Panchakarma is elimination of doshas from the body. It is one of the peculiarities of Ayurveda. Since according to Ayurveda, disease is the result of imbalance of doshas, when the increase of dosha is in a large quantity the best way to get cured faster is expelling the doshas out. These procedures (Karmas) are five (Pancha) and hence they are described as Panchakarma i.e. five procedures. These are to be performed not only by the patient for getting them cured but even by healthy persons for maintaining the health. Even this is a pre treatment before rejuvenation (Rasayana) and treatment for virility (Vajikaran) also for the best progeny before conception.

Panchakarma is a specialized job to be executed under the supervision of an Ayurvedic expert. It implies some restriction to be observed by the patient and also some free time to be dedicated exclusively. For this purpose one should follow the procedure whole-heartedly fully honouring it. Each procedure is divided into three parts

• Pre procedure (Purva Karma) Pre operative.
• Main procedure (Pradhana Karma) operative.
• Post procedure (Paschat Karma) post operative.

Pre operative - this procedure aims at separating the doshas and the other body elements and also to bring back the doshas to these original site in the alimentary canal; so that they can be expelled out easily from the body. There are two procedures required to be performed as pre-operatives, viz. Snehana and Swedana.

• Snehana : It is a lubrication of the body mainly with the use of oil or ghee ( clarified butter ) . The person is asked to take medicated oil or ghee in increasing quantity till some particular signs and symptoms occur and that much quantity is consumed which takes nearly 12 hours to digest. The person has to be observing some restriction such as drinking only hot water through out the day, no sleep during day time, eating food only when hungry, etc.
• Swedana: Fomentation especially in the form of a steam bath to produce sweating is ‘Svedana’. This helps liquefaction of doshas so that they can easily tickle down to alimentary canal. Generally this is performed with external Snehan.P.S. – Snehan and swedana can also be used independently as a treatment for vata disorders like arthritis, backache, lumbago etc.

Panchakarma - consists of five Treatments of Purification

• Vaman : Therapeutic Medicine induced Emesis
• Virechan : Therapeutic Medicine induced Purgation
• Nasya : Nasal Addminstration.of Ayurved drugs
• Basti : Ayurved Medicinal Enema Therapy
• Raktmokshan : Blood letting out therapy

Post operative Procedures –– Ayurved Diet Sansarjan karma

Diseases & Its Panchakarma Treatments