RUDRA AYURVEDA | NEW YORK Ayurvedic Medicine, Services and Therapies by Vaidhya(Dr.) Reetu Rudra | 358 Fifth Ave. Suite 704 New York, NY 10001 | (646) 331-0398 PANCHAKARMA | Page 7 of 8 Home | About Ayurveda | About Vaidhya(Dr.) Rudra | Services and Therapies | Prakriti | Pranayam | Panchakarma | Contact Us INTRODUCTION PANCHAKARMA Panchakarma is a purifying therapy to enhance the metabolic process through food and herbal medicines. It is used in deep rooted chronic disease as well as seasonal imbalance of tri-Doshas. As the wastes are eliminated from the body the person becomes healthy. Literally Pancha means five and Karma means action. So Panchakarma means five types of actions or techniques or treatment. These types of therapeutics are based on elimination therapy. In order to stay healthy and fit one should carry out Panchakarma methods as a way of cleansing and servicing the body. The greatest benefit of this system is preventing possible serious illness due to 'Srothas Avarodha' obstruction of channels or ducts. Panchakarma includes five types of treatment which are as follows: Vamana - use of emetics Virechana - use of laxatives Basti - medicated enema Nasya - Nasal administration Rakta Mokshana - blood letting Most of these treatments are used in chronic and deep rooted diseases. Before actually doing the Panchakarma, some preparatory treatments are done. These are called Purvakarma. Panchakarma can help a variety of conditions, including: - Detoxification, Digestive Disorders, Respiratory Conditions - Circulation Problems, Skin Conditions, Stress, Muscle Tension, Fluid Retention - Sexual Dysfunction, Chronic Fatigue, Rejuvenation, Aphrodisiac Effect, Degenerative Conditions Purvakarma PANCHAKARMA PREPARATORY TREATMENTS: PURVAKARMA Before actually doing the Panchakarma some preparatory treatments are done. These are called Purvakarma. They include the following: SNEHAN It is the oilation therapy. It is of two kinds, internal and external. Internal Snehan: in this treatment medicated oils and ghee (clarified butter) etc. are given for internal use. These sneha are so subtle that they can enter into minute pores of cell membrane. They have a tendency of pushing or mobilizing the impurities from there so that their elimination becomes easy. Ghee (clarified butter) prepared from cow's butter is best for this use. External Snehan: this comprises of different kinds of massage. Medicated oils are applied on the body and different methods are used for that. These massage techniques are many times used in the treatment of muscular fatigue, loss of motor functions, arthritis, paralysis, migraine, spondylities and bodyache. They also induce sound sleep by relaxing the nervous system, increase immunity of the body and are beneficial to increase skin's lustre. SWEDANA It is the second Purvakarma. It means fomentation or heating therapy. Different types of fomentations like steam bath and poultices are used on specific parts of the body. Many kinds of warm medicated oils, water, milk and herbal decoctions are also used. They are either used in a bath tub or are poured on the body. These types of fomentation treatments are very beneficial in diseases like pains in the joints, neck, lumbago, hemiplegia, urinary disorders, renal diseases, muscular dystrophy, common cold, asthma and loss of muscle functions. Swedana or fomentation liquefies or digests the Doshas and opens the mouth of blocked channels and pores of cell membrane. This makes the elimination of wastes easy when the actual Panchakarma are performed. So after doing these Purvakarma or preparatory treatments, the main karmas (Panchakarma) are done. Paschat karma PANCHAKARMA POST ACTIVITIES: PASCHAT KARMA After the Panchakarma treatments, the digestive power becomes weak. A special diet and lifestyle are prescribed for about two weeks. Thus in this therapy the digestive power and strength of the person is restored by starting a light diet and gradually going towards a heavy diet. Part 1. Shamana In this part internal medicinal treatment is given for the disease for which Panchakarma was done. This is to give permanent relief from the disease. So in case some cause of the disease is left in the body even after the cleaning process, it is finished by giving internal medicines. Part 2. Rasayana This means rejuvenating therapy. The best results of rejuvenation can be achieved if it is taken after doing the Panchkarma If rejuvenation therapy or Rasayana are taken without cleaning the body we may not get best results because the effect of the Rasayana is reduced due to the presence of toxins or wastes in the body.