Panchakarma
Panchakarma therapy primarily aims at cleaning the body of its accumulated impurities, toxins or stagnant Malas and nourishing the body tissues (Dhatus). Once this is achieved, it becomes very easy to rejuvenate all body Dhatus and prevent the process of premature ageing.
Classical Ayurveda Panchakarma comprises of following five components:
1. Vamana Karma (Emesis Therapy )
2. Virecana Karma (Herbal Purgative Therapy)
3. Anuvasana Vasti (Herbal Oil Enema Therapy)
4. Asthapana Vasti (Herbal Enema Therapy)
5. Nasya Karma (Herbal Inhalation Therapy)
Panchakarma Therapy of Ayurveda has enormous therapeutic potential. The standard procedures to be adopted for different Panchakarma procedure, the medicaments to be used with their standard dosage, specific indications and contraindication and other relevant factors are to be standardized so that an uniform schedule of practice may be developed to be practised at all centres for obtaining uniform results.
Contributions and Scope of Panchakarma Therapy
Panchakarma therapy is a potent system of medicine. As stated earlier five specialised techniques, collectively termed as “Pancha Karma” attack the very root cause of disease, cleanse all body microcirculatory channels, remove the vitiated Dosas from the body and produce long lasting beneficial effects. This therapy improves the body resistance (Immunity) and thereby checks the pathogenesis of the disease confirming its preventive effects also.
The classical Panchakarma therapy consists of following category of procedures:
1. Purva Karma (Pre Treatment) – It mainly consists of following procedures:
- a. Pacana (Digestion)
- b. Dipana (Assimilation)
- c. Snehana (Herbal oil application - external, oral, rectal)
- d. Svedana (Herbal diaphoretic Therapy -steam bath)
2. Pradhana Karma (Main Treatment) – The Pradhana Karmas during Panchakarma therapy consist of five purificatory procedures maily, designed to eliminate vitiated Dosas, they are:
- a. Vamana karma (Therapeutic Emesis)
- b. Virecana Karma (Therapeutic Purgation)
- c. Anuvasana Vasti (Therapeutic Oil based Enemata)
- d. Asthapana Vasti (Therapeutic Decoction based Enemata)
- e. Nasya Karma or Sirovirecana (Nasal Insufflations or Errhines)
3. Pascata Karma (Post Treatment) – It includes Dhumra Pana (Herbal Smoke), Kawala Graha (Gargling), Gandusa, Sansarjana Krama (Diet), use of Samana Ausadhi (eradicate root cause with herbs) and Rasayna Ausadhi (Rejuvenating medicine).
Beneficial Effects of Panchakarma Therapy
- Biological systems of the whole body" return to normalcy.
- There is rejuvenation and revitalisation of all body tissues and Dhatus.
- It potentiates the pharmacological actions of various drugs / medicines administered afterwards.
- Waste products, unwanted materials, various toxins and stagnant Malas are removed from the body at various levels (cellular / tissue levels) leading to cleansing effect or purification of the body i.e. Srotosodhana is achieved.
- Normal physiological functions of all the body systems are potentiated e.g. Gut absorption improves considerably and metabolism "is also corrected. As a result the drugs administered afterwards are highly effective even in small dosage which in turn reduces the chance of drug toxicity considerably.
- There is a better ionic / molecular exchange through semi permeable membranes of the body.
- The beneficial results produced after Panchakarma therapy is of long duration and long lasting.
- The prognosis of various diseases which are difficult to treat with simple administration of medicines become significantly improved (Good prognosis) after administration of Panchakarma therapy.
- Panchakarma Therapy is not only a prerequisite for all the therapeutic procedures and medications but has also a full therapy role as a Promotive, Preventive, Curative and Rehabilitative procedures.
- If properly performed, Panchakarma therapy does not produce any serious complications. If any minor complications are produced, they are easily manageable.
- The vitiated Dosas are eliminated from the body mainly through the elementary canal.
- After Panchakarma therapy diseases are cured and normal health is restored. The mental faculties, mind, intelligence and complexion of the patient improve after Panchakarma therapy.
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