Creating public awareness on Panchakarma

- Dr Akhil Manoj

Avācīna™ Group of Concern

"Greetings to all our readers of this fifth edition of our blog series"

The cleansing procedures for the body are generally called as Panchakarma. If doshas are vitiated highly, then panchakarma is to be carried out. The root level cleansing will bring complete cure of the disease. Normal person also can do Panchakarma to prevent the occurrence of disease.

We usually carry out servicing of vehicles in regular intervals. The mechanic will check all parts of vehicle and carry out service thereby the life of vehicle will be increased and it makes smooth functioning of vehicle possible. Same manner, if our body is serviced in time, we can keep free from diseases. The servicing of our body is considered as Panchakarma.

Vamana (medicated vomiting), Virechana (medicated purgation), Sneha vasti (enema with oil), Kashaya vasti (enema with decoction), and Nasya (nasal medication) are coming under Panchakarma. Vagbhata has included Raktamoksha (blood letting) in place of Sneha vasti and renamed as Panchashodhana (five purifactory measures).

The pre operative procedures also play important role in the efficacy of treatment. before Vamana and Virechana, Snehapana (intake of ghee or oil) and Swedana (sudation) are usually done to loosen the body and to remove the rigidity.

Merits of Snehana:

The person, who consumes sneha (medicated ghee) judiciously, can live 100 years with good digestive fire, clear gut, physical strength, good complexion, stable sense organs and slow aging.

Achapana (intake of sneha alone), vicharana (intake or external application of sneha combined with food, enema, nasal application, gargling, retention of oil in eyes, head, ear etc.) and sadhya sneha (mixing with soup, gruel etc.) are various types of sneha.

Merits of Sweda:

Sudation is to be selected according to the condition of disease and diseased person. The selection of various sweda is to be done logically. Particular order is mentioned while describing types of sweda. Tapa, Upanaha, Ushma and Drava are to be performed in order. Generally various sweda is performed in vatavyadhi (arthritis like conditions and pain in joints). If it is done from rookshs to snigdha order, will be found more effective. Valuka sweda, upanaha sweda, choorna pinda sweda, jambira pinda sweda, patra pinda sweda, shashtika shali pinda sweda, pizhichil (kayasekam) etc. are to be carried out sequentially. Most of the time sudation is done as prime treatment. It cures many diseases.

Sneha and Sweda are carried out just before vamana, virechana, vasti and nasya. By snehana, doshas, are attaining Klinna (slime ) stage. Klinna doshas are liquefied by sweda. Doshas are brought to koshta (GIT) and then eliminated by judicious eliminative therapy.

Merits of Vamana and Virechana:

Vamana and Virechana have to be done after proper snehana and swedana. The purification therapy (vamana and virechana) provide clarity of intelligence, strength to sense organs, stability to body tissues, good digestive fire and slow ageing.

Vamana is mainly carried out in psoriasis and other skin diseases. Virechana is effective in piles (arsha), jaundice, worm trouble, constipation etc.

Merits of Vasti - Enema Therapy:

Vasti is mainly indicated in vata predominant diseases. There are 3 types of vasti as follow:

1. Nirooha (Kashaya Vasti - with medicated decoction)

2. Anuvasana ( Sneha Vasti - with medicated oil)

3. Uttara Vasti

Vasti is described as one half of the whole treatment. Vasti is apt in the diseases which are dependent on body tissues, alimentary tract, vital parts, head, neck and all other body parts. Vata is responsible for the transit of feces, kapha, pitta and accumulated malas. Therefore vasti is the best therapy in increased vata. Vasti is good for delay ageing. It will provide happy life, strength, digestive fire, intellect, sound and colour. It can be performed among children, youth and old aged persons. Vasti is not creating any complications. By doing anuvasana vasti, all the body tissues are getting nourished.

Merits of Nasya:

Nasya can be performed daily from birth to death in small quantity. By performing nasya, the following benefits are achieved.

1. Consistent shoulders, neck, face and chest

2. Clarity of skin

3. Strong sense organs

4. Prevention of greying of hair

Merits of Dhumapana:

Medicated smoke (Dhumapana) is done after nasya. It also cures cough, dyspnoea, rhinorrhoea, hoarseness of voice, halitosis, anaemia, diseases of hair, discharges, itching and pain of ear, mouth and eyes, lethargy and hiccup.

Merits of Gandusha etc:

Gandusha (buccal retention), Kavala (gargling), mukhalepa (herbal facial) and Moordhini Taila (application of oil on the head) are associated treatments in Panchakarma.

Gandusha and kavala are always good for teeth. It cures the diseases of oral cavity. It also alleviates distaste, removes sediments, tongue coatings and halitosis.

In persons habituated with mukhalepa, the vision becomes perfect. The face will never be gloomy. The face will become smooth and charming.

Murdhini taila cures falling, graying, bronzing and splitting of hair. It cures diseases of head with vata origin. It provides strength to the voice, lower jaw and head. Clarity of sense organs is also attained by proper usage of Murdhini Taila.

In this manner panchakarma and allied procedures are helping human being to prevent diseases.