Panchakarma is a retreat program for the body, mind, and spirituality, that cleanses and rejuvenates. Anxiety,environmental impurities, and poor lifestyle make a heavy load on the body and mind.This keeps us stressed without reason. Panchakarma reverses this degeneration to give a long-lasting restoration. Panchakarma uses a variety of massage, steam and oil treatments, superior quality foods and nutritional directives, and fasting to free the body from accumulated toxins Every human is an individual phenomenon embodied through the five basic elements of Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. The blend of these elements is three doshas or Tridosha, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and their balance is unique to each person. When this Dosha balance is troubled it creates disorder in the body or mind resulting in diseases. Treatment begins with pre-purification actions and then cleansing processes are offered, and later as a last step restorative therapy is also provided.
Five Major Panchakarma Therapies
1.Vaman In this restorative treatment of Panchakarma, a patient is given inside and outside Oleation and Fomentation treatmentsfor a few days which include therapies and some ayurvedic medicines.Once the toxins get softened and collected in the upper cavities of the body, the patient is given emetic medications and decoction. This facilitates vomiting and helps in disposing of toxins from the body tissues. Vaman treatment is especially recommended for Kapha-dominatedconditions or people, such as weight gain, hyperacidity, and asthma.
2.Virechan In Virechan, purgation or removal of toxins occurs through the clearing of the bowels. In this case also, the patient is given Oleation and Fomentation therapies inside and outside. From here onward, the patient is given a natural purgative to stimulate the removal of the guts that aid in cleansing the body of toxins. Virechan treatment is given mainly for pitta-dominated disorders, such as jaundice, herpes zoster, colitis, celiac infection, etc.
3.Basti This kind of therapy has huge advantages, especially in complicated and chronic diseases. According to the nature of the disease, the patient will be given homegrown decoctions, oils, ghee, or milk that are managed into the rectum and this will have excellent positive effects. This treatment is suitable for Vata-dominated conditions, for instance, piles, arthritis, and constipation. Managing medicated substances through enemas is Ayurveda's remarkable contribution to the therapeutic world.
4.Nasya This type of therapy is done to clear and purify the head area. At the commencement of the treatment, the head and shoulder areas are given a light massage and fomentation. After that, nasal drops are regulated into both nostrils. This executes the cleaning of the whole head area and reduces different sorts of cerebral discomfort, headache, hair problems, sleep disruption, neurological conditions, sinusitis, prolonged rhinitis, and respiratory diseases.
5.Raktamokshan This panchakarma therapy is useful for cleaning the blood and good against ailments caused because of unclean blood. It can be performed in a particular area or for the whole body. This therapy is mainly useful in different skin infections, for example, abscesses, pigmentation, psoriasis, dermatitis, and more.
Three Stages of PanchakarmaPurvakarma Purvakarma means the first action. It is the first set of therapy that are taken ahead of the main treatment of Panchakarma, and it lasts up to seven days. At this stage, the body is trained for treatment by relieving toxins and extra doshas. The cause of diseases in ayurveda is believed to be toxins, that get formed in the system due to many factors and get dispersed to different parts of the body. Through Purvakarma these toxins are directed towards a part and collected for easy removal at the Pradhanakarma stage. The Purvakarma procedures regularly used are Pachana (digestion), Snehana (Oelation), and Swedana (sudation). They train the body for detoxification and rejuvenation. Panchakarma treatment is inconceivable without Purvakarma.
PradhanakarmaPradhanakarma or 'Main Action', is the stage after Purvakarma which is a preparatory therapy during which the toxins are cleansed, and the body is recovered. Panchakarma therapies are always scheduled one after the other in order. Depending on the inner doshas and environmental aspects medicines are introduced into the body at specific times to maximize the advantages. Therefore, Pradhanakarma is initiated only when the time is right to extract the loosened doshas. The patient must follow a characteristic diet for the entire duration of treatment. Pradhanakarma is continued until the toxins are expelled from the body. Certain techniques need medicines to stay in the system for a longer period to restore the system. Paschatkarma, or post-treatment care, is initiated after Pradhanakarma, after observing the state of the patient.
PaschathkarmaPaschathkarma is a part of Pancha karma and is known as the concluding phase or the follow-up therapy. This therapy is useful to re-furbish the digestive enzymes and renewal of the tissues of the body that are detoxified. In Paschatkarma, a diet plan will be suggested to patients like in the other two stages. Diet can vary according to the days and other medical intricacies of different patients and this process is called Samsarjan. This treatment process is followed only after pradhan karma where the patient experiences a fortified immune system, boosted energy level, and improved positivity.