Panchakarma in Ayurveda: According to Ayurveda, our natural state is one of health, happiness and an inner sense of well-being. Health is defined as the body being clear of toxins, the mind is at peace, emotions are calm and happy, wastes are efficiently eliminated and organs are functioning normally. In a busy, stressful and toxic world, our physical and mental systems accumulate toxins causing deterioration in bodily functioning.
This eventually weakens our systems, which opens the door for chronic, degenerative, and non-specific diseases to develop. These can evolve into serious specific diseases, ultimately damaging an individual’s health and wellness. Panchakarma can help by reversing these negative effects of daily living. It can restore your natural state of health and wellness by cleansing your body of toxins, bringing balance into your system and improving bodily function. It can also help you sustain this process by making positive changes in lifestyle. The Panchakarma therapeutic process appears quite simple in its application. However, its effects are powerful and effective. Panchakarma is a unique, natural, holistic, health-giving series of therapeutic treatments that cleanse the body’s deep tissues of toxins, open the subtle channels, bring life-enhancing energy thereby increasing vitality, inner peace, confidence and well-being.
Pancha Karma is the cornerstone to Ayurvedic management of disease. Pancha Karma is the process which gets to the root cause of the problem and corrects the essential balance of 'Tridosha' in body. Pancha Karma is not only good for alleviating disease but is also a useful tool in maintaining excellent health. Ayurveda advises undergoing Panchakarma at the seasonal changes to clean the body, improve the digestion and to improve the metabolic processes.
Kerala possesses an unbroken tradition of Ayurveda that has surpassed the many invasions and intrusions both foreign and native. For hundreds of years the Ayurveda Vaidyas (traditional practitioners of Ayurveda) were almost the only access for people seeking healing from every kind of disease in Kerala. The legendary eight families of Vaidyas (Ashta vaidyas) and their successors treated the entire state for centuries. Unlike the other Indian states the status of Ayurveda in Kerala is not alternative but mainstream. In fact, today, Kerala is the only State in India which practices this system of medicine with absolute dedication.
Abhyangam (Body Massage): This is a whole body massage with warm medicated oil. The oil is chosen as per the body condition of the patient. The massage starts with head, upper potion of the body, lower portion, both sides, reverse and back to original position. The oils is used liberally all over the body. This is a deep massage and its benefits include relaxation, detoxification of the tissues, improved blood circulation, stimulation of nervous system and muscle tone.
This is a form of treatment for various age related and other common disorders. Some of the advantages are pain relief, improved circulation, stress relief, better sleep, flexibility, athletic performance and emotional benefits. Massage therapy can soothe pain, relax stiff muscles, and reduce the swelling that accompanies arthritis. With Ayurvedic massage, deep-seated toxins in the joints and tissues are loosened and released into the system for elimination through natural toxin-release processes.
Shirodhara: Shirodhara treatment is a specialty of Kerala Ayurveda. In this treatment, a continous stream of medicated oil or certain other lquid herbal preparations will be made to fall on the head and forehead of the patient who will lying on the pathi (massage table). The effect of this treatment is so great that it spplies more oxyen to the brain and rejuvenates all the sense organs. It is for people with nervous disorders, migraine, stress etc.Shirodhara has been used to treat a variety of conditions including eye diseases, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis,greying of hair, neurological disorders, memory loss, insomnia, hearing impairment, tinnitus, vertigo, and certain types of skin diseases like psoriasis. It is also used non-medicinally for its relaxing properties. Recent research studies has shown that Shiro Dhara results in Vaso Dilation (dilation of blood vessels) in the brain enabling
Kati-Vasti (Back Pain & Sciatica Treatment): This treatment is is done with selected herbal leaves prepared in small linen bags and then warmed in Ayurvedic medicated oils and applied to the body inducing profuse perspiration leading to relief from neurological disorders, rheumatic conditions and sports injuries. Udwartana (Weight Loss Treatment): This is the treatment recommended for weight loss in Ayurveda. In this process, massage is done with certain medicated dry powders from the foot level to upwards using some special techniques. The effect of this treatment is in the stimulation of the hair follicles and tissues in order to breakdown the deep-seated fat tissues; detoxification and nourishment of the body tissues; the activation of the skin's natural metabolism; and also the improvement of the lymph flow. The Udwartana massage cleanses and refines the skin structures and gives the skin a soft, silky texture and a lustreous glow.
Pizhichil Treatment: Pizhichil is developed by the research oriented Ayurvedic physicians of Kerala. This is a kind of massage therapy with plenty oil being used in the process. During the treatment, warm oil is poured over the body and simultaneously massged. Pizhichil is highly recommended in conditions such as rheumatic conditions, nervous weaknesses, paralytic conditions, sexual weaknesses, high blood pressure, and promotes general body rejuvenation
A soothing and relaxing procedure?Prescribed in clinical conditions like Paraplegia, Hemi-plegia and other Vata dominant ailments. This treatment is very useful for rheumatic diseases, arthritis, paralysis, sexual weakness, neurological disorders, blood pressure,nervous weakness, diabetes, blood pressure, fits, convulsions, paralysis and helps to arrest the aging process.It is very effective in asthma and even in tuberculosis in early stages. This is mainly a lubricating treatment.
Navarkkizhi Treatment: This treatment is generally done after a course of Pizhichil. Navara is kind of rice used in the treatmenet. It has great nerve rejuvenation properties. After annointing the body with medicated oil Navarakizhi is applied.The whole body is made to perspire by the application of medicinal boluses frequently warmed in herb infused milk. This special Kerala treatment is highly recommended for treating rheumatic conditions, muscular weaknesses, sleeping disorders, high blood pressure and for general body rejuvenation. It makes the body supple, removes stiffness and swellings in the joints.
Elakkizhi: This treatment is is done with selected herbal leaves prepared in small linen bags and then warmed in Ayurvedic medicated oils and applied to the body inducing profuse perspiration leading to relief from neurological disorders, rheumatic conditions and sports injuries.
Vasti Treatment (Panchakarma): Vata's predominant site is the colon. Ayurvedic vasti involves the introduction into the rectum of herbal concoctions of sesame oil, and certain herbal preparations in a liquid medium. Vasti, is the most effective treatment for vata disorders, although many enemas over a prescribed period of time are usually required. It relieves constipation, distention, chronic fever, cold, sexual disorders, kidney stones, heart pain, backache, sciatica and other pains in the joints. Many other vata disorders such as arthritis, rheumatism, gout, muscle spasms and headaches may also be treated with vasti.Vata is a very active principle in pathogenesis. If we can control vata through the use of vasti, we have gone a long way in going to the root cause of the vast majority of diseases.Vata is the main etiological factor in the manifestation of diseases.
Nasya Treatment (Panchakarma): The nose is the doorway to the brain and it is also the doorway to consciousness. The nasal administration of medication is called nasya. An excess of bodily humors accumulated in the sinus, throat, nose or head areas is eliminated by means of the nearest possible opening, the nose.Prana, life force as nerve energy, enters the body through the breath taken in through the nose. Prana is in the brain and maintains sensory and motor functions. Prana also governs mental activities, memory, concentration and intellectual activities. Deranged prana creates defective functioning of all these activities and produces headaches, convulsions, loss of memory and reduced sensory perception. Thus nasal administration, nasya is indicated for prana disorders, sinus congestion, migraine headaches, convulsions and certain eye and ear problems.There are six main types of nasya, as listed below.