Meaning of Panchakarma

Panchakarma is the shortened form of ?Panchakarma-kriya?. It is the name of a group of therapeutic techniques in Ayurveda, the traditional Hindu system of medicine. Panchakarma is also known as ?shodhana kriya?.

Ayurvedic Panchakarma

Vaman

For a few days, a patient receives inside and outside oleation and fomentation treatments, which include therapies and some ayurvedic medicines. When the toxins melt and accumulate in the upper cavities of the body, the patient is given emetic medicines and a decoction. This causes vomiting and aids in the removal of poisons from the body’s tissues. Vaman treatment is especially recommended for Kapha-dominant conditions like weight gain, asthma, and hyperacidity.

Virechan

Toxins are purgeable or disposed of in virechan by clearing the bowels. Inside and outside oleation and fomentation treatments are also administered to the patient during this treatment. From then on, the patient is given a natural purgative to encourage gut clearing, which aids in removing toxins from the body. Virechana treatment is primarily used to treat pitta-dominant conditions such as herpes zoster, jaundice, colitis, celiac disease, etc.?

Basti

Homegrown decoctions, oils, ghee, or milk are managed into the rectum according to the nature of the disease, which has incredible positive effects. This treatment is extremely effective against Vata-dominant conditions such as arthritis, piles, and constipation. Also, learn more about constipation medicine.?

Nasya

This treatment is extremely effective for clearing and purging the scalp. The head and shoulder areas are delicately massaged and fomented at the start of the treatment. Following that, nasal drops are administered in both nostrils. This cleans the entire head area and reduces various cerebral pain, headache, hair issues, sleep disorder, neurological disorders, sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, and respiratory ailments.?

Raktamokshan

This treatment is beneficial for blood purification and is effective against ailments caused by impure blood. It can be done in a specific area or throughout the body. This treatment is especially beneficial for various skin infections, such as psoriasis and dermatitis, and local lesions, such as abscesses and pigmentation. For a detailed description check out this blog!

Panchakarma Therapy

Oleation

Oleation is the application of oil or an oily substance to the body. Ayurveda provides a variety of oils made from natural and mineral ingredients, mostly for external use. The fatty substance acts as a viable medium, figuring out how to reach deeper tissues, carrying medicinal ingredients to every cell of the body, and loosening up toxins stuck in the cells.

Fomentation

Treatments that cause sweating are known as fomentation treatments. The fomentation treatments come after the oleation treatments. These therapies make the tissues made delicate by oleation treatments more flexible.?

Benefits of Panchakarma

• Panchakarma is a dual-effect process focusing on disease remission and overall well-being. 
• It aids in the elimination of bodily toxins, which significantly slows down the ageing process. when the body is biologically cleansed and purified, and pathology is reversed then the physiology is restored to its optimal state.
• Panchakarma also promotes tissue nourishment in the body, ensuring that nutrients reach their intended destinations.
• It also restores the balance of the three vital humours of the body: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. It helps to improve natural immunity and optimise the body’s metabolism and digestion.

Panchakarma for Weight loss

Weight management in Ayurveda is more concerned with how food is processed by our digestive system and the liver’s impact on anabolic metabolism. Over time, these can accumulate toxins from drinks and food items (ama and Kapha). While an imbalance in Kapha causes weight gain, an imbalance in ama causes a person to become underweight.

Some of the Panchakarma Treatments that are Used for Weight Loss Purposes

• Swedana – This aids in the removal of toxins from the body through the use of herbal steam therapy.
• Kizhi – This is a hot fermentation therapy that uses medicated pouches.
• Udvarthanam – Through dry powder massage, this Panchakarma therapy aids in the removal of excessive cellulite deposits from the body.
• Abhyanga – This treatment consists of a warm oil massage that revitalises the body.
• Pizhichil – A person is given an oil bath to balance muscle tone in Pizhichil.
• Elakizhi – Warm pouches containing herbs are used for therapeutic massaging in this treatment.

• Swedana – This aids in the removal of toxins from the body through the use of herbal steam therapy.
• Kizhi – This is a hot fermentation therapy that uses medicated pouches.
• Udvarthanam – Through dry powder massage, this Panchakarma therapy aids in the removal of excessive cellulite deposits from the body.
• Abhyanga – This treatment consists of a warm oil massage that revitalises the body.
• Pizhichil – A person is given an oil bath to balance muscle tone in Pizhichil.
• Elakizhi – Warm pouches containing herbs are used for therapeutic massaging in this treatment.

Please keep in mind that not all of the treatments may be required for every overweight person. The type and duration of treatment are determined after an assessment by Ayurvedic doctors, who consider the person’s age, dosha imbalance, and current medical condition.