Benefits of Panchakarma

Preparations for Panchakarma

The 5 Cleansing Practices

Vamana

The first step in this ayurvedic cleansing regimen is vamana, which is controlled therapeutic emesis, a panchakarma procedure designed to flush out the toxins along with excess mucus in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. The excess of mucus in these parts result in a vitiated (aggravated) kapha.

On the night prior to the procedure, the patient is asked to consume kapha aggravating foods such as the yoghurts, sweets, basmati rice, etc. This results in an excess of mucus inside the body. The treatment itself begins early next morning on an empty stomach, the time and body condition where kapha is most intense. Slight heat is applied to the chest region and to the back, an action that helps to loosen the kapha and dislodges the toxins. A medicated drink containing a decoction of Madanaphala ((Randia dumetorum lam.) is administered along with honey, rock salt and licorice. This induces vomiting in the patient (tickling the throat is resorted to if the drink itself fails to induce emesis) and results in the expulsion of the toxins and excess mucus. The procedure ends when pitta (yellow sticky material or the bile) expulsion begins, an indication that the expulsion of kapha is complete.

Once this panchakarma cleanse treatment is complete, the hands, legs, chest and face of the patient in washed with warm water. The patient is to take complete rest and should not indulge in any strenuous activity. Food is restricted and only a warm, thin gruel made of rice is fed to the patient for the next 3-4 meals.

This panchkarma procedure is especially beneficial for patients suffering from respiratory tract diseases, skin diseases, urinary tract disorders, depression, obesity, anaemia, lethargy, fatigue, sleep disorders, foul smell emanating from the body, impotency, allergies, diabetes, and kapha disorders of the ear, nose, throat and eye.

Virechana

The second of the panchakarma treatment procedures, virechana is controlled purgation and is designed to clean the excess pitta accumulation and the toxins situated in the liver and the gall bladder. An excess of pitta results in diseases like liver disorders, skin disorders, gastritis, piles, gout, ascites, etc. As pitta is concentrated in and around the lower abdomen, expulsion through the anal route is the preferred one.

Three days after the completion of vamana karma, the patient is ready for virechana. They are already on a restricted diet and so the procedure can begin. Depending on the patient, the doctor chooses a purgative which can either be:

• Castor oil, or castor oil mixed with Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) – this process is known as Snigdha virechana
• Trivit (Operculina turpethum) paste – this process is known as Rooksha virechana.

If bowel movements are not seen relatively soon after ingesting the purgative, the patient is asked to drink hot water and the abdomen is massaged with warm palms. If adequate purgation is not observed near the end of the treatment day, the patient is allowed to have some food, and the procedure is repeated again the next day. About 10-12 bouts of purgation would complete this panchakarma procedure.

Once the procedure is complete, the hands, legs, chest and face of the patient are washed with warm water. As the intensity of this experience can be quite severe, complete rest should follow and strenuous activity of any kind avoided. Food is restricted as well and only a warm, thin gruel made of rice should be eaten for the next 3-4 meals. Oily food should also be removed from the menu. A regular diet can be resumed 4-7 days after this panchakarma cleansing procedure.

Virechana is of immense benefit to those suffering from jaundice and other liver disorders, high cholesterol, diseases of the urinogenital system, peptic ulcer, constipation, skin diseases, piles, etc.

Basti

Basti is an ayurvedic panchakarma cleanse procedure that involves the use of enemas. These differ from the typical saline enemas prescribed in Western cleansing, which are used primarily to provide relief from constipation and to cleanse the lower colon of residue and toxic buildup. In this panchkarma procedure, either of two types of enemas is used:

• Basti with medicated oil (Anuvasan Basti)
• Basti with a medicated decoction containing herbs, honey or other ingredients (Niruha Basti)

The ancient sages in India were aware that the active ingredients of certain herbs would either be destroyed in the acidic medium of the stomach or become metabolized in the liver, thus rendering them ineffective. To overcome such hurdles, they came up with the concept of basti which introduced herbs with their active ingredients directly into the body through the anal canal, bypassing the liver and the stomach altogether. The selection of the herbs used depends upon the disease that is being treated. For example, if a patient is found to have parasites, an herb like vidanga (Embelia Ribes) known for its anthelmintic activity is used.

Basti is an ayurvedic cleanse procedure that is employed for vata disorders and has both preventive and curative functions. Some of the diseases that are treated with this ayurvedic cleanse method are arthritis, rheumatism, constipation, distension, joint pains, gout, etc.

Nasya

Nasya is a panchakarma cleanse procedure employed to treat conditions related to the head region as it facilitates elimination of the vitiated doshas from this region. The most common treatments are for migraine, neurological disorders, sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, hair fall, premature graying of hair, beard, etc. In this procedure, herbal powders or herbal liquids or medicated oil is instilled through the nose. The medicaments reach the ‘Sringataka marma’ which is located in the head region and consists of nerve cells and fibers which are responsible for the four senses – smell, vision, taste and hearing. This pancha karma procedure not only expels the vitiated doshas present in this region but also nourishes this important center, leading to a smoother and more efficient cerebral, sensory and motor functioning of the body.

Based on the requirement, different types of medicaments are used. These may include dry powders (that are blown into the nose with a tube), ghee (clarified butter), ghritams (medicated ghee), medicated milk, herbal decoctions, medicated oils, a combination of decoctions and oils, etc. After administration of nasya, the soles, shoulders, neck, ears and the palms are gently massaged.

Rakta Moksha

Toxins in the blood stream may be the cause of repeated infections in the body. Fevers, skin ailments, hypertension and circulatory problems may all be associated with the presence of these toxins. Though therapeutic bloodletting may be relegated to the dark ages in the minds of modern medical practitioners, it remains a part of pancha karma for the purification of the blood.

This bloodletting, or Rakta moksha as it is called, is used to eliminate toxins from the bloodstream. There are two means of rakta moksha, one which involves metal instruments (shastra visravana) and the second which used other means (anushastra visravana). In the second type, the most commonly used methodology is to use leeches to extract blood (hirudotherapy). Abscess, eczema, gout, herpes and jaundice are some conditions wherein this panchakarma cleansing procedure is employed. The procedure should not, however, be carried out in patients with edema, weakness, anemia, in young children, in pregnant ladies and during menstruation.

Restoring the Natural Balance of the Body