THE AREA OF AYURVEDA KNOWN AS PANCHKARMA IS A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF KNOWLEDGE THAT PRACTICES to purify the body of toxins and restore it to balance with natural law. In simpler terms, Panchkarma can be broadly classified into two sections : AYURVEDIC PANCHKARMA • Show Detailed Version • Show Brief Version KERALA PANCHKARMA • Show Detailed Version • Show Brief Version AYURVEDIC PANCHKARMA Panchkarma is one of the unique therapeutic procedure in Ayurveda advocated for the radical elimination of disease causing factors and to maintain the equilibrium of doshas. The five fold measures comprehended by this therapy for internal purification of body system are Vamana (Therapeutic Emesis), Virechana (Therapeutic Purgation), Basti (Therapeutic Enema), RaktaMokshan (Therapeutic withdrawal of Blood), Nasya (Therapeutic cleansing of Sinuses). It Prevents ageing process and improves memory and functions of sense organs. Panchkarma therapy is very effective in the management of auto-immune disorders, chronic ailments like rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, G.I.T. disorders and mental diseases. Panchkarma Procedure The whole procedure of Panchkarma is divided into 3 steps : Purva Karma, Pradhan Karma and Paschat Karma • Purva Karma    more >> The set of procedures which Ayurveda prescribes to facilitate the removal of ama and toxins from the tissues is collectively called Purvakarma. Purva means "before" and Karma means "actions". These treatments help to loosen ama and move it out of the deep structures into the G-I tract, where Panchkarma's main therapies can then eliminate it. There are two purvakarmas : Snehana and Swedana Snehana (Therapeutic Oleation)   more >> Snehana, the first step of Purvakarma, saturates the body with herbal and medicated oils. The saturation takes two forms: bahya snehana or external oleation, where medicated oils are vigorously massaged into the body; and abhyantar snehana or internal oleation, where medicated oils are ingested. Snehana uses four types of oleaginous substances: vegetable oils (taila), clarified butter (ghee), animal fats (vasa) and fat from bone marrow (majja).   Swedana (Therapeutic Heat)   more >> The second major aspect of the preparatory procedures of PurvaKarma is called swedana, the therapeutic application of heat to the body. Though swedana literally means "sweat", the main purpose of swedana is not to poduce sweat, but to dilate the body's shrotas or channels so that oleation's objective - removing anna from the dhatus - can be easily achieved. • Pradhan Karma    more >> According to the Charak Samhita, the body normally uses three routes to eliminate waste products and toxins: the mouth, anus, and pores of the skin. The three doshas act as the vehicle which carries ama either upward, downward, or out through the periphery. Through dosha gati, the doshas move these impurities from the deep structures to the G-I tract and from the G-I tract to the body's three main outlets. There are five PradhanKarmas : Vamana, Virechana, Basti, RaktaMokshan and Nasya. Vamana (Therapeutic Emesis)    more >> Vamana take place in the upper or kapha zone of the body and use the upward movement of the doshas to remove ama. Toxins associated with kapha are primarily but not exclusively deposited throughout the upper part of the body. Because this is where kaphic ama naturally collects. Panchkarma uses Vamana or therapeutic emesis to eliminate them. Virechana (Therapeutic Purgation)    more >> Virechana use pitta and vata dosha's downward movment to remove related toxins and waste materials from the system. Virechana works on the pitta zone of the body, whose major organs are the small intestine and liver. Ama associated with pitta and vata gets discharged from the body through the rectum becuase of its proximity and accessibility to these organs. Basti (Therapeutic Enema)    more >> Basti like Virechana use pitta and vata dosha's downward movment to remove related toxins and waste materials from the system. Basti cleanses the vata area, whose focal point is the large intestine. RaktaMokshan (Therapeutic withdrawal of Blood)    more >> Sushrut attributed particular importance to the blood because it performed the important job of providing transportation within the body. He noted that when ama or toxins collected, they were circulated throughout the body with the blood. He devised RaktaMokshan as a purification treatment to be used when excess toxins are being carried in the blood to the periphery of the body. Nasya (Therapeutic cleansing of Sinuses)    more >> Nasya or Shirovirechan is a procedure used to assist vamana in dislodging ama and excess kapha from the throat, nose, sinuses and other organs in the region of head and neck. Nasya is the introduction of medicated sustances into the nose. This Process stimulates secretions which help eliminate kapha related toxins from this area. • Paschat Karma    more >> The set of procedures that follow the main eliminative treatments of Panchkarma and assist this rebuilding process are called, collectively, PaschatKarma. They assure the re-establishment of healthy metabolic function and immunity. If these post-procedures are neglected, digestion does not normalize. Samsarajana Karma (Graduated Diet)    more >> Samsarjana Karma constitutes the primary post-treatment procedure for digestion. This term literally means a "Graded administration of Diet". It consists of a specially prepared diet designed to re-establish full digestive capacity and prevent the formation of new ama. Rasayan Chikitsa (Rejuvenation)    more >> Rasayana Chikitsa increases the effectiveness of Panchkarma's rejuvenating processes. Rasayana actually means "that which increases the essence of each dhatu, starting with rasa." For Rasayan Chikitsa to be effective its important that the digestion must be strenghtened, the doshas must be balanced and impurities must be eliminated from dhatus through Panchkarma therapy in order for the rasayanas to work. KERALA PANCHKARMA Kerala Panchkarma is a special form of Panchkarma developed in the Green state of Kerala and it generally employs some form of Snehan or Swedana, and often address the functions of a particular dosha. Pindasweda    more >> It is the process by which certain medicinal puddings, especially the cooked navara type of rice in the form of boluses tied up in cotton cloth is applied the whole body or a specific part of the body, for a period of 7 to 14 days, It is used in the treatment of neuromuscular disorders, hemiplegia, chronic rheumatic disorders, for rejuvenation, geriatric problems etc. Pizhichil    more >> It is the process by which warm medicated oil is poured on the whole boy in a specific manner with simultaneous gentle massage. It is used in the treatment of various neurological diseases, rheumatic disorders, for rejuvenation, preventing ageing process etc. Sirobasti    more >> It is the process of keeping ceratin amount of medicated lukewarm oil on the head for a prescribed period of time by using a special type of cap without top, fixed properly on the head. This treatment is highly effective for mental stress, rejuvenation of sensory organs, facial paralysis, dryness of nostrils, mouth and throat, severe headaches, burning sensation of head and other vata predominant diseases. Sirodhara    more >> It is the process by which medicated oil, milk, buttermilk etc. is poured in a continuous stream on the head, especially forehead in a specific manner. It is indicated in mental disorders, insomnia and skin diseases. Duration of treatment 7 to 14 days. Sirolepana    more >> It is a procedure in which paste of medicinal herbs / rugs is applied on the scalp for a specified period. It is an effective method of treatment for neurological disorders and mental diseases.