Panchakarma -Ayurvedic Complete Detoxification and Cleansing

Panchakarma is Ayurveda's primary purification and detoxification treatment. Panchakarma means the combination of the five different therapies. It is a process used to clean the body of toxic materials left by disease and poor nutrition. Ayurveda says that imbalanced doshas create waste matter which is called Ama. It is a foul-smelling, sticky, noxious substance that needs to be evacuated from the body as thoroughly as possible. To stop the production of Ama, Ayurvedic literature suggests putting the person on a proper diet with appropriate lifestyle, habits and exercise, and administering a proper cleansing program such as Panchakarma.

Panchakarma is the procedure; it is one part of a group of therapies belonging to cleansing procedures called Shodana. The 5 therapies of Panchakarma are called Vaman, Virechan, Nasya, Basti and Rakta Moskshana. While balancing the doshas this series of five therapies helps to remove deep rooted stress and illness causing toxins within the body.
It brings back the balance to our doshas and cleans the body of Ama by means of the body waste evacuation channels such as sweat glands, urinary tract, intestines, etc. Panchakarma is, thus, a balancing operation. It involves daily massages and it is an extremely pleasant experience. Ayurveda recommends Panchakarma as a seasonal treatment for toning your mind and body system.

Purvakarma: Pre-purification Measures
Before the actual operation of purification begins, there is a need to prepare the body with methods to encourage it to let go of the toxins. There are two procedures Snehan and Svedana. Snehan is the oil massage. Oil is applied to the entire body with a particular type of massage. Oil massage also makes the superficial and deep tissues soft and flexible, thus helping to remove stress and nourish the nervous system. Svedana is sudation or sweating and is given immediately after the Snehan
Svedana liquefies the toxins and increases the movement of toxins into the gastrointestinal tract. After Snehan and Svedana, the doshas become well. Panchakarma is a highly personalized treatment. A particular Panchakarma method is given according to the individual‘s constitution and disorder. It is based on the needs of the individual depending on the body type, dosha imbalances etc. Usually, only parts of the five therapies are needed.
 

Five different Therapies

Vamana (Therapeutic vomiting)
This treatment is used when there is congestion in the lungs causing repeated attacks of bronchitis, cough, cold or asthma. This is a medicated emesis therapy which removes Kapha (one of the doshas) toxins collected in the body and the respiratory tract. This is given to people with high Kapha imbalance. The aim of the therapy is to induce vomiting to get rid of the excess Kapha. A drink consisting of licorice and honey, or calamus root tea is given to the patient. (Other substances used include salt and cardamom) Vomiting is induced by rubbing on the tongue.
4-8 vomiting is the target. After vomiting the patient will feel very comfortable; most of the congestion, wheezing and breathlessness will disappear along with the clearing of the sinus. Therapeutic vomiting is used for cough, cold, symptoms of asthma, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, anemia, poisoning, skin diseases, diabetes, lymphatic obstruction, chronic indigestion, edema (swelling), epilepsy (between attacks), chronic sinus problems, chronic allergies, hay fever, Vitiligo, Psoriasis, hyperacidity, obesity, psychological disorders, and for repeated attacks of tonsillitis. After Vamana, resting, fasting and not suppressing natural urges (i.e., urination, defecation, gas, sneezing, coughing) is recommended. If Vamana is administered properly, the person should feel relaxation in the lungs, will be able to breathe freely, will have lightness in the chest, clear thinking, a clear voice, a good appetite, and all symptoms of congestion disappear.

Virechana (Purgation Therapy)
When excess bile, Pitta, is secreted and accumulated in the gall bladder, liver and small intestine, it tends to result in rashes, skin inflammation, acne, chronic attacks of fever, biliary vomiting, nausea and jaundice. Virechana is a medicated purgation therapy which removes Pitta toxins from the body, it completely cleanses the gastro-intestinal tract and the purification of the blood toxins. Virechan cleanses the sweat glands, small intestine, colon, kidneys, stomach, liver, and spleen. A number of fine herbs are used as a laxative. These include senna, prune, bran, flaxseed husk, dandelion root, psyllium seed, cow's milk, salt, castor oil, raisins and mango juice. When taking these laxatives, it is important to adhere to restricted diet. It is a safe procedure without side effects. Benefits of Virechana help root out chronic fever, diabetes, asthma, skin disorders such as Herpes, Paraplegia, Hemiplegia, joint disorders, digestive disorders, constipation, hyperacidity, Vitiligo, Psoriasis, headaches, piles, abdominal tumors, worms, gout, jaundice, gastrointestinal problems, irritable bowel syndrome, Elephantiasis and gynecological disorders. Purgatives can completely cure the problem of excess Pitta. When purgatives are used, the patient should not eat foods that will aggravate the predominant humor or cause the three humors to become unbalanced.
 

Basti (Enema)
Basti (Enema) is considered as the mother of all Panchakarma treatments since it cleanses the accumulated toxins from all the 3 doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, through the colon. Medicated enemas are used for various specific reasons. In general, this treatment is used to flush the loosened doshas out through the intestinal tract. There are over 100 specific enemas listed in Ayurveda. Basti involves introducing medicinal substances such as sesame oil, calamus oil, or other herbal decoctions in a liquid medium into the rectum. Basti is the most effective treatment for Vata disorders. It alleviates distention, chronic fever, the common cold, sexual disorders, kidney stones, heart pain, vomiting, backache, neck pain, hyper acidity, hemiplegic, paraplegia, colitis, convalescence, cervical spondylosis, irritable bowel syndrome constipation, digestive disorders, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, obesity, piles, infertility, sciatica and other pains in the joints. Many other Vata disorders such as arthritis, rheumatism, gout, muscle spasms and headaches may also be treated with Basti. There are about 80 Vata related disorders in Ayurveda. About 80 percent of them can be treated with medicated enemas. Vata is mainly located in the large intestine, but bone tissue is also a site for Vata. Hence the medication administered rectally effects bone tissue. The mucus membrane of the colon is related to the outer covering of the bones (periosteum), which nourishes the bones. Therefore, any medication given rectaily goes into the deeper tissues, like bones, and corrects Vata disorders.
 

Nasya (Nose Cleaning)
The nose is the doorway to the brain and it is also the doorway to consciousness. The nasal administration of medication is called Nasya. An excess of physically humors accumulated in the sinus, throat, nose or head areas is eliminated by means of the nearest possible opening, the nose. Prana, the life force as nerve energy, enters the body through the breath taken in through the nose. Prana is in the brain and maintains sensory and motor functions. Prana also governs mental activities, memory, concentration and intellectual activities. Unbalanced Prana creates imperfect functioning of all these activities and produces headaches, convulsions, loss of memory and reduced sensory perception. Nasya involves administration of medicated oil through the nose to cleanse accumulated Kapha toxins from the head and neck region. It also involves inhaling vapour from medicinal herbs that have been infused in boiling water. Based on the medical condition of a person. Nasya benefits include Trigeminal Neuralgia, Bel's Palsy, improvement of memory & eye sight, insomnia, elimination of excess mucus hyper pigmentation in the face, pre-mature graying of hair, clarity to voice, headaches of various origin, Hemiplegia, loss of smell and taste, dryness of the nose, hoarseness, frozen shoulder, migraine, stiffness of the neck, nasal allergies, nasal polyp, neurological dysfunctions, Paraplegia, Sinusitis. Breathing also can be improved through Nasya. By Nasya the emotions that are blocked in the respiratory tract will be released. This treatment will help to open the emotions. Also breathing patterns will change as the emotions are released.
 

Rakta Mokshana (Blood Letting)
Blood letting is used to eliminate toxins that are absorbed into the bloodstream through the gastrointestinal tract. Toxins present in the gastrointestinal tract are absorbed into the blood and circulated throughout the body. This is the basic cause of repeated infections, hypertension and certain other circulatory conditions. This includes repeated attacks of skin disorders such as urticaria, rashes, herpes, eczema, acne, scabies, leukoderma, chronic itching or hives. In such conditions, along with internal medication, elimination of the toxins and purification of the blood is necessary. Blood letting is also indicated for cases of enlarged liver, spleen and gout. Pitta is produced from the disintegrated red blood cells in the liver. Pitta and blood have a very close relationship. The Rakta Mokshana process purifies the blood. Blood letting also stimulates the spleen to produce anti-toxic substances that help to stimulate the immune system. Toxins are neutralized, enabling radical cures in many blood-borne disorders. Certain substances such as sugar, salt, yogurt, sour-tasting foods and alcohol are toxic to the blood. In certain blood disorders these substances should be avoided to keep the blood pure. The Rakta Mokshana procedure is to clean the blood and is advised only in very rare conditions. It is not advisable during general Panchakarma. Most Ayurveda Centers do not offer Rakta Mokshana due to the high risk of infection involved in blood cleansing. In our Ayurvedic Yoga Course this will not be part of the Panchakarma program, either.
 

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