PANCHAKARMAthe unique

AYURVEDIC therapy

Panchkarma

Panchakarma is the ultimate mind-body healing experience for detoxifying the body, strengthening the immune system, and restoring balance and wellbeing. It developed thousands of years ago in India.

The word panchakarma itself means five for ‘pancha’ and therapeutic measures for ‘karma’ in Sanskrit. Panchakarma therapy involves five types of advanced treatment for evacuating the vitiated dosha (toxic materials) from the body. Panchakarma is like a detox program.

Panchakarma is devided as three stages…..

•Purvakarma

•Pradhanakarma

•Paschatakarma

Panchakarma treatments

Purvakarma

It is the preparatory procedures that help the body discard the toxinspresent in the stomach and tissues and help facilitate the toxins to move to thealimentary canal.

It includes the procedures

• Pachana

• snehan

• swedan.

• Pachana

It is digestion of ama (undigested food and food toxins) and increasingthe digestive fire with the help of various Deepan Pancha(digestive andcarminative)drugs.

• Snehana (Oleation) makes the body soft and disintegrates the toxins.

snehana means external application of oil (plain or medicated). It’scommon way of application is in the form of Abhyanga (massage).

• Swedana (fomentation / sweating) Removes the toxins by melting’them

Swedan is sudation or sweating and is given every day immediatelyfollowing the snehan. An herbal concoction may be added to the steamto further loosen the toxins from the individual. Swedan liquifies thetoxins and increases the movement of toxins into the gastro-intestinaltract.

Pradhanakarma

It includes,

• VAMANA

• VIRECHANA

• VASTI

• NASYA

• RAKTHAMOKSHANA

VAMANA

Vamana is a medicated emesis therapy which removes Kaphatoxins collected in the body and the respiratory tract.

This is given to people with high Kapha imbalance. Dailytreatment involves loosening and mobilizing the toxins in an effort tofinally eliminate them.

Benefits of Vamana:

Bronchial Asthma, Chronic Allergies, Hay Fever, Vitiligo, Psoriasis,Hyperacidity, Chronic Indigestion Nasal Congestion, Edema, Obesity,Psychological disorders, Skin disorders.

VIRECHANA

Virachana therapy is defined as the medicated purgation therapy,which cleanses the Pitta and purifies blood, by clearing the toxins fromthe body. The treatment concentrates on the toxins that areaccumulated in the liver and gall bladder. The gastro-intestinal tract isalso cleansed by Virachana therapy.

Benefits of Virechana

Help root out Chronic Fever, Diabetes, Asthma, Skin disorderssuch as Herpes, Paraplegia, Hemiplegia Joint disorders, Digestivedisorders, Constipation, Hyperacidity, Vitiligo, Psoriasis, Headaches,Elephantiasis and Gynecological disorders.

NASYA

Medicated oil and herbal juices are dripped to the nose andmouth-blown with maximum pressure when the inputs get penetratedinto the head. It cleanse accumulated Kapha toxins from the head andneck region.

Nasya benefits

Include Trigeminal Neuralgia, Bel's Palsy, improves memory &eye sight, insomnia, elimination of excess mucus, hyper pigmentationin the face, pre-mature graying of hair, clarity of voice, headaches ofvarious origins, Hemiplegia, loss of smell and taste, frozen shoulder,migraine, stiffness of the neck, nasal allergies, nasal polyp, neurologicaldysfunctions, Paraplegiar and sinusitis.

VASTI

Basti (Enema) is considered as the mother of all Panchakarmatreatments. It cleanses the accumulated toxins from all the 3 doshas :Vata, Pitta and Kapha, through the colon. Basti is also highly beneficialas a rejuvenating treatment. Medicated oil or ghee and an herbaldecoction is given as enema to clean the colon and increase the muscletone. This treatment is provided for several days, based on the medicalcondition of a person.

Benefits: For Hemiplegia, Paraplegia, Colitis, Convalescence, CervicalSpondylosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Constipation, Digestivedisorders, Backache & Sciatica, Hepatomegaly & Splenomegaly,Obesity, Piles, Sexual Debility & Infertility.

Raktamokshana

Raktamokshana means removing vitiated blood from thebody. It is a localized treatment . Extraction of vitiated bloodfrom the body by using surgical instruments and other tools isknown as Raktamokshana.

Benefits:

This method is effective in curing rheumatic arthritis,skin diseases etc. Though it sounds very primitive way oftreating, it is a very helpful process

Paschatkarma

Bringing back the body to its normal physiological condition after drasticeliminatory purification procedure by specific dietary regimen and differentmedicine is known as paschatakarma.it comprises of three procedures as

• Samsarjana Karma: Using Peya,Vilepi,Akrita-krita Yusha, etc. under specificdietary regimen to enhance dietary fire is known as Samsarjana karma.

• RasyanadiKarma : When Sodhana therapy is used as purvakarma forrasayana then after Pradhana Karma,Rasayana drug should be given.

• Samana Yoga: When Shodana chikitsa is used as a part of treatment for aparticular disease then the specific medicine mentioned for it should begiven.

A strict diet and lifestyle is to be followed throughout Panchakarma treatment.

Some Benefits of Panchakarma

• Helps restore metabolic power.

• Eliminates toxins, strengthens tissue functions.

• Helps balance all three doshas.

• Improves mental clarity, awareness and forgiveness

• Reduces dependence on alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

• Helps implement healthy diet and lifestyle.

• Reduces stress, improves relaxation & tolerance.

• Slows the ageing process and increases the lifespan.

• Increases the skin‟s glow, luster and immunity.

• Boosts body immunity and energy level.

• Improves strength, endurance, energy and vitality.

During the three phases of panchakarma, these restrictions are to be observed: 1. Avoid cold exposure internally and externally.

2. Avoid sex, bad news, loud noise, stress.

3. Avoid daytime sleeping - rest when tired, but don‟t sleep.

4. Avoid suppression of natural urges such as sneezing, coughing, flatulence, etc.

5. Avoid being awake at night after 10pm.

6. Avoid indigestible foods; favour foods that balance the doshas.

7. Avoid strenuous exercise (restorative yoga in moderation at a right time is OK)

Some contra-indications for Panchakarma therapy are

• Menstruation, pregnancy, lactation

• HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis

• Morbid obesity, emaciation

• Hypertension, congestive heart disease, angina

• Active infection, open lesions

• Cancer of skin, lungs, testicles, lymph

• Intense grief.

In these cases, palliation of the dosha preceeds panchakarmatreatment.

Panchakarma therapy is both preventative for

healthy people to maintain and improve excellent cellular

function, and curative for those experiencing disease. It is

a highly complex and sophisticated science of purification

of the body/mind channel systems, and is therefore best

supervised/performed by a senior clinician.

For more details and treatements,contact..

Kerala Ayurveda Herbal Centre,211 Burnage Lane, Burnage,Manchester M19 1FN,United Kingdom.Phone : 0161 9177025Email : info@kahc-uk.co.uk

Thank you