Fivefold Panchakarma – Detox
A Purifying Ceremony for the Body, Mind & Soul…
Ayurveda considers that the purification of the body is important before the commencement of any other therapy. Just such as old dirty linen is washed and purified before new colour can be added, similarly the body needs to be purified before replenishing it with the new colours of health, youthfulness, vigour and vitality.
Panchakarma allows one to reach the root cause of imbalance in the body and cleanse, repair and revitalise, thus restoring equilibrium.
The most classic type of Panchakarma (detox) involves fivefold cleansing methods which actually flush the toxins out of your body through one or more of the following methods.
Vamana Karma:
(Therapeutically induced vomiting)
It is a therapeutic vomiting technique to cleanse the excess kalphadosha accumulated in the stomach and the respiratory tract. It is also recommended for diseases arising from pitta for eg. Hyperacidity is best dealt with Vamana. The best season for doing this procedure is ‘ Spring’ or ‘Autumn’.
Duration: 10 days
Indications
- Bronchial asthma, chronic cough,sinusitis and related conditions of the respiratory system
- Kapha dominant skin diseases like leukoderma
- Chronic allergies
- Psoriasis, urticaria
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Thyroid disorders
- Fibroids
- Hyperacidity
- Indigestion
- Anorexia
- Epilepsy
- Acne and other skin diseases.
Virechana Karma:
(Therapeutically induced purgation)
This is a cleansing method to clean the lower digestive tract. It helps in elimination of excessive pitta doshaandimpurities (ama) from the pitta regions mainly the blood, liver, gall-bladder and small intestines.
Duration: 10 days
Indications
- Joint disorders like rheumatic arthritis, gout
- Gynaecological disorders
- Chronic fever
- Headaches
- Asthma
- Psoriasis, urticaria, eczema, acne and related skin problems
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Gastritis
- Constipation
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Spleen disorders
- Jaundice
- Gall stones
- Urinary tract disorders.
Basti karma:
(Medicated enema)
Vata’s predominant site is the colon. Ayurvedic Bastiinvolves the administration of medicated oils/herbal decoctions,oils, ghee or milk through rectum, urinary or vaginal route.This is a very powerful therapy and Ayurvedic texts state that over 50% of diseases can be resolved by this procedure alone. This is mostly to cleanse the intestines and to make the vata in balance.
Duration: 8-21 days
Indications
- Digestive issues
- Constipation
- Colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Kidney stones
- Backache
- Joint pains
- Rheumatic arthritis
- Gout
- Osteoporosis
- Sciatica
- Muscle spasms
- Muscular dystrophy
- Hemiplegia
- Paraplegia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Obesity
- PCOD
- Infertility
- Sexual debility.
Nasya:
(Therapeutic Nasal Medication)
The therapy cleanses and opens the channels of the head, thereby improving the process of oxygenation (prana), which has a direct influence on the functioning of brain.
Nasya is the prime treatment for kaphaaccumulated in the sinus, throat, head and nasal area. Medicinal herbs, decoction or oil is administered in the nostrils which helps to stimulate the secretion of mucus and thereby dissolve and loosen mucus lodged in the nasal and sinus passages.
Duration: 7 days
Indications
- All diseases of the nose and Para-nasal sinuses
- Sinusitis
- Headache
- Migraine
- Cervical spondolysis
- Bell’s palsy
- Epilepsy
- Paralysis
- Frozen shoulder
- Neck stiffness
- Pre-mature graying of hair
- Hair fall
- Nasal allergies
- Memory loss
- Stress
- Insomnia
Raktamokshana:
(Therapeutic Bloodletting)
Rakthamokshan or bloodletting is very effective in some diseases where blood impurities are the main reasons for the disease. Various methods are used for this purpose for e.g. using leech, by venesection, through shallow wounds etc. The appropriate method can be selected according to the disease either localized or generalized, dominance of vata, pitha and kapha etc.
Duration : 3, 5, 7 days
Indications
- Skin diseases like leukoderma, psoriasis, acne and urticaria
- Jaundice
- Herpes zoster
- Varicose veins
- Sciatica
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Migraine
- Disorders of liver and spleen
- In cases of stagnant blood causing local inflammation etc.
- Chronic non-healing wounds