Panchakarma Treatments are the primary therapeutic, purification, detoxification and rejuvenation treatments in Ayurveda. ‘Panchakarma’ means five essential therapeutic treatments which include vamana(Induced vomiting through the oral administration of medicines), virechana(Induced purgation through the oral administration of medicines), snehavasti (ano-rectal administration of medicated oils), kashayavasti (ano-rectal administration of medicinal herbal extracts)and nasya (nasal administration of medicated oils/ medicinal herbal extracts).
After applying the medicated oil over the whole body or any specific part, the medicinal rice (Njavarayari) and the root of Sida retusa extract are processed with milk and to be made in the form of paste and apply over the whole body or any specific part along with massage. This is done for 60 to 90 minutes daily for 07 to 14 days. This treatment renders strengths to nerves and muscles and purifies blood and is beneficial for all types of rheumatism, joint pain, emaciation of limbs, high blood pressure, cholesterol, paralysis, sciatica, and certain kinds of skin diseases and it improves general body weakness, the skin colour and complexion.
This is a therapeutic process in which lukewarm medicated oil is poured all over the body in a uniform rhythmic way continuously in specific direction along with simultaneous gentle massages for 60 to 90 minutes daily for 07 to 21 days. This treatment is effective for rheumatic diseases like arthritis, paralysis, weakness of muscular and nervous systems and sexual weakness.
Medicated lukewarm oil is allowed to retain over the head for about an hour within a leather cap fitted around the head. This treatment is very effective in facial paralysis, cataract, deafness, earache, chronic headache, insomnia, psychosomatic stress and other diseases that afflict the cranial nerves. It stimulates the nervous system and promotes mental concentration.
Sirodhara" literally means continuous flow (dhara) on the head (sira). Just as the root forms the base of a plant so also in Ayurveda the head is considered the root of the body. Therefore, Sirodhara is of utmost importance in ayurvedic treatment. Medicated oil, medicated butter milk ,herbal extract etc; is allowed to flow as a continuous stream over the upper part of the forehead along with gentle massage over the scalp thus stimulating the pineal gland in the brain which produces serotonin and melatonin.