Panchakarma


Panchakarma comprises of two words namely pancha meaning five and karma meaning actions.

Panchakarma consists of :

Panchakarma
  • medicated puking(vamana) to remove excess kapha
  • therapeutic purgation (viracana) to clear excess pitta
  • medicated clyster (vasti) to eject excess vata
  • nasal drops or snuffs (nasya) for diseases of the head & neck and
  • bloodletting (raktamokshana) in case of blood disorders.
As the humors and tissues are related closely to each other, this discharge procedure affects the tissues indirectly by the strong elimination of related humor. For example, the pronounced elimination of kapha by herb induced clyster causes an effect on the nutrient tissue fluid pool, which water and essential electrolytes, plasma, muscle, fat etc.

Or the large release of pitta by selective purgation similarly causes an indirect effect on the total colouring material in the body or blood.

Vasti is somewhat different, as it is meant to nullify excess vata and contains warm oleation substances. During its long contact with the membrane of the large intestine, it separates layers of fecal matter and thus enhances better absorption, which is responsible for the nourishment of all tissues.

Nasya in turn cleans the sinus and thereby improves the function of sense organs. Volitional transgression, effect of time and senses are the three primary causes responsible for vitation of biological and mental doshas. Food, drinks & environmental factors with similar properties to the doshas vitiates them and cause disease. Panchakarma's purificatory therapies balance out the three doshas, acting both as a curative and a preventive measure.

The treatment in Ayurveda consists of two main types. One is Shaman Chikitsa, used to subdue the debased Doshas, due to which ailments are generally produced. It is administered by using various medicinal herbo-mineral preparations. However, if the Doshas are vitiated beyond a particular level, they give rise to various toxins, which tend to be accumulated in the minute channels of our body. These are beyond the level of mollification and hence needs to be eliminated from the body.

In such cases, the second type of treatment, which is Shodhan Chikitsa or cleansing therapy, is done. Since it consists of the five types of main therapies, it is known as the Panchakarma Chikitsa.

Panchakarma has been given a special place in all the ancient Ayurvedic texts. Aacharya Charak, the author of the most important ancient text on internal medicine, has described a wide use of Panchakarma therapy for almost all the major diseases.

Two separate sections, Kalpa Sthanam, and Siddhi Sthanam in Charak Samhita describe the details of special decoctions and other preparations used for Panchakarma therapy. Emesis




<< Home