| Home
-> Health & Fitness -> Ayurveda
India -> Ayurveda Pancha Karma |
|
| Ayurveda
Pancha Karma – Detoxification of Body |
|
| PRELIMINARY PRACTICES (Purva
Karma): |
|
| Preliminary detoxification and Ama-reducing
methods according to one’s dosha, should usually be followed for a
period prior to Pancha Karma. |
Oleation
and Sweating Methods |
|
Application
of oils, Snehana, also called ‘Oleation therapy’ is an important
therapeutic method in Ayurveda, with oils used both externally and internally.
Steam therapy or therapeutic sweating, Svedana, is another important method.
These two are significant parts of Pancha Karma but are also useful in
themselves for treating various conditions and for health maintenance. |
|
After adequate
detoxification, a period of daily oil application and sweating therapy
should be followed for at least one week for health maintenance and three
weeks for the treatment of severe diseases. Warm sesame oil is applied
all over the body in large amounts, while the patient lays on a special
Ayurvedic massage table. Special medicated oils (like Narayan or Mahanarayan
oil) can be applied, particularly to spexific disease sites. The skill
in massage is not the issue here. |
|
| Sweating
is done a few minutes after oleation, generally using a special Ayurvedic
sweatbox, often with the addition of the steam of diaphoretic herbs (camphor,
eucalyptus, mint, or bayberry) for most patients, or with tonics (Dashamula
and bala) for weaker types. Herbs can be decocted in a pressure cooker,
to which a hose is attached at the top (called nadi sveda).
Heavy application of oils, also, will depress the digestive fire and cause
loss of appetite or constipation. Hence, oil application should not be
heavy, or it should be balanced out by taking ginger or other spicy herbs
to improve the digestive fire.
|
|
| MAIN
PRACTICES (Pradhana Karma): |
|
1. THERAPUTIC VOMITING (Vamana)
Herbs- Strong teas of licorice, are used, generally about one ounce of
the herb per pint of water, or simply a large amount of salt water can
be used instead. One should then apply a finger down the throat. Once
the vomiting reflex arises one should follow it out all the way. It is
easier to empty the stomach through one or two strong reflexes than through
a series of weak ones. It is important to empty the stomach thoroughly.
It is mainly for those with congestion of phlegm in the lungs and stomach,
usually Kapha constitutions. The best season is spring, particularly late
spring when the weather has warmed up. It should not be done during stormy
or rainy weather. It gives better results if done around the time of the
full moon. Best time is morning after sunrise.
|
|
2.
PURGATION
Purgation, Virechana, is the simplest Pancha Karma method and its effect
is easy to observe. A strong purgative is given like aloe or castor oil.
Purgative herbs are usually given in the evening, so that five to eight
bowel movements occur the next day, flushing out the intestines. Late
spring and summer are the best seasons. Purgation is used to eliminate
excess Pitta from its site in the small intestine. This cleansing of the
small intestine can weaken the digestive fire and so it is not always
advisable for Vata types.
|
|
3.
CLEANSING ENEMAS
Enemas (basti) are a mild therapy and can be used for many conditions.
Cleansing enemas (Niruha basti) are used in Pancha Karma to dispel excess
Vata from its site in the large intestine. They are made with decoctions
of anti-Vata herbs.
|
|
| 4. NASAL APPLICATION
OF HERBS/NASYA
Ayurveda has a whole variety of herbal preparations, including decoctions,
oils and ghee, and the smoking of herbs for direct action on the nasal
passage. This is called Nasya, literally, ‘what relates to the nose.’
For the purification action of Pancha Karma, cleansing herbs are given
through the nose, either as snuffs, decoctions or oils.
Nasya is useful for many Vata and Kapha disorders. It allows for direct
action on prana and the brain. It is helpful in some Pitta disorders,
as well as any diseases of the head and nasal passages.
|
|
5.
THERAPUETIC RELEASE OF TOXIC BLOOD
In the proper application of blood-releasing therapy, toxic blood is taken
out of various sites in the body, usually along the back. The blood should
be dark in colour. Once it becomes bright red, the treatment should stop.
The use of alternative and blood-cleansing herbs has a similar effect
over a long period of time. Also good are blood-cleansing spices like
turmeric and saffron.
|
FOLLOW-UP
PRACTICES (Uttara Karma) :
Pancha Karma treatment has several follow up practices. It is not an isolated
therapy that can be done once and forgotten, but must be integrated into
one’s entire life-regimen. First, it may be necessary to repeat
the whole process of Pancha Karma. More than one session may be needed
to cleanse deep-seated toxins, |
|
particularly if shortened
(week long sessions or less) versions of Pancha Karma are followed.
Second, after Pancha Karma, we should return to a diet and life-style
in harmony with our constitution, or establish one if we have not done
so already.
|
|
|
| More
on Ayurveda |
| Deep
Breathing: Nourishment of Nervous System |
| Ayurveda
India: Challenge to Medical Science |
| Panchamahabhoota
- Imbalance in the State of disease |
| Your
Personality: Balance of Sattvic, Rajasic & Tamasic Gunas |
|
| Related
Topics |
| Ayurveda
India - Challenge to Medical Science |
| Ayurveda
Life Style: Sattvic Living for Peace |
| Healthy
Diet - Focus on Spiritual & Physical Health |
| Medicinal
Herbs - Wild Herbs Vs Grown Herbs |
|
Crystal Healing: Unblocks the negative patterns |
|
Pranic Healing - to modulate the primary energy |
| Colour
Therapy - Various colors cure various diseases |
| Health
News - Update yourself about your body |
