Panchakarma- The detoxification therapy in Ayurveda ( part – 1)
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Dr.Savitha Suri
Apr 29, 2008, 3:37:46 AM4/29/08
to Ayurveda-e-ayurhelp
According to ayurvedic texts our body is crisscrossed by srotas or
channels or tube like structures. This net work contains both
microscopic and macroscopic channels. ( Digestive system, nervous
system , circulatory system etc are few examples of these channels).
Innumerable physiological process like breathing, blood circulation,
fsecretions of enzymes, hormones etc , flow of signals, supply of
nutrients, filtration of toxins , excretion of waste etc are aided by
these tubular structures.
Diseases occur when toxins get accumulated in body and clog these
channels. Unhealthy diet, lifestyle, stress, changes in environment
etc lead to accumulation of toxins in body. These accumulated toxins
have to be expelled out in order to keep our body healthy. Through
panchakarma therapy these toxic clogs are removed to normalize the
physiological process. Hence panchakarma therapy is called as
detoxification therapy. Panchakarma therapy can be administered to a
normal person to prevent diseases and keep his body healthy. The ideal
season to expel toxins through this therapy, is rainy season.
Panchakarma therapy is also used as a purifactory therapy to cleanse
the body before starting a treatment. A diseased body can be compared
to a soiled cloth which can not be colored as we desire. Hence to
attain the maximum benefits , the body has to be purified or cleaned
before starting the treatment. The cleared channels help medicines to
penetrate the deeper tissues.
The detoxification process contains three steps
1. Purvakarma - Preparations which have to be done before the
detoxification
2. Pradhanakarma – The main detoxifying process
3. Pashchat karma – Rehabilitating the diet and lifestyle after the
detoxification process.
Purvakarma : These steps are adopted to soften the channels and
toxins, so that the toxins can get detached and eliminated easily
during main detoxifying process. The hard toxic clogs are made to get
loosened by increasing body fire or agni. Medicines are administered
internally for this purpose. This process is called as “deepana and
pachana” in ayurveda. ( the duration of this process is 3-5 days
depending on the conditions and diseases)
Later whole body is oleated internally and externally with medicated
oil or ghee. This process is called as “Snehana” .
Internal oleation is done by administering small quantities of
medicated oil or ghee internally. The duration of internal oleation ,
quantity and type of medicated oil or ghee is determined by the
physician after analyzing the body constitution of the patient. The
patient has to eat liquid food or light food on the day prior to
internal oleation. After consuming the medicated oil or ghee the
patient is encouraged to sip warm water frequently. When medicated oil
or ghee is completely digested, the patient is advised to consume
light food.
External oleation is done after the completion of internal oleation..
The whole body or body part is massaged with medicated oil. Few types
of external oleation are used as treatment methods. They are
1. Abhyanga ; Massaging whole body
2. Lepa – Smearing medicated oil and herbs
3. Mardana – Kneading the body parts with fingers and fists.
4. Padaghata – Tampling the body with foot.
5. Gandusha - The mouth is filled with oil and is retained for a
longer period of time.
6. Parisheka (Pizhichil ) - The warm medicated oil is poured
continuously over the entire body for an extended period of time.
Soon after oil massage the body or body part is exposed to heat
through steam bath or other heating methods according to the
physician’s choice. This process of exposing body to heat is called as
swedana or sweating. Both snehana and swedana help to soften the
channels and toxin clogs. Elimination of toxins becomes easy when
channels are soft and toxins are loose.
Pradhana Karma : This is the main detoxifying process. The softened
and loosened toxins are expelled from body by five methods.
Considering these five major detoxifying methods the whole process is
named as “Panchakarma” (Pancha = 5, Karma = process ) .
1. Vamana (through Emesis),
2. Virechana (Purgation),
3. Niruha basthi Basthi (enema with herbal concoctions ),
4. Anuvasana basthi (enema with medicated oil)
5. Nasya (nasal drops) and Raktamokshana (Blood letting).
(These processes will be explained in detail in next issue ).
Physician can chose any of these detoxifying methods according to
disease and prevalence of doshas.
Paschat Karma: A strict diet and lifestyle procedure has to be
followed through out Panchakarma treatment. The rehabilitative
procedures to bring back the diet and lifestyle to normal are
considered as “paschat Karma”. In this stage the digestion power is
brought back to normalcy. Medicines are administered to rejuvenate the
body or to treat the disease.
During panchakarma treatment the following rules have to be strictly
followed.
1. One has to use only warm water to drink, bathe and for other
activities.
2. Person who is undergoing panchakarma therapy can not indulge in
sex.
3. Sleeping in daytime is contraindicated.
4. Natural urges should not be controlled.
5. Exposures to extreme temperatures or weather conditions have to be
avoided.
6. Keeping awake at night is not advisable
7. Foods which cause indigestion can not be consumed.
8. Exercise and mental stress have to be avoided.
The Panchakarma therapy is not advisable for persons in whom the
following conditions exist.
• Menses
• Lactation
• Cancer of the Lungs or Testicles
• Melanoma
• HIV or AIDS
• Extreme Obesity
• Lympho-Sarcoma
• Hypertension
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Emaciation
• Any Active Infectious Disease
• Pregnancy
• Angina Pectoris
The benefits of Panchakarma are as follows
• Toxins are eliminated from body .
• Doshas get Balanced.
• Stress is reduced and body gets relaxed.
• Slows ageing process and increases the lifespan.
• Increases glow and luster of skin.
• Boosts body immunity and body energy level.
• Enhances strength, energy, vitality and mental clarity
• Reduces dependence on alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Help to implement healthy diet and lifestyle.
This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an
Ayurvedic Physician and web master of http://www.ayurhelp.com Read
more about benefits of panchakarma at http://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/panchakarma.htm
http://www.ayurhelp.com/
http://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/massagetherapy.htm
http://www.ayurhelp.com/obesity/obesity.htm
http://www.ayurhelp.com/Normal_skin.htm
channels or tube like structures. This net work contains both
microscopic and macroscopic channels. ( Digestive system, nervous
system , circulatory system etc are few examples of these channels).
Innumerable physiological process like breathing, blood circulation,
fsecretions of enzymes, hormones etc , flow of signals, supply of
nutrients, filtration of toxins , excretion of waste etc are aided by
these tubular structures.
Diseases occur when toxins get accumulated in body and clog these
channels. Unhealthy diet, lifestyle, stress, changes in environment
etc lead to accumulation of toxins in body. These accumulated toxins
have to be expelled out in order to keep our body healthy. Through
panchakarma therapy these toxic clogs are removed to normalize the
physiological process. Hence panchakarma therapy is called as
detoxification therapy. Panchakarma therapy can be administered to a
normal person to prevent diseases and keep his body healthy. The ideal
season to expel toxins through this therapy, is rainy season.
Panchakarma therapy is also used as a purifactory therapy to cleanse
the body before starting a treatment. A diseased body can be compared
to a soiled cloth which can not be colored as we desire. Hence to
attain the maximum benefits , the body has to be purified or cleaned
before starting the treatment. The cleared channels help medicines to
penetrate the deeper tissues.
The detoxification process contains three steps
1. Purvakarma - Preparations which have to be done before the
detoxification
2. Pradhanakarma – The main detoxifying process
3. Pashchat karma – Rehabilitating the diet and lifestyle after the
detoxification process.
Purvakarma : These steps are adopted to soften the channels and
toxins, so that the toxins can get detached and eliminated easily
during main detoxifying process. The hard toxic clogs are made to get
loosened by increasing body fire or agni. Medicines are administered
internally for this purpose. This process is called as “deepana and
pachana” in ayurveda. ( the duration of this process is 3-5 days
depending on the conditions and diseases)
Later whole body is oleated internally and externally with medicated
oil or ghee. This process is called as “Snehana” .
Internal oleation is done by administering small quantities of
medicated oil or ghee internally. The duration of internal oleation ,
quantity and type of medicated oil or ghee is determined by the
physician after analyzing the body constitution of the patient. The
patient has to eat liquid food or light food on the day prior to
internal oleation. After consuming the medicated oil or ghee the
patient is encouraged to sip warm water frequently. When medicated oil
or ghee is completely digested, the patient is advised to consume
light food.
External oleation is done after the completion of internal oleation..
The whole body or body part is massaged with medicated oil. Few types
of external oleation are used as treatment methods. They are
1. Abhyanga ; Massaging whole body
2. Lepa – Smearing medicated oil and herbs
3. Mardana – Kneading the body parts with fingers and fists.
4. Padaghata – Tampling the body with foot.
5. Gandusha - The mouth is filled with oil and is retained for a
longer period of time.
6. Parisheka (Pizhichil ) - The warm medicated oil is poured
continuously over the entire body for an extended period of time.
Soon after oil massage the body or body part is exposed to heat
through steam bath or other heating methods according to the
physician’s choice. This process of exposing body to heat is called as
swedana or sweating. Both snehana and swedana help to soften the
channels and toxin clogs. Elimination of toxins becomes easy when
channels are soft and toxins are loose.
Pradhana Karma : This is the main detoxifying process. The softened
and loosened toxins are expelled from body by five methods.
Considering these five major detoxifying methods the whole process is
named as “Panchakarma” (Pancha = 5, Karma = process ) .
1. Vamana (through Emesis),
2. Virechana (Purgation),
3. Niruha basthi Basthi (enema with herbal concoctions ),
4. Anuvasana basthi (enema with medicated oil)
5. Nasya (nasal drops) and Raktamokshana (Blood letting).
(These processes will be explained in detail in next issue ).
Physician can chose any of these detoxifying methods according to
disease and prevalence of doshas.
Paschat Karma: A strict diet and lifestyle procedure has to be
followed through out Panchakarma treatment. The rehabilitative
procedures to bring back the diet and lifestyle to normal are
considered as “paschat Karma”. In this stage the digestion power is
brought back to normalcy. Medicines are administered to rejuvenate the
body or to treat the disease.
During panchakarma treatment the following rules have to be strictly
followed.
1. One has to use only warm water to drink, bathe and for other
activities.
2. Person who is undergoing panchakarma therapy can not indulge in
sex.
3. Sleeping in daytime is contraindicated.
4. Natural urges should not be controlled.
5. Exposures to extreme temperatures or weather conditions have to be
avoided.
6. Keeping awake at night is not advisable
7. Foods which cause indigestion can not be consumed.
8. Exercise and mental stress have to be avoided.
The Panchakarma therapy is not advisable for persons in whom the
following conditions exist.
• Menses
• Lactation
• Cancer of the Lungs or Testicles
• Melanoma
• HIV or AIDS
• Extreme Obesity
• Lympho-Sarcoma
• Hypertension
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Emaciation
• Any Active Infectious Disease
• Pregnancy
• Angina Pectoris
The benefits of Panchakarma are as follows
• Toxins are eliminated from body .
• Doshas get Balanced.
• Stress is reduced and body gets relaxed.
• Slows ageing process and increases the lifespan.
• Increases glow and luster of skin.
• Boosts body immunity and body energy level.
• Enhances strength, energy, vitality and mental clarity
• Reduces dependence on alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Help to implement healthy diet and lifestyle.
This article is copy righted. The author Dr.SavithaSuri is an
Ayurvedic Physician and web master of http://www.ayurhelp.com Read
more about benefits of panchakarma at http://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/panchakarma.htm
http://www.ayurhelp.com/
http://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/massagetherapy.htm
http://www.ayurhelp.com/obesity/obesity.htm
http://www.ayurhelp.com/Normal_skin.htm
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