaundice, asthma-bronchial diseases.
| Skin diseases | Vitiligo | Bacterial and fungal infections | Tumors |
| Eczema | Alopecia | STDs | Heart disease |
| Psoriasis | Herpes zoster | Bronchial asthma | Liver and Spleen related Diseases, gallstones |
| Brown/black/white spots on face/freckles | Scabies | Eye diseases/ophthalmic conditions | Allergic conditions |
| Ulcerations in the body | Piles | Fistula | Mouth ulcers,hyper acidity |
Basti:
Basti is the simplest of all karmas but highly effective in lower part of the body it is administered in 3 routes the anal. , the urinary , and vaginal/penis. It is said that the medicines given through anal root are absorbed very quickly in to the body streams. Basti acts on the vata dosha and stabilizes it. Basti is of many functional types, cleansing , soothing , nutritive , lubricating , strengthening , anti-aging , scraping/reducing., immunity enhancing basti , aphrodisiac basti. etc.
Basti is indicated in
| Disease related to sex, premature Ejaculation, Oligospermia, Ozospermia, Erectile Dysfunction. Infection in semen. | Neurological disorders due to Diabetes. | Headache , backache , pain in knee, ankle , hip joints , neck joints , spine, etc | Heaviness in the stomach,tightness in the stomach |
| Neurological disorders -paralysis, numbness, tingling, burning, sensations in hands, legs | Constipation, fistula, piles,Fissure. Worm infestations | Gynecological disorders Infertility, Menstrual Problems, Insomnia. Tendency of abortions | pains=pulling cutting biting, type of pains in the body |
| Arthritis,spondilyosis, joint pains, gout. | Abdominal pain, pain in any joints | Convulsions/seizures | Stiffness, wasting, weakness in muscles. |
| Bone disorders, degeneration | Degeneration of tissues due to disease or age. | Renal stones. | Management of Cancer |
Nasya :
Nasya is administration of medicine= decoction ,oil ,powder , ghee , etc. through nose. It gives instantaneous relief and is highly effective as it acts through the nasal mucosa which has connections with all internal lining of the organs. Nasya is indicated in
| Bleeding nose, upper part of the body ,bleeding disorders. | Hiccups,asthma,cough | Nasya in little quantity is advised daily for sense organ and brain function |
| Tuberculosis | Sinusitis, rhinitis, ear ache/otitis headache./migraine | Hair Fall, Premature graying of hair. |
| Insanity,seizures | Nasya is very deep in action aphrodisiac,it nourishes the reproductive organs. |
Rakta Mokshan :
Rakta mokshana is letting the vitiated blood out of the body. It is done locally at the site of disease eg.skin eruptions etc or wholly by dissecting a vein local raktamokshana is generally done by leeches. Rakta mokshana is very useful in skin ,hair, muscular tissue involvements..inflammatory conditions. Systemic rakta mokshana helps in high blood pressure.
Indications of rakta mokshana
| Eczema,dermatitis,ulcer,abscess,cysts,polyps. | Hypertension,skin disease all over,psoriasis,herper zoster | filariasis |
| Piles,muscular growths over body | Eye diseases,diseases of mouth | Teeth ache,infection |
| Alopecia[[HAIR LOSS IN PATCHES],scalp infections,scabies,ring worm | Seizures,migraine. | Sexually transmited diseases. |
These procedures help us in maintaining our health genuinly.each one is indicated in different seasons along the year,even for healthy people.Thats your servicing [of your body] this is a part of preventive medicine in ayuveda.