What is Panchkarma, its uses, effects and benefit for health and skin

Ayurveda offers a special treatment called Panchkarma for a thorough cleaning of the body. An ayurvedic doctor prescribes Panchakarma and specifies its type after determining the nature of a person. A detail examination is conducted to get acquainted with medical history, including obesity, diabetes, BP and high cholesterol. Panchkarma is made of Panch+ karma = Panch means five and karma means process. Panchkarma means a collection of five detoxification process. These include Vamana, virechana, nasya, Basti and raktamokshana. Apart from the five basic processes, Panchkarma offers remedies for other diseases too.

benefits of panchakarma and Why Panchkarma is important for body and clear glowing skin

Dusting, sweeping and mopping is part of our daily cleaning routine. Yet, we thoroughly clean every, furniture and utensils in the home in the run-up to Diwali or any other function. Similarly, the body is designed to discharge toxins through urine, stool, and sweat at regular intervals. But to control disorders caused due to vata, pitta, and kapha, Panchkarma cleansing is required.

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Panchkarma procedure

Panchkarma is Brahmastra (ultimate weapon) in Ayurveda. It is used when Ayurvedic medicines fail to bring the desired results.

You can cover a pothole with soil, but this would never work on a lake. In such a case, we need to break the barrier and make way for the water.

Similarly, Ayurveda medicines combined with food restriction can help in reducing imbalances in doshas. But if the irregularities are severe, then it can be treated through Panchkarma. According to Ayurveda, an unhealthy diet slows down metabolism, which is called amu(toxins). This affects the digestive system.

स्र्वेपि म्न्देग्न्नो च

It means that all diseases stem from indigestion. it is advisable to get rid of this toxin without delay. Panchkarma clears the congestion by amu. Some of this toxin can be removed by the body’s auto-clean system combined with ayurvedic medicines. But regular consumption of unhealthy food, lack of physical activities, lifestyle change, genetic reason and chronic stress lead to excess formation of amu, which sometimes results in complicated diseases. Elimination of amu help get back the healthy and disease-free body, which is mandatory for an ideal body

panchakarma cleanse the body through these five steps

Vamana= This treatment is done for an aggravated kaphadosha, which eliminates toxins mainly from respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. It is targeted to release excess kapha dosha from the body. Excessive kapha dosha causes conditions and diseases like allergy, acidity, acne and respiratory problems, among others.

Virechana= Virechana is a controlled process that collects toxins form many pitta location in the body, concentrates it in the small intestine and then discharge it. Virechana customarily leads to a state where toxic and disease-causing pitta dosha is flushed out of the body. The therapy is useful in eliminating excess pitta in a woman, and man

Nasya= Nasya treatment refers to the therapy in which herbal oil, juices or powders are administered through the nasal route. It is useful in treatment of stress, tension, insomnia, migraine, hair issue, high BP and eye problem. It is a sure shot remedy for chronic cold. It treats cough congestion the head through the nasal tract.

Basti= it is an enema of herbal oil in Panchkarma. It is effective in treating vatta disorders by expelling excess gas through the anal tract. It is remedy for arthritis, paralysis, polio, sciatica, constipation and neck and back pain.

Raktamokshana= it is useful in addressing skin or blood disorders. Impure blood is removed from the body using a scalpel or syringe.

Special Panchkarma therapies with panchakarma benefits

  • Uttarbasti= In this therapy, ayurvedic ghee is administered into the uterus on the fifth day of menstrual cycle, when the bleeding is less or not at all. It treat various uterus related disorders. This is generally performed for three months at a stretch.
  • Shridhara= It is a form of treatment in which warm, herbalized ayurvedic oil is poured on the forehead, which is considered the root of the body and therefore help in stablilizing the mind and the body. The therapy is useful in ailments related to head, hair, insomnia high BP paralysis migraine and to attain mental peace.
  • Netratarpan= this therapu deals with eyes problems. Two cylinders with hollow centres (made of urad dough) are placed over the eyes and filled with midicated ghee. Eyes remain dipped in a pool of ghee. It is useful in curing all sort of eye problems.
  • Kaval-gandush=this procedure addresses teeth, gums and mouth related diseases.
  • Janubasti= for knee pain
  • Katibasti= for back pain
  • Grivabasti= for neck vertebrae pain
  • Patrapindswed= for polio, paralysis, joint pain

panchakarma easy ayurveda

Ayurvedic doctors prescribe the relevant Panchkarma therapy following a thorough medical examination of the person and keeping in mind nature, season and type of the disease. The excess vatta, pitta or kapha are expelled from the body, paving the way for sharir(body) shuddhi(purity)