Additional Information
Purva Karma
Purva karma (or poorva karma or pre-karma) refers to the preparation of body for Ayurvedic panchakarma therapy. There are two different methods in purvakarma – snehan and swedan.Purva karma is necessary for the body to achieve the complete benefits ofpanchakarma. Purvakarma can complete in one day or over many days.
Snehan — is oil therapy or olation therapy. It has two different parts.
The first part includes taking medicated ghee (ghruta) or medicatededible oil. It reduces the dryness of the body and open the srotas (channels) of body by working on all the dhatus of sapta dhatu.This is important to drive the ama and mala out of the body withpanchakarma. This step frees, and mobilizes the waste matters accumulated over different parts of the body. This step adds to theefficiency of panchakarma.A poorly administered purvakarma canhinder the effectiveness of panchakarma therapy.The second part includes medicated oil massages. The skin absorbs the medicinal parts of the oils to the blood.
Swedan is given after snehan. It includes steam bathing or heating the body to facilitate sweating. There can be different types of fomentation, like heating the specific area or whole body below neck according to the specific requirements.The choice of snehan and swedan depends on the specific conditions of the patient and his/her requirements.
Vamana Karma
In the night before vaman, Snehan (oil massage) and Swedan (fomentation) is given to the person. The man is given three-four glassed of salt water. Rubbing the base of tongue also stimulatevomiting.
Gag reflex at work here. Other substances that can inducevomiting are vep (neem) leaves, cedrus deodar, etc.Many times you can see released of suppressed emotions that were forcefully held back. The person feels relieved after vomiting, because of the expelling of excess kapha that accumulated in the body as mucus.
The person also shall take certain medication two-three days before vaman, until the stool becomes loose, or until he feels overly nauseated. The main aim for the purvakarma is to aggravate kapha, hence the proposal of kaphagenic food. Vaman is also given in the kapha muhurtha or kapha time, which is early in the morning.
Vaman is administered for all disorders associated with Kapha.Dizziness, headache, nausea, are also treated with vaman therapy. Administered carefully, vaman is the best treatment for all respiratory problems. Only an experienced Ayurvedic practitionercan recommend the type of vaman karma of panchakarma to a person.
The person will feel instant relief from chest congestion, and will be able to breathe freely. After vaman, the person has to observe fast until evening, when he is given boiled rice with ghee. Honey, lime tea, etc are also given in small quantities.After vaman, the person shall not suppress any natural urges – likeurination, defecation, sneezing, belching, etc.
Vaman is not for everyone. Children below age 12 and persons aged 65 or more are not fit for this kind of therapy. Persons with anxiety, fear, grief, etc too are not fit. Persons with vata diseases are also not given vaman therapy. Diarrhea, heart diseases, obesity, etc too prevent the physician from administering vaman.
Virechan
The person is given snehan (oil massage) and/or swedan (fomentation) early in the morning before virechan. The person shall not eat any food that can aggravate pitta. The person is given lot of coconut water in the daytime.
There is a range of purgatives, and the effectiveness varies from mild to strong. Warm milk, raising, mango juice etc are mild purgatives. Prune flax, dandelion root etc are moderate purgatives. It can be made powerful by a heavy dose. Senna leaves, prune, bran, flax seed, root of dandelion, milk with ghee, castor oil, ginger, triphala, etc can act as virechan substances. The physician chooses a combination based on the physical conditions of the person.
Virechan is given at the bed time and the results will be visible the next day in the form of loose motion one or two times. There is however nothing to worry about loose bowels, as it is part of the cleaning procedure to expel excess pitta from the system. Persons suffering from dehydration due to diarrhea or vomiting, fever, etc shall not take this therapy. The success of virechan also shows more positive mental conditioning. Positive thoughts and will feel light and confident.
Basti
Basti or Vasti is the third karma of Panchakarma. It is administeredto lower conditions occurred due to the aggravation of vata or vata dosha. Basti or enema therapy involves introduction of medicated oils or medicinal preparation to the rectum. Basti is administered for almost all kinds of vata disorders. It is also used to treat constipation, chest pain, back ache, arthritis, sexual disorders, muscle cramps, headaches, etc
Basti is further divided into eight types, they are: Anuvasana (oil enema) used to treat pure vata disorders.Niruha Ashthapana (decoction enema) is used to address conditions like nervous diseases, fever, certain urinary problems, acidity, etc. Uttara Basti (basti through the upper side or sexual organs) is to treat sexual disorders. Semen, ovulation disorders are treated. This therapy is not for persons with diabetes. Matra Basti (daily oil enema) is for persons continuing too much physical exertion like walking too much, lifting heavy objects, indulgence in sexual activities, and for persons with chronic vata aggravation related disorders. It gives the person strength and helps in elimination of waste products quickly.
Karma Basti is a schedule of 30 basis. Kala Basti – 15 bastis; 10 oil bastis and 5 decoction bastis Yoga Basti – schedule of 8 bastis; 5 oil and 3 decoction. Enema is administered in both kalabasti and yogabasti as a combination of both oil enema and decoction.Bruhana Basti (nurtritional enema) is for nourishment to body. Highly nutritive substances like bone marrow soup, shatavari, ashwagandha etc are used. Oil enema is not directed for persons with diabetes, obesity, digestion problems, cough, etc. Nutritional enemas are not persons with diabetes, obesity and lymphatic obstruction.
Nasya
Nasya or nasal administration of medicines is an important treatment in panchakarma method of Ayurvedic treatment. According to Ayurveda concepts, nose is the doorway to brain and consciousness.
According to yoga and Ayurveda, Prana, the life force enters our system through our nose. The doshas of the body accumulated in sinus, throat, nose or head can block the movement of prana. Nasya therapy is a method of eliminating the accumulation of such doshas from sensitive areas. Prana is responsible for healthy functioning ofnervous system, memory, and intellectual qualities of humans.
Nasya also address problems like sinus congestion, migraine, certain eye and ear problems, etc. Improvement of breathing is another application of nasya.
There are six main types of nasya, they are: Pradhama or virechan nasya characterized by blowing of dry powders to the nose. Headaches, heaviness in head, cold, sinusitis, epilepsy, drowsiness, etc are the conditions that attract the use of prahamana nasya. It also will eliminate negative emotions like greediness.
Bruhana Nasya (nutrition nasya) involves the use of nutritional ghee, oils, salts, shatavari extracts, ashwagandha, milk, etc. It is to normalize vata imbalances like headaches, nervousness, fear, dizziness, negative emotions, dry sinus, etc.
Shaman Nasya (sedative nasya) is for pitta dosha disorders.Navana Nasya (decoction nasya) is used for problems associated with vata-pitta or kapha-pitta combination disorders. Medicated oils are applied to the nostrils.Prati Marshya (daily oil nasya) – dip the clean little finger in medicated oil or ghee and insert into each nostril to lubricate the nasal passage. Care should be taken not to harm the sensitive lining tissue.
Rakthamokshana
Rakthamoksha or blood letting is the last, but most complex form of body purification therapies in Ayurvedic panchakarma. Toxins from the gastro-intestinal track accumulate in the blood and reach every tissue and cell of the body. This toxins cause different problems like infections, skin diseases, and diseases that affect heart, liver, spleen, etc.
Excess pitta can be transferred to raktha (blood). Pitta is originally produced from the red blood cells disintegrated at the liver. Thus pitta and rakta are closely
related. Excess pitta converts to toxins of the blood.
Blood letting automatically stops after some time. It is as if the body knows how much blood it needs to throw out to attain swastya or healthy condition.
Conditions like acne, rashes, eczema, chronic itching, enlarged liver or spleen etc are the conditions for which blood letting is advocated. Persons with anemia, edema, body weakness, etc are not advised to take rakta moksha. Children, elderly people, pregnant woman, etc are also not allowed to take this
therapy.