Panchakarma : Panchakarma is a very powerful healing technique. To maintain health and alleviate diseases, Ayurved advocates “Panchakarma” as a powerful purification process to eliminate mental, physical and emotional toxins. Panchakarma literally means “pancha” meaning five and “karma” meaning actions or therapies. It is a five-fold purification therapy aimed at correcting the imbalance of bodily humors viz. vata, pitta and kapha in order to maintain their health and strength. This therapy is widely used to cure neurological ailments like paralysis, arthritis, rheumatic pain, dermatological problems, mental disorders etc. It is also used for rejuvenation.
Aacharya Charak, the author of the most important ancient text on internal medicine, has described a wide use of Panchakarma therapy for almost all the major diseases. These five therapies (pancha karma) are Vaman (therapeutic emesis/vomiting), Virechan (therapeutic purgation), Basti (therapeutic enema), Nasya (therapeutic nasal therapy) and Rakta mokshana (therapeutic blood cleansing). These main therapies are preceded by some pre-treatments like snehana (oleation) and abhyanga (medicated oil massage) and swedana (herbal steam bath).
Some of the special treatments prescribed in ancient ayurvedic literature, which are part of panchakarma, are very popular in Kerala, a southern state in India. These are dhara, pizichil, navarakazi, shirobasti etc. (various therapeutic massages / therapies etc.) These treatments are very effective in longstanding disorders like paralysis, rheumatism, arthritis, spondylosis as well as in psychosomatic disorders like hysteria, depression, etc.
Vamana (Therapeutic Emesis) : Vamana, one of the Panchakarma procedures, is a therapeutic emesis therapy, which cleanses toxins related with Kapha dosha. Pre-treatment such as intake of medicated ghee, abhyanga (massage therapy) and swedana (medicated steam bath) are administered prior to inducing vamana (therapeutic vomiting), to loosen and remove the toxins from the body. This treatment is very effective in Bronchial Asthma, Chronic Allergies, Hay Fever, Psoriasis, Nasal Congestion, Obesity, Edema, Chronic Indigestion, Skin disorders, Vitiligo, Psychological disorders, Hyperacidity, etc
Virechana (Therapeutic Purgation) : This is a medical purgation therapy, which removes toxins related with Pitta dosha from the body. It is a safe procedure without any side effects. It is effective in Chronic Skin disorders, Vitiligo Psoriasis, Diabetes, Asthma, Paraplegia, Gynecological disorders, Elephantiasis, Headaches, Hyperacidity, Constipation, Digestive disorders, Joint disorders, Hemiplegia etc.
Basti (Medicated Enema Therapy) : Considered as the mother of all treatments, it cleanses the accumulated body toxins & waste related to all the 3 doaha; Vata, Pitta and Kapha, especially that related with Vata dosha. Basti (Medicated enema) is also highly beneficial as a rejuvenating treatment especially in convalescent periods. In this procedure medicated oil or ghee and herbal decoction is administered as an enema. This procedure is usually administered for 8 to 30 days, based on the medical condition of a person.
This treatment is effective in Neurological disorders, Paraplegia, Hemiplegia, Colitis, Cervical Spondylosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Constipation, Digestive disorders, Piles, Backache, Sciatica, Hepatomegaly & Splenomegaly, Obesity, Convalescence Sexual Debility & Infertility.
Nasya (Medicated Nasal Therapy) : Nasya is the administration of medicated oil through the nose, which cleanses and removes accumulated toxins and waste from the head and neck region. This treatment is usually given for 7 days. Based on the medical condition of a person, it can be given up to 30 days. It is useful in Nasal Allergies, Nasal Polyp, Sinusitis, Chronic cold, Neurological dysfunctions, Paraplegia, Hemiplegia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Bel's Palsy, Insomnia, Headaches of various origin, Migraine, Pre-mature graying of hair, Loss of smell and taste, Frozen Shoulder, Stiffness of the neck etc. It also improves memory and eyesight.