Panchakarma
Ostensibly the most eminent branch of Ayurveda is Panchakarma. The name Panchakarma literally means “Five Actions” which is well-suited given the fact that this technique relies upon five distinctive basic activities that control the body namely Vomiting, Purgation, Niruham, Anuvaasan, and Nasyam. In other words, Panchakarma healing technique is a pillar on which majority of Ayurvedic techniques stand.
Ayurveda is more than a mere healing system; it is a science and an art of appropriate living that helps to achieve longevity. Ayurveda emphasizes preventative and healing therapies along with various methods of purification and rejuvenation. It can guide every individual in the proper choice of diet, living habits and exercise to restore balance in the body, mind and consciousness, thus preventing disease from gaining a foothold in the system.
According to Ayurveda, every human being is a unique phenomenon of cosmic consciousness, manifested through the five basic elements—Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
• Vata—a combination of ether and air
• Pitta—a combination of fire and water
• Kapha—a combination of water and earth
– are called the tridosha. These are the three humors or the three organizations of the body, which are also derived from consciousness. Each individual constitution or psycho-somatic temperament is determined by the relative proportions of these three doshas at the time of fertilization.
When this doshic balance is disturbed, it creates imbalance, which is disorder. Health is order; disease is disorder. Within the body there is a constant interaction between order and disorder, thus once one understands the nature and structure of disorder, one can re-establish order. Ayurveda believes that order lies within disorder. Order is the state of health, as defined by Ayurveda. This exists when the digestive fire (agni) is in a balanced condition; the bodily humors (vata, pitta and kapha) are in equilibrium, the three waste products (urine, feces and sweat) are produced and eliminated normally, the seven bodily tissues (rasa, rakta, mamsa, meda, asthi, majja and shukra/artava) are functioning normally, and the mind, senses and consciousness are working harmoniously together. When the balance of these systems is disturbed, the disease (disorder) process begins.
Ama is the basic internal cause of all disease, due to the aggravated doshas. Herein lies the key to the prevention of disease: help the body eliminate the toxins. To stop the further 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. (Although panchakarma is often thought of as the entire procedure, it really is only one part of a group of therapies belonging to a class of cleansing procedures called shodana. There is also a group of milder techniques called shamana for those not strong enough for shodana.)
Five Panchakarma Therapies –
• Vaman
In this treatment, a patient is given inside and outside oleation and fomentation treatments for few days which includes therapies and some ayurvedic medicines.
Once the toxins get melted and accumulate in upper cavities of body, the patient is given emetic medicines and decoction. This enables vomiting and helps in disposing of the poisons from the body tissues. Vaman treatment is particularly suggested basically for kapha-dominated conditions, such as weight gain, asthma and hyperacidity.
• Virechan
In virechan, purgation or disposal of toxins happens through the clearing of the bowels. In this treatment too, the patient is given inside and outside oleation and fomentation treatments.
From that point onward, the patient is given a natural purgative to encourage clearing of the guts that aides in purifying the body of toxins. Virechan treatment is prescribed fundamentally for pitta-dominated conditions, such as herpes zoster, jaundice, colitis, celiac infection etc.
• Basti
Managing medicated substances through enema is Ayurveda’s exceptional commitment to the therapeutic world. The treatment has huge advantages, particularly in convoluted and chronic diseases.
According to the nature of disease, home grown decoctions, oils, ghee or milk are managed into the rectum and this has incredible positive effects. This treatment is to a great degree powerful against vata-dominated conditions, such as arthritis, piles and constipation. Also, read more about medicine for constipation.
• Nasya
This treatment is extremely effective in clearing and purging the head area.
At the beginning of the treatment, the head and shoulder areas are given a delicate massage and fomentation. After that, nasal drops are regulated in both the nostrils. This achieves the cleaning of the whole head area and diminishes different sorts of cerebral pain, headache, hair issues, sleep disorder, neurological disorders, sinusitis, chronic rhinitis and respiratory ailments.
• Raktamokshan
This treatment is useful for cleaning of blood and viable against ailments caused because of impure blood.
It can be done in a particular area or for the whole body. This treatment is especially valuable in different skin infections, such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and furthermore in local lesions such as abscesses and pigmentation.
Benefits of Panchakarma –
• Completely purifies the body
• Riddance of toxins
• Speeding up the metabolism
• Reducing weight
• Enhancing the strength of digestive fire
• Opening up of blocked channels
• Relaxing the mind and body
• Rejuvenation of tissues
• Boosts Immunity
• Relieves stress
For more informative articles on Panchakarma procedures and other health related issues, please visit our website www.santripty.com and also feel free to consult.