PANCHAKARMA

Ayurveda is not just a healing system but a science that guides you with the art of living through overall wellness of the body. It describes the proper diet and living habits to be followed to prevent diseases from attacking the human body. According to Ayurveda every human being is established through 5 basic elements i.e aakash, vayu, agni, jala and prithvi. There are 3 governing doshas namely vata, pitta and kapha. Every individual has its own unique balance of the doshas.

Panchakarma is the part of Ayurveda that not only removes toxins from the body but also strengthens the immune system and balances the doshas. It is the most effective healing method in Ayurvedic Medicine. The therapy is recommended for maintaining mental and physical health. It is a time proven natural therapy for detoxification and restoring the health.

Panchakarma is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘five actions’. It is highly individualized and tailored according to the need, as it depends on the balance of doshas, age, digestive system and etc. Depending upon the need of the patient all or part of the five karmas are administered. The therapy eliminates excess doshas and corrects the balance of the doshas as it removes the toxins out of the body through the body channels.

The complete process of panchakarma consist of-
1) Poorva karma- snehana and swedana
2) Pradhan karma- it includes vamana, virechan, nasya, basti and raktamokshan, the five karmas i.e panchakarma.
3) Paschatkarma- it includes post therapy diet

POORVA KARMA

The main aim of snehana and swedana is to bring the vitiated doshas to an elimination form. It is used as an independent therapy and also as poorvakarma of the shodhan chikitsa.

SNEHANA

It is also known as oleation therapy. it is one of the procedure that is done before starting Panchakarma therapy. As mentioned in Charaka Samhita there are mainly 4 types of snehana dravya considered the best for snehan.

1) Ghee (ghrita)
2) Oil (taila)
3) Fat (vasa)
4) Bone marrow (majja)

Dadimadi ghrita, tila taila, bala taila, ashwagandha ghrita etc are some of the medicines used in snehana.

The method lubricates the whole body by applying medicated oil/ghee internally and externally. When the medicated oil/ghee is administered internally it is called snehapanam, it is very important procedure for Panchakarma.

CLASSIFICATION OF SNEHANA-

1) Internal oleation- 
It includes consumption of snehana dravya in a medicated or non-medicated form. It may or may not be mixed with other ayurvedic medicines or food items. The method lubricates the tissues and various parts of human body.

2) External oleation/massage/abhyanga
It includes head massage, body massage, gargle etc with medicated oil.

SWEDANA

It is also called steam therapy or therapeutic sudation, is the other procedure done before Panchakarma. The therapy improves blood circulation and eliminates the toxins through the skin pores from the body.

It is one of the best method that has been into practice since long back. It is used as a shaman chikitsa and also as poorvakarma before shodhan chikitsa. It can be done on a particular part of a body or the whole body. The method of administering swedana is not constant, it may change according to the need of the patient.

PRADHAN KARMA OR SHODHAN CHIKITSA

1) VAMANA

It is a controlled therapeutic vomiting. Vamana therapy is indicated in kapha doshas. When the dosha crosses a certain limit and is moved to other place, it need to be expelled from the body. Kapha resides in the chest region hence removing it through the oral route is easy.
HERBA USED AS VAMAK DRAVYA

Madana phala is the best vamak dravya. Other herbs used are nimba, kutaja, yashtimadhu, vacha etc.

Therapeutic emesis is of 2 types-

1) Gastric emesis- it stimulates the gastric mucosa and then vomiting center in the brain.
2) Central emesis- it stimulates medulla of the brain and then vomiting center in the brain.

Vomiting is coordinated by medulla oblongata in the brain and starts with lot of salivation and nausea.

BENEFITS OF VAMANA

The method expels the aggravated kapha dosha, improves digestion hence metabolism, restores normal health, enhances the function of sense organs, improves fertility and slows the ageing process.

HERBS USED AS VAMAK DRAVYA

Vamana therapy when aggravated kapha dosha causes disease or when dominant kapha dosha along with pitta dosha causes disease. The therapy has certain indications and contra indications.

INDICATIONS-

The therapy is indicated in diarrhea, dysentery, fever of recent origin, cough, cold, asthma, tumour, thyroid disorder, urinary tract disorder, anorexia, skin disease, respiratory disorder, indigestion, fibroid, goiter, filariasis etc.

CONTRAINDICATIONS-

Patients with kapha dosha below normal should not undergo vammana therapy. Pregnant women, without snehana karma, strong agni (digestive system), person who is hungry, in stress, children, old person, weak person, enlarged spleen, intestinal parasites, enlarged prostate and etc in such cases vamana karma must be avoided.

2) VIRECHAN

Virechan (purgation) is the second karma of panchakarma. It is one of the widely used therapy, especially in diseases caused due to aggravated pitta dosha. The pitta dosha is expelled forcibly through the anal route. The doshas are eliminated with less stress and complications compared to vamana karma. It may also be administered in vata-pitta or pitta-kapha doshas where pitta is dominant. The therapy involves following specific dietary regimen to reach the normal diet and complete the therapy.

HERBS USED AS VIRECHAK DRAVYA

Virechan drugs include milk, takra, gavakshi, vacha, punarnava, shala, panchmoola, saptala, haritaki, kashmarya, draksha, jyotishmati, vibhitaki, amalaki, abhaya etc.

Depending upon the medicine administered virechan is of 2 types-
1) Snigdha virechan- meaning of snigdha is oily. It is indicated where pitta is associated with vata dosha.
2) Rooksha virechan- it is indicated when pitta is associated with kapha dosha.

INDICATIONS

Virechan can be given gout, piles, constipation, jaundice, liver disease, splenomegaly, ascites, dysuria, pain in large intestine, disease of urogenital system in male and female, nasal bleeding etc.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Poor digestive system, diarrhea, dysentery, ulcer in the rectum, emaciated person, after excess oleation treatment, wounds etc are the cases where virechan is not indicated.

3) BASTI KARMA

In olden days the urinary bladder (basti) was used as equipment for enema. Thus the name for the procedure is given basti karma.

Basti is a special treatment in ayurvedic panchakarma. In this medicated ghee, oil, decoction etc are administered through rectal, urinary and vaginal route. It enhances immunity and promotes overall health of an individual. Vata dosha is responsible for all the diseases and basti karma is the treatment of choice for pacifying vata dosha. Hence it is described as ‘ardha chikitsa’ .

DEFINITION OF BASTI

वस्तिना दीयते इतिह वस्ति : | |

The administration of medicine using basti or vasti (urinary bladder) is called basti karma.

One or more of the herbal decoction, medicated oil-ghee etc, ksheera, mamsa rasa, rakta and other medicines in the form of liquid are used depending upon the condition of the diseased person.

HERBS USED FOR BASTI KARMA

Jeevaka, rishabhaka, jeevanti, guduchi, gokshura, bala, draksha, shatavari, shatpushpa, yashtimadhu, amalaki, brihati, dadima,pippali, vidanga, adraka, musta, nimbi, kutaja etc are used for basti karma.

BENEFITS OF BASTI KARMA-

1) Expels the morbid doshas.
2) Pacifies the aggravated doshas.
3) Acts as aphrodisiac for those with semen depletion.
4) Works for putting on weight and managing obesity.
5) Delays ageing and premature greying.
6) Provides proper nourishment and development of the body.
7) Enhances immunity
8) Promotes quality of life and enhances life span.

CLASSIFICATION OF BASTI KARMA

1) Based on the site of administration

Pakwashaya gata- it given through anal route into the large intestine
Garbhashayagata- through vaginal route
Mutrashayagata- through urethral route in men and women
Vranagata- directly to the ulcers and sinuses

2) Based on types of medicated liquid used

Niruha basti- the word ‘niruha’ means to eliminate. Since the basti eliminates the disease from the body, it is called niruha basti.

Anuvasana basti- it involves the use of medicated oil or ghee. Meaning of anuvasan is ‘to stay’ in the bladder without causing any problem. This is how it cures various diseases. The therapy can be taken on daily basis.

To know more about the basti karma and its indication and contraindication, consult ayurvedic doctor

3) NASYA KARMA

It is a part of panchakarma where the herbal oil or medicated liquid is administered through the nostrils. This therapy is highly effective in curing the disorders related to the head. It eliminates the toxins and opens the minute channels in the head and thus has a direct impact on brain. The therapy keeps the eyes, nose and ear healthy and improves its function.

HERBS USED FOR NASYA KARMA

Trikatu churna, vidanga churna, katphala churna, pippali churna, jatyadi taila, kumkumadi taila, padmakadi taila, vacha, anu taila etc are used in nasya karma.

BENEFITS OF NASYA KARMA

-Improves the growth and health of the hair.
-Enhances the function of sense organs and prevents diseases related to head.
-Delays ageing

TYPES OF NASYA KARMA-

Virechan nasya- dry powder in blown into the nostril with the help of a tube.
Bruhana nasya- ghee. Oil, salt, medicated milk etc are used.

Shaman nasya- or sedative nasya includes use of herbal medicated decoction, teas and medicated oils are used.

Navana nasya- decoctions and medicated oils are poured into the nostrils.

Marshya nasya- it includes use of ghee/oil. It is administered in a condition of uneasiness due to certain disease.

Pratimarshya nasya- the method includes dipping the clean little finger in ghee/oil and inserting into the each nostril. It lubricates the nasal passage and opens the deep nasal tissues and it also relieves stress.

INDICATION-

It is indicated in cataract, facial paralysis, dryness of nose, disease of the eyelids, hemi crania, migraine, sinusitis, tonsillitis, uvulitis, disease of mouth-nose-ear and head etc.

CONTRAINDICATIONS-

Indigestion, soon after consuming food, after alcohol consumption, tired person, just after head bath, unconscious person, excess anger, children, excess thirst, dyspnoea, person who has suppressed natural urges etc.

4) RAKTAMOKSHAN

‘Rakta’ means blood and ‘mokshan’ means leave. Thus the meaning of the word ‘raktamokshan’ is to let the blood out.
It is a blood cleansing and purification therapy. It is the most important process of eliminating toxins from the blood.

CLASSIFICATION OF RAKTAMOKSHAN

It is of the following two types-

1) Use of sharp instruments to let blood out. The blood pass out through incision or through ‘siravedha’ also known as venipuncture.

2) Use of no metallic instruments- it can be classified into 3 categories-
a) Leech therapy- done in patients with pitta dosha disorder.
b) Alabu (pitcher gourd)- done in kapha dosha disease.
c) Cow’s horn (shrungavacharana)- it is used in vata disorder.

Amongst all the above ‘siravedha’ is most commonly used for raktamokshan.

INDICATIONS-

It is indicated in skin disease, fibroid, tumor, gonorrhea, fibroid, elephantiasis, liver abscess etc.

CONTRAINDICATIONS-

Raktamokshan is contraindicated in anemia, ascites, hemorrhoids, physically weak person and in pregnancy.

Panchakarma therapy must begin with consultation from certified ayurvedic practitioner who can determine the constitutional type and nature of the health problems. The panchakarma therapy is gaining more and more importance but it can be very fatal if not performed by a qualified person.