By Team Ayurved Sutra
Posted on
What is Panchkarma?
Panchkarma means “five actions” or “five treatments” and is a procedure to thoroughly cleanse the body of toxic materials that accumulate due to disease and/or poor nutrition. It is as well called Panchkarma Chikitsaw. It helps the body re-achieve balance and longevity. This age-old science of purifying the body is an ancient branch of Ayurveda.
It is a treatment that consists of five different natural ways, or Panchakarma— Nasya, Vaman, Virechana, Vasthi and Raktha Moksha, which are used to eliminate all the toxic elements from the body and mind. This medical system emphasizes the holistic approach where the whole person body, mind and soul should be considered and not just the affected part.
Ayurveda is based on Panchabhutha and Tridosha theories. Panchkarma is the process which gets to the root cause of the problem and corrects the essential balance of Tridosha in body. It is not only good for alleviating disease, but is also a useful tool in maintaining excellent health. Panchkarma chikitsa clean the body, improve the digestion and to improve the metabolic processes. It aids in resisting diseases, arrest premature ageing and retain youthfulness for a long time.
Panchakarma is the cornerstone to Ayurvedic management of disease, The Treatment in Ayurveda consists of two main types— Shaman Chikitsa, used to subdue the vitiated doshas, due to which any ailments may be 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 endotoxins, which have a tendency to be accumulated in the minute channels. These are beyond the level of pacification and hence need to be eliminated or removed from the body. In such cases, the second type of treatment, which is Shodhan Chikitsa or cleansing therapy, is indicated. Since it consists of the five types of main therapies, it is known as the Panchakarma Chikitsa.
The treatment is mainly carried out using powders, tablets, decoctions, medicated oils etc. prepared from natural herbs, plants and minerals, massages and enemas etc.
- Holistic Sutra Posted for Ayurved Sutra by Soulpark with Shruti M
