Panchkarma
Ayurveda is an ancient way of keeping healthy that looks at the whole person, not just parts. It’s a bit like other types of medicine, but it’s special because it’s connected to the Atharva Veda, an old Indian text.
The word “Ayurveda” comes from two words: “Ayu,” which means more than just life, it’s about how our bodies, senses, mind, and soul all fit together, and “Veda,” which means knowledge. So, Ayurveda is all about understanding how everything in us works together for good health.
The core principal of ayurveda is...
स्वस्थस्य स्वास्थ्य रक्षणं, आतुरस्य विकार प्रशमनं च! (चरक संहित सूत्र ३०।२६)
svasthasya svāsthya rakṣaṇaṃ, āturasya vikāra praśamanaṃ। (Cha Sūtra 30।26)
यानि स्वस्थ व्यक्ति के स्वास्थ्य की रक्षा करना और रोगी को रोगमुक्त करना, ये आयुर्वेद के उद्देश्य हैं।
The main purpose of Ayurveda is to help in maintaining the health of a healthy individual and cure the diseases of a patient. These are a brief description of Ayurveda.
Now, let’s talk about Panchakarma. Panchakarma is a special part of Ayurveda focused on treating diseases. It’s considered very important. But why is it called Panchakarma?
Importance of Panchkarma
A long healthy life has been the wish of every person since antiquity. Diseases are the destroyers of health, wellbeing and life. Ayurveda aims at restoration of health by attaining dharma (pious acts), artha (wealth), kama(desire), moksha(salvation). Those who are seeking a healthy life should attain these four purusharthas by health. Panchakarma plays a vital role in the preservation, maintenance and conservation of health and it makes the biological system to maintain the normalcy, rejuvenate the body and facilitate the desired effect of therapeutic measures that are administered thereafter.
What is Panchkarma?
The word “panchakarma” is made up of two words: “Pancha,” which means five, and “karma,” which refers to various actions or therapies. So, “panchakarma” means five therapies. It involves five main actions along with Purva karma(preparatory) and Paschat Karma (follow-up procedures).
Panchakarma is a special cleansing process in Ayurveda. It helps to purify the body internally using the closest possible route. This process aims to bring the body back to balance and rejuvenate it by restoring the equilibrium of Doshas (Body Energies), Dhatus (Body Tissues), and Malas (Waste Products).
Why Panchkarma?
How to perform Panchkarma treatments?
Panchakarma is performed in three phases such as Purva karma ( preparatory procedures), Pradhana karma (main procedures), and Paschat karma ( post-operative procedures).
Purva Karma (Pre-Treatment)
Snehana or Sneha pan
Swedana or Herbal Steam Bath
PradhanaKarma (Main Treatment)
This main phase includes the administration of the fivefold Ayurvedic detoxification procedures. The five Panchakarma treatments deeply purify the body and restore it to perfect harmony.
Vamana(Emetic therapy)
Virechana(Purgation therapy)
Vasthi (Eneme | Rectal Administration of Medications)
– > Niruha Vasthi( Decoction Enema)
– > Anuvasana Vasti (Oil Enema)
Rakthamoksham (Blood-letting treatment)
Nasya(Errhine therapy)
Vamana (Therapeutic Emesis or Vomiting)
Virechana (Purgation Therapy)
Vasthi (Eneme | Rectal Administration of Medications)
Vasti is the most important among Panchakarma due to its multiple effects. Pitta and Kapha are dependent on Vata as it governs their functions. Vasti is not only best for Vata disord- ers it also is equally effective in correcting the morbid Pitta, Kapha and Rakta.
Charaka has considered Vasti therapy as ARDH CHIKITSA (half of the treatment) of all the disease, while some authors consider it as the complete remedy for all the ailments.
In modern medicine, enema is mainly given to re- move the feces from the large intestine while in Ayurveda Vasti is given as a route of administration of the drugs for multiple actions, which acts locally on the large intestine as well as systematically on the body tissue.
The review of the studies done on Basti helped in concluding that Vasti is effective in treating the diseases of all Srotas and especially Vatavaha srotas.
While colon cleansing or hydrotherapy is popular nowadays, it’s important to know that Basti is different and much more specialized. It can’t be compared to these treatments.
During Basti, herbal decoctions and oils are introduced into the colon through the rectum. Unlike some treatments that target specific areas or symptoms, Basti is a specialized procedure aimed at achieving therapeutic goals by expelling body toxins and vitiated doshas by introducing medicated liquids or oils through anus, urethra or vaginal canal.
Here is a list of the most common vastis in Ayurveda along with their various benefits:
- > Snehavasthi (Herbal Oil Enema)
- > Kashayavasthi (Herbal Decoction Enema)
Rakthamoksham (Blood-letting treatment)
Nasyam
Paschata Karma (Post-Treatment)
Conclusion
Ayurveda recognizes the uniqueness of the individual and the role of dosha imbalances in disease formation. As panchakarma addresses these imbalances, there is no ‘one size fits all’ treatment. The therapies of panchakarma are customized for each patient, depending on their natural balance of doshas or Prakriti, their health status, age, gender, appetite, and strength, as well as the environment and season.
All the Panchakarma Procedures should only be done in observation of Specialized experts in Ayurvedic Hospital.
