Ayurvedic treatment is based upon various factors causing disease. According to which it is divided mostly into two categories shodhana(a part of treatment used to clean body having large quantum of doshas/toxins) and shamana(part of treatment used to clean body having little quantum). Panchakarma therapy is one of the types of shodhana / Sharirshuddhi (detoxification process of the body) therapies in ayurveda. It includes five types of procedures, vamana, virechana, basti, nasya and raktamokshana, so called panchakarma.
Panchakarma means the five ‘kriyas’, which is to purify and eliminate the impurities from the body.
PANCHAKARMA
1. NASYAM (application of small drops of medicine through nose)
2. VAMANAM (induced vomiting)
3. VIRECHANAM (purgation)
4. PINDASWEDA AND BASTHI (medicated enema)
5. RAKTHAMOKSHAM (blood letting)
This are the Panchakarama Treatments.Panchakarma is purification therapy.
Snehana – Making utilize of ghee or oil internally as well as externally for smoothing and soothing effect to body. It includes Shirodhara, pizzichil, katibasti, janubasti etc. for the process of vamana and virechana Snehana is required.
Swedana – It is a pre-procedure for main panchakarma process and done mandatory before. It gives temporary as well as long lasting relief from pain.
Vamana – It is a procedure in which the vitiated doshas are spelled-out forcefully through mouth in the form of vomiting.Vamana process is intended for diseases based on kapha dosha or kaphapitta dosha. The process is generally planned to cover diseases from upper part of the body, like bronchial asthma, recurrent sinusitis etc.
Virechana – It is a purgation procedure in which the vitiated pitta or pittakapha doshas are terrified from the body. The procedure is designed generally in the diseases like piles, skin ailments, semen disorders etc.
Basti – It is the chief procedure done for Vata disorders. It is the process in which medicine in liquid form is administered in intestines via rectal route. It is the only procedure accepted and done easily at any age.
The specialty of this treatment is that it can be administered both in a healthy, as well as thediseased person. When a healthy person subjects himself to Panchakarma, it has a preventive, restorative and rejuvenative effect on the body.