How Panchakarma Benefits Your Health

Panchakarma is the purification portion of the Ayurveda practice. It is important to note that this treatment and purification process should only be done with a highly trained practitioner. The Panchakarma treatment is tailored to each individual based on the illness they are suffering from as will as the balance or disposition they have between the Doshas. Once the treatment plan is formulated, the process itself requires a significant amount of observation and supervision.

Every day life, especially in this hectic world filled with large amounts of environmental toxins, rushing schedules and huge amounts of stress, causes a huge accumulation of poisonous materials within the body. The large amount of toxins being introduced plus the ones the body creates when it encounters things like stress is stored within the muscles and tissues of the body. As a result, there is a slowing of cognitive functions, diseases that seem to have no cause or are progressively degenerative or reoccurring and a number of other system weakening elements.

Panchakarma is actually only one portion of the entire purification process but many refer to the entire process by this name. The Panchakarma is part of the cleansing procedures known as Shodana. For those that are unable to handle the Shodana there is a set of milder and easier techniques known as the Shamana.

The process begins with the Purvakarma, also known as the pre-purification measures. This consists of the activities that are necessary to prepare the body so that it will be optimized for the release of toxins. There are two procedures within the pre-purification process these are known as the Snehan and the Svedana. The Snehan is a specialized oil massage and oil that is used to help move toxins towards the intestines in order to encourage their removal from the body.

The massage is done also to make the muscles of the body both superficial and deep muscles soft and relaxed. This also has the benefit of removing stress from the body and helps to provide nourishment to the nervous system. It is normally given every day for three to seven days depending. The Svedana goes in conjunction with the Snehan and is a sweating process. This helps to remove the toxins loosened by the massage from the muscles preventing the toxins from resettling into them. An added herbal concoction further helps the body to release the toxins within it.

Once the pre purification process is complete and the Doshas have become ready to be rebalanced and treated a specialized Panchakarma process is applied. This process is individualized based on the person and the needs of that person.

The Five Cleansing methods found within Panchakarma are the five basic Shodanas these are the Vamana, Virechan, Basti, Nasya and Rakta Moksha.

The Vamana is an Emesis therapy. Emesis is the process of cleansing the system through therapeutic vomiting. This is usually done to help relieve a build up of mucus. It is commonly used for things like Bronchitis, colds, cough, asthma or other congestion in the chest area. The result should be a relaxation of the lungs allowing a person to breathe freely; there should be a light feeling within the chest area, clear mind, voice and a good appetite.

The next step in the Panchakarma is the Virechan. The Virechan is a purgation process. This is to help with issues like rashes, skin inflammation, acne, fever, jaundice, vomiting, and nausea. It is also intended to eliminate excess bile from the system. A purgation or laxative, which is considered therapeutic, is administered in order to cause the release of the excess bile. During this process, a special diet is recommended in order to maintain a balance between the Tridosha.

The next step in the process is Basti. This step helps to relieve things like constipation, bloating, reoccurring fever and colds, sexual dysfunction, kidney and gallstones, as well as heart and back pain, joint pain, and diseases such as rheumatism, gout, headache and arthritis and even muscle spasms. This is an enema-based treatment that introduces herbal concoctions into the large intestines. It is designed to rebalance the Vata. It can also help medications to be introduced on a deeper level to help in the healing process for certain diseases.

The next purification process is Nasya. This involves the removal of toxins through the nasal passageways. The nose is considered to be the doorway into the brain it is also the passageway by which Prana or life force enters the body. This treatment is used for things like congestion of the sinuses, problems with eyes and ears. It can even help with migraine headaches and convulsions. It is also used to help breathing. This massage technique involves the use of ghee. It is placed on the little finger and then massaged into the inner walls of the nose. This treatment can be done twice a day once in the morning and once in the evening as deemed necessary.

Finally, there is the Rakta Moksha, which is a method of Panchakarma that is used to cleanse and detoxify the blood. Toxins within the gastrointestinal system leech into the blood stream causing toxemia. This is considered to be the basic case for things like repeat infections, hypertension, circulatory and skin conditions. This method is also used for patients with enlarged livers, spleens, and gout. The process involves the release of small amounts of blood from the body. This process of bloodletting also causes the spleen to produce anti-toxic substances. In addition there are also a number of herbs, cold water and gem therapies, which help to purify the blood. This process also calls for a specialized diet.

The process of Panchakarma has a number of benefits, by relieving the body of toxins through the five processes and the pre purification; there are many conditions that relief can be received for. Removing the toxins from the body helps to bring about a sense of well being as well as helping to relieve stress, increase mental clarity and increase energy.