Pancha Karma is the cornerstone to Ayurvedic management of disease. Pancha Karma is the process which gets to the root cause of the problem and corrects the essential balance of 'Tridosha' in body. Pancha Karma is not only good for alleviating disease but is also a useful tool in maintaining excellent health. Ayurveda advises undergoing Pancha Karma at the seasonal changes to clean the body, improve the digestion and to improve the metabolic processes.
Panchakarma is a Sanskrit word that means "five actions" or "five treatments".
This age-old science of purifying the body is an ancient branch of Ayurveda, The Treatment in Ayurveda consists of two main types.
One is Shaman Chikitsa, used to subdue the vitiated Doshas, due to which any ailments may be produced. It is administered by using various medicinal herbo-mineral preparations.
However, if the Doshas are vitiated beyond a particular level, they give rise to various endotoxins, which have a tendency to be accumulated in the minute channels. These are beyond the level of pacification and hence need to be eliminated or removed from the body. In such cases, the second type of treatment, which is Shodhan Chikitsa or cleansing therapy, is indicated. Since it consists of the five types of main therapies, it is known as the Panchakarma Chikitsa.
Panchakarma has been given a special place in all the ancient Ayurvedic texts. Aacharya Charak, the author of the most important
ancient text on internal medicine, has described a wide use of Panchakarma therapy for almost all the major diseases. Two separate sections, Kalpa Sthanam, and Siddhi Sthanam in Charak Samhita describe the details of special decoctions and other preparations used for Panchakarma therapy.
Panchakarma includes three parts namely:
Poorva Karma (Preparatory Methods)which includes :
- Paachan (Digestion)
- Snehan (Internal and external oleation)
- Swedan (Fomentation)
Pradhan Karma (Main methods)which includes :
- Vaman (Induced vomiting)
- Virechan (Induced purgation)
- Basti (Medicated enema)
- Nasya (Nasal medicine)
- Rakta Mokshan (Artificial bloodletting)
Pashchat Karma (Post-Therapeutic Measures)which includes :
. This includes Sansarjan Krama (Specific dietetics), DhumaPana (smoking of medicinal cigars) and some rules to follow specific activities.
Purvakarma: Pre-purification
Measures
Before the actual operation of purification begins,
there is a need to prepare the body in prescribed methods to encourage the
body to let go of the toxins. The two procedures are 'snehan' and 'swedan'.
Snehan is the oil massage. Oil is applied to the entire body with a
particular type of massage which helps the toxins to move towards the
gastro-intestinal tract. Oil massage also makes the superficial and deep
tissues soft and supple. Snehan is given daily for three to seven days, as
indicated. Swedan is sudation or sweating and is given every day
immediately following the snehan. An herbal concoction may be added to the
steam to further loosen the toxins from the individual. Swedan liquefies
the toxins and increases the movement of toxins into the gastro-intestinal
tract. After three to seven days of snehan and swedan, the doshas become
well "ripened". A particular panchakarma method is then given according to
the individual's constitution and disorder, prakruti and vikruti,
respectively.
Panchakarma
Five Basic Shodhans: Cleansing Methods
1) Vaman: therapeutic vomiting or emesis
2) Virechan
: purgation
3) Basti: enema
4) Nasya: elimination of toxins through
the nose
5) Rakta moksha: detoxification of the blood
Vaman: Emesis Therapy
When there is congestion in the lungs causing repeated attacks of
bronchitis, colds, cough or asthma, the Ayurvedic treatment is therapeutic
vomiting, vaman, to eliminate the kapha causing the excess mucus. First,
after the snehan and swedan, three to four glasses of licorice or salt
water is administered, then vomiting is stimulated by rubbing the tongue
which triggers the vomiting center through the gag reflex. One may
alternatively take two to three glasses of salt water which will also
aggravate kapha and then rub the tongue to induce vomiting. Once the mucus
is released the patient will feel instantly relieved. It is likely that
congestion, wheezing and breathlessness will disappear and that the
sinuses will become clear. Therapeutic vomiting is also indicated in
chronic asthma, diabetes, chronic cold, lymphatic congestion, chronic
indigestion and edema.
Emetic Substances:
madan-emetic nut,
madhuka-yastimadhu-licorice, neem-bitter leaf, bimbi, kutaj-kurchi-
conessi bark, murva-clematis, triloba-devdaru-deodar, Cedrus deodara,
Salt, NaCl, ela-cardamom, nux vomica.
Indications for Vaman:
used for all kapha type disorders good
for pitta headache, dizziness, and nausea will help to release blocked
emotions respiratory congestion bronchitis chronic cold sinus congestion
kaphagenic asthma
Contra-Indications for Vaman:
below the age of 12 or over age
65 menstruation pre-menstrual period (one week prior) pregnancy emaciation
delicate or sensitive person with too much fear, grief or anxiety
hypoglycemia vata prakruti vata diseases heart diseases during vata season
acute fever diarrhea obesity
Virechan: Purgation Therapy
When excess bile, pitta, is secreted and accumulated in the gall bladder, liver and
small intestine, it tends to result in rashes, skin inflammation, acne,
chronic attacks of fever, biliary vomiting, nausea and jaundice. Ayurvedic
literature suggests in these conditions the administration of therapeutic
purgation or a therapeutic laxative. Virechan is facilitated with senna
leaves, flax seeds, psyllium husks or triphala in a combination that is
appropriate for the individual person.
Virechan Substances:
Senna, prune, bran, flaxseed husk,
dandelion root, psyllium seed, cow's milk, salt, castor oil, raisins,
mango juice, triphala.
Indications for Virechan:
allergic rash skin inflammation
acne, dermatitis, eczema chronic fever ascites biliary vomiting jaundice
urinary disorder enlargement of the spleen internal worms burning
sensation in the eyes inflammation of the eyes conjunctivitis gout
Contra-Indications for Virechan:
low agni acute fever
diarrhea severe constipation bleeding from rectum or lung cavities foreign
body in the stomach after enema emaciation or weakness prolapsed rectum
alcoholism dehydration childhood old age ulcerative colitis
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