Panchakarma Ayurveda Treatment Steps and Procedures

Ayurveda rightly emphasizes that health is not just the absence of disease but the state of balance in Dosha, Dhatu, Agni, and Malakriya. It also encompasses a content soul (Prasanna Atma), healthy sense organs (Indriya), and a peaceful mind (Manas).

The three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—represent the nervous system, metabolic system, and nutritive system, respectively, and maintain the body’s balance. When the balance between these doshas is disturbed, disease can occur. The main goal of Ayurvedic treatment is to restore the original equilibrium between the doshas. To achieve this, Ayurveda recommends specific regimens and treatments, such as Rasayana–Vajikarana and Panchakarma.

Panchakarma is a method of cleansing the body of all unwanted waste after lubricating it. The term “Panchakarma” means “five procedures,” as it involves five key treatments. Panchakarma is unique because it includes preventive, curative, and promotive actions for various diseases.

What is Panchakarma

Indian Ayurveda has provided the world with numerous benefits, transforming lives and helping people transition from a state of illness to one of perfect health. The significance of Ayurveda is immense, making it a leading practice among alternative forms of medicine. One of the most renowned branches of Ayurveda is Panchakarma.

Panchakarma, which literally means “Five Actions,” involves five fundamental procedures: Vomiting, Purgation, Niruham, Anuvaasan, and Nasyam. These five actions help regulate the body and are essential to many Ayurvedic practices. Panchakarma serves as a cornerstone of Ayurvedic healing techniques, working best when combined with medicines that help eliminate impurities from the body.

The Three Steps of Panchakarma

Panchakarma, a comprehensive Ayurvedic detoxification and rejuvenation therapy, typically comprises five distinct stages:

• Purvakarma (Preparatory Phase): This initial stage involves preparatory treatments aimed at preparing the body for the main detoxification process. Purvakarma includes practices such as Pachana (Digestion Therapy), Snehana (Oleation Therapy), and Swedana (Sudation Therapy), which help loosen toxins and doshas within the body.
• PradhanKarma (Main Action): Pradhan Karma is the core phase where the main detoxification procedures take place. Various therapies such as Vamana (Therapeutic Emesis), Virechana (Purgation Therapy), Basti (Enema Therapy), Nasya (Nasal Therapy), and Raktamokshana (Bloodletting Therapy) are administered based on the individual’s constitution and health condition to eliminate accumulated toxins and restore balance.
• PaschatKarma(Post-treatment Phase): Following the main detoxification procedures, Paschatkarma focuses on rejuvenating the body and restoring equilibrium. This phase includes dietary and lifestyle modifications, along with specific therapies to support the body’s healing process and prevent the recurrence of toxins.

Purvakarma: Preparing the Body

Purvakarma, originating from the Sanskrit words “Purva” meaning foremost and “Karma” meaning action, constitutes the initial phase preceding Panchakarma therapy, typically spanning three to seven days. During this stage, the body undergoes preparation for treatment by initiating the loosening of toxins and excess doshas.

The root cause of ailments is attributed to “ama,” or undigested toxins, which form within the system due to various external factors and subsequently disperse throughout the body. Purvakarma aims to channelize and gather these toxins, facilitating their efficient removal during the subsequent Pradhanakarma stage.

Integral techniques employed during Purvakarma, essential across the five stages of Panchakarma, include Pachana (digestion), Snehana (oleation), and Swedana (sudation). These practices play a crucial role in readying the body for detoxification and rejuvenation. Indeed, Panchakarma treatment is incomplete without the preceding Purvakarma phase.

• Pachana (digestion) :The primary cause of illnesses is attributed to “ama,” or undigested toxins. During the Pachana phase, the initial stage of Purvakarma, patients receive herbal mixtures aimed at aiding digestion. These formulations facilitate the expulsion of ama from the body, offering immediate relief from ailments.
• Snehana, also known as Oleation Therapy, holds significant importance in preparing the body for specialized Panchakarma treatment. This therapy involves the application of medicated oils, ghee, and herbs both internally and externally over a period of three to seven days. By loosening amam (toxins) and doshas within the body, Snehana plays a crucial role in facilitating their expulsion during the subsequent Pradhanakarma stage.

Two primary types of Snehana are employed: Bahya Snehana (External Oleation) and Abhyantara Snehana (Internal Oleation). Abhyantara Snehana involves the regular ingestion of special herbal preparations, while Bahya Snehana entails medicated oil massages administered to the affected areas and surrounding regions of the body. Both methods are aimed at gathering and channelizing toxins within the body, utilizing any suitable body cavity for introducing medicinal herbs into the system.

• Swedana, also known as Sudation Therapy, focuses on inducing sweat in the patient. This process aids in channelizing amam, or accumulated toxins within the body, to areas where they can be easily eliminated during the Pradhanakarma phase. Typically conducted as the final stage of Purvakarma, following Pachana (Digestion Therapy) and Snehana (Oleation Therapy), Swedana holds significance as an independent treatment as well.

This therapy serves as both a cleansing and stress-relieving technique, particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with conditions such as asthma, weight and digestion issues, and bodily inflammation.

Pradhanakarma: The Main Procedures

Pradhanakarma, meaning ‘Main Action’, follows the preparatory treatment phase of Purvakarma, during which toxins are eliminated, and the body undergoes healing.

Panchakarma therapies are meticulously scheduled in alignment with the individual’s inner doshas and environmental factors. Medications are introduced into the system at strategic points, tailored to optimize therapeutic effects. Thus, the initiation of Pradhanakarma occurs only when the timing is optimal for extracting the vitiated doshas. Throughout the treatment, patients are required to adhere to a prescribed diet regimen

Vamana: Therapeutic Vomiting

Ayurveda is a life science that emphasizes both preventive and curative aspects of an individual’s health. According to Ayurveda, being healthy means maintaining the equilibrium of doshas and dhatus in the body. It focuses primarily on healing by addressing the root cause of ailments. Here, we will discuss the concept of Vamana treatment in Ayurveda. One significant concept in Ayurveda is Panchakarma, a treatment that plays a crucial role in both curative and preventive actions.

Panchakarma, a vital part of Ayurveda, includes five major procedures designed to bring doshas and dhatus into equilibrium and correct an individual’s metabolism.

One of these procedures is “Vamana.” Vamana, or therapeutic vomiting, is a process where toxins are eliminated through the upper route. This purificatory or detoxifying therapy expels accumulated toxins through medicated emesis or vomiting.

Procedure of Vamana / How is Vamana Therapy Administered?

Vamana is administered in two ways: Sadyo Vamana, or instant therapeutic emesis, and Classical Vamana, or therapeutic emesis, depending on the condition’s severity and the patient’s needs.

Sadyo Vamana is a one-day procedure where the individual drinks medicated kashayams, milk, etc., to induce vomiting and expel doshas and toxins from the system.

Classical Vamana is a more elaborate process. Initially, medications are given to improve metabolism and facilitate the proper digestion of snehana dravyas.

The next stage involves administering medicated snehas in increasing dosages for internal oleation until specific signs of oleation are observed.

In the following phase, external oleation is performed through procedures like abhyanga (oil massage). A specific diet is also recommended during these procedures.

Vamana Treatment Diet

Before the day of Vamana treatment, certain foods that increase Kapha dosha, such as milk, urad dal, and sweets, are advised to enhance the treatment’s effectiveness.

On the day of Vamana, the procedure is conducted on an empty stomach in the morning, a time when Kapha dosha is predominant.

During the procedure, the individual drinks medicated kashayams, milk, and vamanopaga dravyas or emetic drugs under thorough monitoring to induce vomiting and expel doshas and toxins from the system.

Virechana: Purgation Therapy

Virechanam is a rigorous examination of spiritual emotions. Sodhana Virechana should be performed only after completing Snehasvedas, which are Purvakarmas. Early in the morning, on an empty stomach, the appropriate medicine should be administered as prescribed by the doctor, taking into account the symptoms and nature of the disease. After administering the medicine, the patient’s face can be washed with cold water.

Following the administration of the medicine, the patient should stay warm by drinking warm water frequently. If there is no proper bowel movement after 3-4 hours, the patient should drink hot water again and apply a hot water bottle or rubber bag to the stomach to induce sweating.

Basti: The Enema Therapy

SNEHA VASTI

Before doing Snehavati, the patient should bathe with oil in the morning and then have a light meal, which should be 1/4 of the usual amount. After some time, once they have had a bowel movement, they should lie down on their left side with the left leg extended and the right leg folded.

Next, the tip and the anus of the vasti instrument filled with the vasti mixture should be smeared with ointment. Expel any air trapped in the vasti instrument, and press the tip with a finger. The vasti instrument should be gently inserted into the anus parallel to the spine. Press the plastic bag with consistent force so the vasti mixture enters smoothly. Once most of the vasti mixture is administered, remove the vasti instrument, leaving a little of the mixture inside. Then, rub the body parts gently

KASHAYA VASTI

Kashayavasti differs from Sneha Vasti by using honey, then Indhuppu, oil, kalkam, and kashayam. These ingredients are mixed in a specific ratio to create the decoction. Around ten o’clock in the morning, you can start the Kashaya Vasti procedure.

First, add honey, then Indhuppu, oil, kalkam, and kashayam, mixing them with a fork. Once well mixed, strain the mixture using a sieve and transfer it to another vessel, which should be heated with hot water until it sizzles.

The procedure for Vasti is the same as for Sneha Vasti. Vasti should be done neither too quickly nor too slowly, and not too much or too little. Avoid any discomfort mentioned in Sneha Vasti when performing Kashayavasti.

After Vasti, the patient should lie down and have a bowel movement as soon as possible. Once the bowel is clear, the patient should take a bath and eat light food.

Nasya: Nasal Administration

After performing Malamutradi Vega, have the patient sit on a chair and lay back. Thoroughly sweat the patient’s neck using a towel soaked in hot water. Once sweating is complete, lay the patient flat on a bed with legs straight, slightly elevated, and the head slightly lowered. Proceed to Gokarna (using clean cotton or a piece of medicine as prescribed by the doctor). If ghritam is used for nasyakarma, melt it in warm water.

Hold the patient’s mouth slightly open to inhale the ointment, and pour the required amount of medicine into the nose in a stream. First, close the left nostril and drop half of the medicine into the right nostril, then close the right nostril and drop the remaining medicine into the left nostril. Rub the patient’s forehead, inner hands, inner feet, and conjunctiva. While lying down, have the patient expel phlegm by turning first to the left and then to the right. Provide a vessel for this purpose.

After clearing the phlegm from the mouth, the patient should lie down for about a minute, then get up, wipe the phlegm from the forehead, and rub Rasnadi Churnam. Gargle with warm water to clear the throat, and then smoke. This can be done by adding turmeric and ghee to a cloth, twisting it and burning it, or by using camphor radi.

Post-Panchakarma: Recovery and Rejuvenation

Post-Panchakarma is not just about recovery; it is an opportunity to embrace a rejuvenated state of being. This phase can set the stage for long-term health and wellness by embedding new, healthy habits into daily life.

Dheemahi Ayurveda: Choosing the Right Panchakarma Treatment

Panchakarma treatments in Ayurveda are like a thorough cleansing for both your body and mind. They help get rid of toxins and stress that build up from daily life, making you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Whether you’re dealing with health problems or just want to boost your overall well-being, these treatments can be beneficial. They work for all kinds of health issues, whether long-lasting or starting. Lots of people with different health problems have found relief through these detox therapies in Ayurveda.

At Dheemahi Ayurveda, we’ve been mastering personalised Panchakarma treatments for five generations. Our experienced doctors create custom treatments after a detailed consultation and analysis of your body type. Our Panchakarma therapies cover everything from dietary advice and herbal recommendations to massages, lifestyle tips, and meditation guidance. Qualified and well-trained healthcare professionals administer these treatments under the supervision of our Ayurvedic physicians.