| An ancient
cleansing ritual that is apt in today's modern world
also…. Panchakarma is an ancient Indian
Ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation practice
that works to clear out excesses in the mind and
the body. Panchakarma means "five actions"
which remove toxins built up in the body over
a period. It instills a sense of balance and calms
right down to the cellular level.
Panchakarma at Ayurveda Kendra is an individualised
therapy that remains as faithful to the ancient
tradition as possible. It's a system based on
natural holistic healing by strengthening the
body and allowing natural healing mechanisms to
work to their fullest potential.
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The
physician determines the kind of procedure and the
types of medicines to be used after examining the
patient. It is not necessary that a patient should
undergo all the five procedures of treatment used
in Panchakarma. Panchakarma should not be administered
to those below seven years and those above 80 years.
Medicated Emesis (Vamana), Medicated Purgation (Virechana),
Nasal Medication (Nasya), Medicated Enema (Vasti)
and Blood Letting (Raktamoksha) are the five purification
procedures for removing accumulated toxins and other
waste materials in the body.
Let us look, little in detail, what these procedures
involve. |
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| 1.
Pre-Treatment (Poorva Karma): |
| These are
certain procedures followed for preparing the body
before doing Panchakarma for the total elimination
of toxic deposit. These procedures are done for
seven days. Snehana (Oleation) and Swedhana (Sweating)
are the two steps involved in pre-treatment for
Panchakarma. Swedhana is followed for two days after
Snehana. After completion of these courses, the
patient is advised to take rest, avoid cold, take
warm baths, get adequate fresh air and eat easily
digestible food. The pre-treatment is followed
by the purgation or purification therapy. Purification
is done in two ways - Emesis (Vamanam) and Medicated
Enema or Decoction (Vasti). This is done for three
days. |
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| 2.
Therapeutic Vomiting (Emesis or Vamana) |
| In this
process excited and vitiated humors are removed
from the upper part of the body by way of vomiting.
Vomiting is induced with herbal emetic substances
for the purpose of eliminating vitiated Kapha and
Pitta. Emesis is effective in the treatment of disorders
like asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, indigestion,
epilepsy, excessive salivation and diseases in fatty
tissue and muscular tissue like hemorrhoids and
tumors of fat and muscle. The quantity should be
given till the patient's stomach is completely full. |
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| 3.
Purgation Therapy (Virechana) |
| Virechana
is the cleansing of the Pitta and the purification
of blood toxins. Generally, it is administered for
three days after the Vamana treatment but this may
vary. If Vamana therapy is not needed, Virechana
can be administered directly after Poorva Karma.
Virechana cleanses the sweat glands, small intestine,
colon, kidneys, stomach, liver and spleen. A number
of effective and safe herbs can be used as a laxative.
Virechana is used for treatment of skin diseases. |
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| 4.
Medicated Enema (Vasti) |
| Medicated
enema is universally regarded as the most important
procedure in Panchakarma therapy since it removes
the excess Vata Dosha (humor) from the entire body.
Medicated enema is mainly of two types. |
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| 5.
Nasal Medication (Nasya) |
| Nasya is
the procedure in which medications are administered
through the nostrils in order to purify the head
and neck region. The medicines used for this procedure
are oil, pastes, powers, plant juice, decoctions,
infusions and even smoke. |
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| 6.
Rakta Moksha (Blood letting) |
| Bloodletting
is an invasive procedure; hence only a licensed
physician should administer it. This treatment is
used only for the treatment of blood related and
Pitta related disorders such as skin, liver spleen
and conditions like gout, headaches and hypertension.
Jalauka (Leeches) is the most renowned method of
blood letting and the mildest of all types. It is
a safe, painless and effective form of treatment |
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