Panchakarma

Ashtang Ayurveda suggests various protective and remedial therapies along with
various methods of cleansing and rejuvenation. Panchakarma is Ayurveda`s primary
purification and detoxification treatment. Panchakarma literally signifies the "five
therapies". It is an all-inclusive system of knowledge and practices to remove toxins
from the body and restore the body`s harmony with nature. These five curative
means of eliminating toxins from the body are Vamana, Virechana, Nasya, Basti and
Raktamoskshana. They facilitate the removal of toxins that cause anxiety and illness,
and also restore the proper balance of the three doshas. Panchakarma does not yield
any significant result if special detoxification diet is not given along with the
treatments. Panchakarma should not be used to treat those below seven years and
those above 80 years. If it is done properly, proper healing along with lucid
intelligence, sharpness of the senses, stability of the body, normalized capability of
digestion and absorption, prolongation of youth are all achieved. Panchakarma is in
fact only a part of a group of remedial measures belonging to a set of purification
procedures called shodana.

Panchakarma includes three serial procedures. These are Poorva Karma (Preparatory
Methods) which constitutes Paachan (Digestion), Snehan (Internal and external
oleation) and Swedan (Fomentation), Pradhan Karma (Main methods) which
comprises Vaman (Induced vomiting), Virechan (Induced purgation), Basti
(Medicated enema), Nasya (Nasal medicine) and Rakta Mokshan (Artificial
bloodletting), Pashchat Karma (Post-Therapeutic Measures) which consists of
Sansarjan Karma (Specific dietetics) and Rasayana (rejuvenation therapy).

Process of Panchakarma
The extensive process involves a series of procedures categorized under purva
karma, pradhan karma & paschat karma. Purvakarma part of Panchakarma is needed
to prepare the body before the actual process of purification begins. The two
procedures are `snehan` and `swedan`. In snehan oil is massaged in a special way
that facilitates the movement of the toxins towards the gastro-intestinal tract.
Swedan is induced sweating that loosens the toxins from the body of the individual.
Pradhan Karma is the main cleansing procedure, which incorporates five basic
cleansing methods.

Vaman or Emesis Therapy: When there is blockage in the lungs leading to

recurrent attacks of bronchitis, colds, cough or asthma, the Ayurvedic treatment is
therapeutic vomiting or vaman, to eliminate the kapha that is responsible for the
deposition of the excess mucus within the body.

Virechan or Purgation Therapy: When excess of bile or pitta is secreted, it often

gets accumulated in the gall bladder, liver and small intestine. This in turns results in
rashes, spots, skin inflammation, persistent attacks of fever, vomiting, feeling of
nausea and jaundice. In such cases, therapeutic purgation or virechan helps to
normalise the bodily activities.

Basti or Enema Therapy: Ayurvedic basti involves the introduction of herbal

preparations of sesame oil and the like into the rectum. It relieves chronic fever,
constipation, cold, sexual disorders, heart pain, kidney stones, backache, sciatica
and other pains in the joints. Many other vata disorders such as rheumatism,
arthritis, gout, muscle spasms and headaches may also be cured through basti.

Nasya or Nasal Administration: The administration of medication through the

nasal passage is called nasya. A surplus of bodily humors accumulated in the sinus,
throat, nose or head areas is eliminated by means of nasya.

Raktamoksha : Toxins present in the gastro-intestinal tract get mixed with blood
and are circulated throughout the body. The body suffers from various skin disorders.
In such cases, the purification of blood or raktamoksha becomes necessary along
with internal medication. Raktamoksha is also followed in case of ailments like
enlarged liver, spleen and gout.

After panchakarma the procedures sansarjan karma and rasayana are followed.
Sansarjan karma involves the administration of a special diet that strengthens the
digestive power of the patient. Rasayana includes rejuvenating methods that must be
undertaken after all the five main procedures or pradhan karma has been completed.

Purva karma in Panchkarma

It refers to the procedures that prepare the body for pradhankarma, the main stage
of panchakarma.It includes Paachan (Digestion), Snehan (Internal and external
oleation) and Swedan (Fomentation).

Pradhan karma in Panchkarma

Pradhan karma constitutes the main step of panchakarma and includes five main
procedures of cleansing the body.Pradhan karma comes after purva karma and
constitutes the five procedures of Vaman (Induced vomiting), Virechan (Induced
purgation), Basti (Medicated enema), Nasya (Nasal medicine) and Rakta Mokshan
(Artificial bloodletting).

Paschat Karma
It refers to the procedures that should be followed after pradhan karma for restoring
the balance of the doshas.Paschat karma is a third and concluding phase of
panchakarma. It involves re-establishment of the digestive enzymes and the
replenishment of the body tissues that have been detoxified. If this process is
followed after pradhan karma, then the patient experiences an amplified energy
level, strengthened immune system and increased longevity.

Panchakarma is of enormous importance in Ayurveda because it covers a wide range

of preventive and curative measures. This process eliminates the deep-seated toxins
from the body thus helping the body to regain its normal potential. Due to its
immense utility, panchakarma has been given a special place in all the ancient
Ayurvedic texts. Aacharya Charak, the writer of the most important ancient text on
internal medicine, lays down various uses of Panchakarma therapy for almost every
major disease. Two separate sections in Charak Samhita, Kalpa Sthanam and Siddhi
Sthanam extensively discuss the procedures of panchakarma.
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