Learn these 5 types of treatment in Ayurveda; know more about Panchkarma.

Learn these 5 types of treatment in Ayurveda; know more about Panchkarma.

In today's fast-paced age, thousands of second-hand moving devices have been invented, while the development story of Ayurveda as a slow-acting treatment in medical science is also moving forward. One of the reasons for this is the "Holistic Approach" of Ayurveda treatment. Born and raised on the land of India, this method of treatment has seen many ups and downs in its thousands of years of life.

There are many things in Ayurveda that are prevalent in the general public to some extent, there are many things that have become more prevalent than what is in Ayurveda and some things have not come to light at all. One of such unknowns is the Panchkarma treatment method.

What is Ayurveda? Ayurveda has been a method of treatment since ancient times, which was born in India. The word Ayurveda has two words Ayu and Veda. In which age means - life and Veda means - science. Thus, Ayurveda is the science of living life.

Learn these 5 types of treatment in Ayurveda; know more about Panchkarma.

The main goal of Ayurveda is to keep the healed person healthy, then to remove the disease of the sick man is another important goal. For this, Ayurveda has given guidance on various medicines, methods of treatment, and diet.

The origins of Ayurveda lie in the ancient Vedas - Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. Ayurveda is connected not only with physical but also with mental and spiritual matters.

What is Panchkarma?

Panchkarma is a special type of Ayurvedic treatment. Usually, in any disease we take medicines, from which the waste that causes the disease is gradually reduced in the body. When Panchkarma treatment, the waste is expelled from the body at once. 

Just as washing the dirty clothes removes the stains and impurities in it, so the cleansing of the body from Panchkarma removes the waste inside the body. According to Ayurveda, air-bile-phlegm is one of the main causes of the disease, all three of which are called faults. The main place of these defects is the part which is called Roop, from that part the defect is removed by Panchkarma.

Punch means five, karma means process, thus the five main processes performed for different diseases are Panchkarma. This consists of five actions, hence known as Panchkarma.

What are these five processes? 

1. Vomiting
2. Virechan means diarrhea by medication,
3. Basti means Ayurvedic enema,
4. Nasal means nasal spraying and
5. Hemorrhage is the act of removing bad blood in a blood transfusion
6. These are the main five actions. And these five are known as Panchkarma.

Apart from these, some other procedures are also done along with these procedures which are known in Ayurveda as lubrication and sweating. This includes a variety of massage and shakes procedures. Often this massage and shake are done as the same main treatment.

A side question you may have is whether diarrhea or vomiting can cure the disease? The answer is to understand how the treatment of Panchkarma works.

What is the benefit of doing Panchkarma? 

INTRODUCTION TO PANCHAKARMA

by Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc

Ayurveda emphasizes preventative and healing therapies along with various methods of purification and rejuvenation. Ayurveda is more than a mere healing system; it is a science and an art of appropriate living that helps to achieve longevity. It can guide every individual in the proper choice of diet, living habits, and exercise to restore balance in the body, mind, and consciousness, thus preventing the disease from gaining a foothold in the system.

According to Ayurveda, every human being is a unique phenomenon of cosmic consciousness, manifested through the five basic elements—Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Vata—a combination of ether and air, pitta—a combination of fire and water, and Kapha—a combination of water and earth, are called the tridosha. These are the three touches of humor or the three organizations of the body, which are also derived from consciousness.

 Each individual constitution or psycho-somatic temperament is determined by the relative proportions of these three doshas at the time of fertilization. When the embryo is formed, the constitution is determined. There are seven basic constitutions with one or more doshas predominant according to Ayurveda. They are Vata, pitta or Kapha predominant, Vata-pitta, pitta- Kapha or Kapha-Vata predominant, and Vata-pitta-Kapha in equal balance, a rare occurrence.

Every individual constitution has its own unique balance of Vata, pitta, and Kapha (VPK) according to its own nature. This balance of VPK is the natural order. When this doshic balance is disturbed, it creates an imbalance, which is a disorder. Health is order; the disease is disorder. Within the body there is a constant interaction between order and disorder, thus once one understands the nature and structure of disorder, one can re-establish order. Ayurveda believes that order lies within disorder.

Five Basic Shodanas: Cleansing Methods

1. Vamana: therapeutic vomiting or emesis
2. Virechan: purgation
3. Basti: enema
4. Nasya: elimination of toxins through the nose
5. Rakta Moksha: detoxification of the blood

Vamana: Emesis Therapy

Vamana: Emesis Therapy

When there is congestion in the lungs causing repeated attacks of bronchitis, colds, cough, or asthma, the Ayurvedic treatment is therapeutic vomiting, Vamana, to eliminate the Kapha causing the excess mucus. Often times this also releases repressed emotions that have been held in the Kapha areas of the lungs and stomach along with the accumulated dosha. Once the mucus is released, the patient will feel instantly relieved.

 It is likely that congestion, wheezing, and breathlessness will disappear and that the sinuses will become clear. Therapeutic vomiting is also indicated in chronic asthma, diabetes, chronic cold, lymphatic congestion, chronic indigestion, and edema.

After Vamana, resting, fasting, smoking certain herbal cigarettes, and not suppressing natural urges (i.e., urination, defecation, gas, sneezing, coughing) is recommended. If Vamana is administered properly, the person should feel the relaxation in the lungs, will be able to breathe freely, will have lightness in the chest, clear thinking, a clear voice, a good appetite, and all symptoms of congestion disappear.

Virechan: Purgation Therapy

Virechan: Purgation Therapy

When excess bile, pitta, is secreted and accumulated in the gall bladder, liver, and small intestine, it tends to result in rashes, skin inflammation, acne, chronic attacks of fever, biliary vomiting, nausea, and jaundice. Ayurvedic literature suggests in these conditions the administration of therapeutic purgation or a therapeutic laxative. Purgatives help relieve the excess pitta causing the bile disturbance in the body. In fact, purgatives can completely cure the problem of excess pitta. When purgatives are used, the patient should not eat foods that will aggravate the predominant humor or cause the three touches of humor to become unbalanced.

Basti: Enema Therapy

Basti: Enema Therapy

Vata is a very active principle in pathogenesis (disease). If we can control Vata through the use of basti, we have gone a long way in going to the root cause of the vast majority of diseases. Vata is the main etiological (causal) factor in the manifestation of diseases. It is the motive force behind the elimination and retention of feces, urine, bile, and other excreta. Vata is mainly located in the large intestine, but bone tissue (asthi dhatu) is also a site for Vata. Hence the medication administered rectally effects asthi diets. The mucus membrane of the colon is related to the outer covering of the bones (periosteum), which nourishes the bones. Therefore, any medication given rectally goes into the deeper tissues, like bones, and corrects Vata disorders.

Nasya: Nasal Administration

Nasya: Nasal Administration

The nose is the doorway to the brain and it is also the doorway to consciousness. The nasal administration of medication is called Nasya. An excess of bodily humor accumulated in the sinus, throat, nose, or head areas is eliminated by means of the nearest possible opening, the nose.

Prana, life force as nerve energy, enters the body through the breath taken in through the nose. Prana is in the brain and maintains sensory and motor functions. Prana also governs mental activities, memory, concentration, and intellectual activities. Deranged prana creates defective functioning of all these activities and produces headaches, convulsions, loss of memory, and reduced sensory perception. Thus nasal administration, Nasya, is indicated for prana disorders, sinus congestion, migraine headaches, convulsions, and certain eye and ear problems.

In addition, Punchkarma removes toxins from the body, increases strength, boosts the immune system, improves the working power of the digestive system. Panchkarma also has positive effects on the mind and mental prices.

Breathing also can be improved through nasal massage. For this treatment, the little finger is dipped into ghee and inserted into the nose. The inner walls of the nose are slowly massaged, going as deeply as possible. 

This treatment will help to open the emotions. (Nose tissue is tender and for this application, the fingernail must be kept short to avoid injuring the delicate mucus membranes.) Since most people have a deviated nasal septum, one side of the nose will be easier to penetrate and massage than the other.

 The finger should not be inserted forcibly. The massage should proceed by slow penetration, the finger moving first in a clockwise, and then counter-clockwise direction. By this means, the emotions that are blocked in the respiratory tract will be released. One may use this treatment each morning and evening. In this way, breathing patterns will change as the emotions are released and the eyesight also will improve.

Rakta Moksha: Traditional Ayurvedic Method for Purification and Cleansing of the Blood

Rakta Moksha

Toxins present in the gastrointestinal tract are absorbed into the blood and circulated throughout the body. This condition is called toxemia, which is the basic cause of repeated infections, hypertension, and certain other circulatory conditions. This includes repeated attacks of skin disorders such as urticaria, rashes, herpes, eczema, acne, scabies, leukoderma, chronic itching, or hives. In such conditions, along with internal medication, elimination of the toxins and purification of the blood is necessary. Rakta Moksha is also indicated for cases of enlarged liver, spleen, and gout.

Pitta is produced from the disintegrated red blood cells in the liver. So pitta and blood have a very close relationship. An increase in pitta may go into the blood causing toxicity, and thus many pitta-genic disorders. Extracting a small amount of blood from a vein relieves the tension created by the pitta-genic toxins in the blood. Leeches have been used as an alternative to bloodletting. Bloodletting also stimulates the spleen to produce anti-toxic substances that help to stimulate the immune system. Toxins are neutralized, enabling radical cures in many blood-borne disorders.

Lifestyle and Diet: The Key to Health and Wellness

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Certain substances such as sugar, salt, yogurt, sour-tasting foods, and alcohol are toxic to the blood. In certain blood disorders, these substances should be avoided to keep the blood pure. For rakta moksha treatment other than bloodletting, there are blood-purifying practices involving herbs, gem therapy, or color water therapy. For any rakta moksha treatment or related alternative treatment, it is beneficial to refrain from yogurt, salt, sugar, alcohol, marijuana, sour and fermented foods.

Learn these 5 types of treatment in Ayurveda; know more about Panchkarma.