When the digestive fire (agni) is in a balanced condition, the three doshas -vata, pitta and kapha- are in equilibrium. Waste products (malas) are produced and eliminated normally; and the mind, senses, and consciousness are working harmoniously together. When the balance of any of these systems is disturbed, the disease process begins. Basically, any aggravation of the doshas affects agni (the digestive fire) and produces toxins or ama. Other factors play a role in the formation of ama, as well. Some of these factors are poor digestion of food, improper food combinations and choices, poor drinking water, pollution, pesticides in food, emotional and physical stress or trauma, and so on. These toxins accumulate and spread throughout the body and eventually deposit themselves into the deeper tissues, organs or channels, creating dysfunction and disease.
In diseased condition, the doshas manifest their particular symptoms. These symptoms denote malfunctioning of the doshas. The purpose of treatment of all diseases is to keep the doshas in equilibrium. In Ayurveda there is three steps in treating any diseases, they are samsodhana - cleansing process, samsamana - palliative measures and nidanaparivarjana - treating the causes.
The first step in Panchakarma is the process of oleation, which initiates the purification process by loosening ama, in the tissues. Oleation is accomplished by special massages using herbalized oils or by taking certain oils internally.The second step is to heat the body using specific steam and warm oil therapies. This is known as Swedana in Ayurveda. Using therapeutic heat allows the loosened toxins to flow more easily from the tissues to the GI tract.
The third step in the Panchakarma process is to eliminate the toxins that have accumulated. This is accomplished by the use of gentle herbal enemas, known as bastis, and gentle cleansing of the upper respiratory tract and sinuses, known as nasya.