Panchakarma - A unique concept of treatment procedure
Treating diseases in Ayurveda involves two main methods; Shodana chikitsa
and shamana chikitsa. Shodhana chikitsa, often synonymous with Panchakarma, is
widely acknowledged as the most effective therapy for curing diseases without
recurrence.
The word
panchakarma is composed of two words, “Pancha” and “karma”. Pancha means five
and karma means ‘action’. Here it represents five kinds of therapeutic
procedures the physician gives to eliminate vitiated doshas from the body.
In Ayurveda,
the three regulatory principles of the body and mind are called doshas. The
three doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, which are also known as Tridoshas.
· Vata; Governs all kinds of movements inside
the body. Represented by air and space
· Pitta; Regulates metabolism and the
actions that require heat.
· Kapha; Manages assimilation in the body.
When in an equilibrium
state these doshas maintain the health of an individual but when get vitiated
they produce diseases.
Panchakarma
procedures are intended to bring vitiated doshas from the periphery to the gut
and then expel them outside from the nearest external orifice thoroughly. Apart
from as a therapeutic procedure, these are indicated as seasonal regimens for the
preservation of health and prevention of disease.
The five
procedures include (as per Charaka and Sushrutha);
1. Vamana; Therapeutic emesis
2. Virechana; Therapeutic purgation
3. Niruha basthi; Enema with decoction)
4. Anuvasana basthi; Enema with unctuous substances)
Nasya; Transnasal drug administration
Synonyms
of panchakarma;
· Shodana; It means purification. It is the
procedure by which excessively aggravated dosha are expelled from the body.
· Virechana; It means especially dragging
outside. In some places, this term is applied to denote the evacuation of dosha
through upward and downward directions.
तान्युपस्थितदोषाणां स्नेहस्वेदोपपादनै: ।
पन्चकर्माणि कुर्वीत मात्राकालौ विचारयन्
॥ च सू २। १५ ॥
Panchakarma is
supposed to produce kayakalpa, i.e. dramatic changes in the body provided
properly administered considering desha (habitat), kala (season), Dosha (body humor)
dushya (vitiated doshas), koshta (nature of bowel), Agni (digestive power),
bala (body strength), and Prakriti (constitution of the body.
Panchakarma
procedure includes;
1. Poorva karma
2. Pradhana karma
3. Paschath karma or samsarjana karma.
1. Poorva karma (preparatory procedure);
स्नेहमग्रे प्रयुंजीत ततः स्वेदमनंतरम् ।
स्नेहस्वेदोपपन्नस्य संशोधनमथेतरते
॥च सू १३-६६॥
By using preparatory techniques, tolerance and acceptance of
the main procedure’s outcome are increased. It causes alteration in the
vitiated doshas so that they may be mobilized without difficulty and hence
readily eliminated from the body. The procedure includes
A. Deepana and pachana
B. Snehapana (oral intake of fat)
C. Abhyanga and Swedana (body massage
and sudation)
A. Deepana and Pachana;
Deepana
karma is an
ayurvedic treatment that involves rekindling digestion and stimulating
digestive fire, the body's metabolism.
Pachana karma plays an important role in bringing
the sama dosha (doshas associated with ama) to the nirama (doshas without ama)
state, as they mobilize the doshas from shaka to koshta and thus help in the easy
expelling of doshas from the body. It is intended to remove undigested food/toxins
(ama) from the body and is a prerequisite before purificatory therapies
B. Snehapana;
The use of medicated fat may be herbal ghee, herbal
oil, animal fat, or bone marrow internally, which is called snehapana
(oleation). Using oleation results in the unctuousness and softness of morbid
doshas, which become easily extractable and ready to move from places where their
occupation is undesirable and unwanted. In this process, oral intake of
medicated fat is administered for several days before starting the panchakarma
therapy in an increasing dose each day.
C. Abhyanga and swedana;
Massaging
the entire body or specific body part is an essential part of panchakarma and
is called abhyanga. During abhyanga warm oil is applied to the entire body,
from scalp to feet, using a variety of techniques and substances to apply
manual pressure. The oil used is usually based on the individual’s dosha type
and the doshas involved in their illness.
Swedana or
sudation therapy, Involves inducing sweat in the patient. It channels vitiated
doshas in the body, to places from where they can be easily ejected by the
system during pradhanakarma.
2. Pradhana karma;
Pradhana
karma or main action, is the stage in panchakarma therapy that follows
purvakarma, or preparatory treatment, and involves letting the doshas out of
the body through the nearest channel as per the involved dosha. The procedure includes
either of the following;
A. Vamana
B. Virechana
C. Nasya
D. Asthapana basthi
E. Anuvasana basthi
A. Vamana karma;
Vamana therapy primarily addresses conditions characterized
by the vitiation of Kapha dosha in the body. It is a structured procedure
involving induced vomiting, conducted for a predetermined duration before
cessation is planned.
A. Virechana karma;
Virechana, a panchakarma procedure, induces purgation in
patients to eliminate vitiated pitta dosha from the body, making it
particularly effective in treating pitta-related conditions.
B. Nasya karma;
Nasya karma
involves the administration of medicated oils or powders into the nasal cavity,
which helps to remove toxins and vitiated doshas from above the shoulder region.
Nasal medications are specifically tailored for treating conditions affecting
areas above the shoulders, as the nose serves as the gateway to the head. By
administering nasal medicines, the treatment permeates throughout the head and
neck, effectively addressing various ailments in these regions.
C. Asthapana basthi;
Basthi
therapy, encompassing both asthapana (decoction enema) and anuasana (oil
enema), holds paramount significance in treating disorders caused by vata
dosha. Given that the intestines serve as the primary abode of vata dosha,
basthi karma facilitates the direct administration of medicinal substances into
the vata sthana (site), effectively targeting and eliminating vata dosha at its
root.
Asthapana
basthi is a type of
basthi (enema) where decoction is the major part along with other ingredients.
E. Anuvasana basthi;
Anuvasana basthi or medicated oil enema, is a type of
ayurvedic panchakarma treatment that involves administering medicated oil or
ghee as an enema. Fat stays in the intestine, bladder, and uterus longer
without causing any problems.
Paschath karma/ samsarjana krama;
Paschath karma is the concluding phase of panchakarma also
known as follow-up or aftercare treatment. The goal of paschath-karma is to
reestablish digestive enzymes and replenish tissues that have been detoxified.
It plays a crucial role in consolidating the benefits gained from the main
treatment. It includes;
1. Samsarjana krama (diet regimen);
A graduated dietary
regimen is prescribed, commencing with a light diet and progressively
incorporating more complex foods to restore digestive strength. This structured
approach also aids in preventing the accumulation of new toxins.
2. Rasayana (rejuvenation);
rasayana is a revitalization therapy equipping body to regain and maintain health
