Panchakarma – The Five petal lotus from Ayurveda
A true blog based on Samhitas
A true blog based on Samhitas
Panchakarma is one of the most well-known treatment procedures in Ayurveda. There are a lot of misconceptions about both Ayurveda & Panchakarma. So many people ask Vaidya (Ayurvedic practitioner), can I take Panchakarma treatment? Everywhere, we could see many centers offering ayurvedic detoxification, Kerala panchakarma, etc. What is Panchakarma? What should you give attention to while doing it? Let’s dive in-depth.
In Ayurveda, treatment procedures are broadly categorized as Shodana (Cleansing) & Shamanam (alleviate).
In Shodhana Chikitsa, with the help of medication, the aggravated Dosha ( Vata, Pitta & Kapha) gets expelled from the body. The following treatments come under Shodhana Chikitsa
These treatments together are known as Pancha Karma (Pancha Means 5).
In Shamana Chikitsa, with the help of medication, “thri-doshas” (Vata, Pitta & Kabha) are brought to normalcy, but without expelling the aggravated doshas from the body. This includes medicines to increase the digestive fire, medications that help proper digestion, Upavasam (fasting), exercise, etc.
As we discussed already, Panchakarma involves five main procedures. Before undergoing each of these treatments, one has to follow and do certain things before and after. These help us get the desired result for that karma. All these treatments can’t be done in any season; similarly, they can’t be exercised on all kinds of people. These indications and contraindication are discussed in detail in Ayurveda.
Let’s see a few contraindications.
Vamana(Emesis) should not be exercised on pregnant women, children, people with heart disease, weak, very lean, or overweight.
Virechana(Purgation) should not be exercised on people having newly originated fever, diarrhea, less digestive fire, or any bleeding disorder.
Similarly, certain conditions are there for each treatment in the Panchakarma process. Considering nature, health condition of the person, stage of the disease, climate, and detailed observation, the vaidya (practitioner) decides which treatments have to be done.
Snehanam and Swedanam are two preparatory treatments done before starting the Panchakarma.
Snehanam: Depending on the health & diseased condition of the person, certain medicated oils, ghee, vasa, or bone marrow have to be decided and given orally every day for 3 to 7 days. The quantity consumed increases day by day, and continues still specific symptoms are observed. Strict dietary restrictions have to be followed while doing these along with enough rest, both mental and physical. During this period, you should not sleep during day time and should sleep at night, also use only warm water for all daily activities like washing your body, brushing, etc. You should not talk too much or get exposed to sunlight or heavy wind. Noncompliance to these will bring troubles and adverse effects from fatigue to fever. One should take food only once or twice a day that too easily digestible and warm. Continuous monitoring is essential to decide what to do and what not to do daily during the treatment.
Swedanam: After doing Snehanam for up to 3 days, medicated oil is applied to the body, and a steam bath is taken. These two procedures will help bring back the aggravated doshas to the koshta ( gastrointestinal tract) from the other body parts. In the course of Swedanam, specific food has to be taken based on what panchakarma treatments are decided to follow. Vaidya will fix this after observing the patient.
Snehanam & Swedanam will help the proper removal of impurities from the body. Now let’s look into the primary treatment procedures in Panchakarma which follow after this.
Vamanam: In this process, with the aid of medicines, impurities are removed from the body through vomiting. This is important for managing increased Kapha.
Virechanam: In this treatment, with the aid of medicine, impurities are escalated from the body through stools. This is important for increased Pitta, and other conditions arise due to imbalanced Pitta.
Vasti: In Vasti, special medicated decoction or medicated oil and ghee in a specific ratio is taken, and enema is given with that for a specific time. All impurities come out along with medicines given after some time. This is important for excess Vata and related issues.
Nasyam/ Shiro Virechanam: Nostrils are the entry point to the head. For all diseases related to the head and above the shoulder, Nasyam is the main treatment procedure. Medicated oil, ghee, powder form of herbs, extracted juice of herbs will be used for Nasyam, and these will bring out the vitiated dosha through nostril. The medicine is directly poured into the nostrils. Broadly two types of treatment lines are there with Nasyam
Prathimarsham Nasyam: 1 or two drops applied in each nostril. It can be done every day to all age groups.
Marsha Nasyam: Medication is used in larger doses ( 4,8,16,32 drops) for a specific time period.
Rakta Mokshanam: Draining impure blood from our body. This is done in two ways. One way is using leeches to suck blood, and the other through draining at specific quantities through blood vessels using needles.
Once the whole treatment is over, the vital energy levels and digestive fire will be slow & low. So one has to be careful with the strict diet, physical exertion and should follow guidelines prescribed by vaidya after observing your condition. After a few days, you can resume normal daily life and routines.
The treatment is more personalized for each individual, depending on Prakriti and health conditions. Which and all treatments are to be done? When to do it? What medicines to use? Which food to take, all these are decided by the Vayida after keen observation. Improper treatment may bring more trouble to the patient than any benefit. So one must understand the treatment and take it seriously. Make sure you undertake it with proper guidance and with experienced practitioners.
Not just diseased, a healthy person could also take Panchakarma. Our improper daily routines and climate will bring imbalance to our body, and Panchakarma will help restore balance by properly eliminating impurities and keeping you healthy and immune to diseases.
Ayurveda guides your body to be healthy so that your body can fight any disease, not just a single virus. We are here with an Ayurvedic COVID prevention kit. The Medication is different for Children and Adults depending on their age and health conditions. You don’t have to panic or worry. Like any other fever, this is curable, mostly at home itself, if you follow a few basic guidelines.
Avail free consultation before taking the Kit. You could either click on the Consult Online button below the page or share contact details in the comments sections below which will be private. We will call you back. Also, we have shared several posts on the same subject, read through those. Get back if you need any clarification or help.
What is Covid? What are the Symptoms, What are the Complications? There is no point in discussing all those because even the very kid knows something about it. Even before we are out of Covid fears, a new Villain is on the screen, black fungus, shortly we can expect some other villain.
Many people have the very question, Ayurveda is a very old system. How can it Cure Covid? Is there any reference to it in Ayurveda? It is true, In Ayurveda, you can’t find any reference for it. Neither we can’t treat covid nor we treat any disease. In Ayurveda, we are not treating you for any disease. We don’t want to make every new villain frighten you, Instead, Ayurveda treats a person to help his body to fight any disease, by identifying and correcting their lifestyle, with the support of medication if necessary.
Ayurveda is not for all, it is for those who wish to have a healthy life and are ready to put an effort into it. It is not as easy as you think to be healthy. You can’t get addicted to Coffee, Tea, Chocolates, Junk food, Frozen, and packaged foods. You can’t take food whenever you want. When you have a fever we advise you to take Kanji (Rice gruel) whenever you feel hungry for a few days – so that you will be cured without any medication, you are not ready to follow it, instead, you are ready to have paracetamol & food like biriyani, chapati and even happy to be admitted in the hospital. You are proud to pay those fatty hospital bills. You earned the cure for your disease. Ayurveda is not for such people.
If you are ready to be healthy, without getting admitted to hospitals, Without paying so much money for your health, without poisoning your body, We are here for you. We are here with a preventive kit and it is a general preventive measure for kids and adults. The medicines in this kit need to be personalized, so get in touch with us so that we know your current health condition. Also, you could reach us for covid and post covid treatment.
In Ayurveda, we are not fighting against fever, but we are aiding the body to fight. Here we are discussing about how to treat fever at home. Follow the below guidelines and you will be safe. Try to get in touch with a practitioner if your health is in a very bad condition or you’re anxious.
Panchakarma involves five main procedures. Before undergoing each of these treatments one has to follow and do certain things before and after. These help us get the desired result for that karma. All these treatments can’t be done in any season, similarly can’t be exercised on all kinds of people.
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