PANCHAKARMA

PANCHAKARMA

Pancha means five and Karma means action or therapy. So panchakarma means five therapies or action.

Panchakarma is special branch of ayurveda which deals with five major therapies, as well as preparatory and post-operatory procedures.

Panchakarma is always performed in three phages:

1. Purvakarma 

2. Pradhankarma

3. Paschatakarma

PURVAKARMA (PREPARATORY PROCEDURE)

Before the actual starting of the panchakarma therapies, there is need to prepare the body with some methods to organize the body for eliminating the Dosha.

Purvakarma includes:

1. Dipana (igniting the Agni) 

2. Pachana (Digestion of Ama)

3. Snehana (internal and external oleation)

4. Swedana (sudation)

PRADHANAKARMA

पंचकर्मणा नामानि वमनं रेचनं नस्यं निरुहः च अनुवासनं |

एतानि पंचकर्माणि कठितानि मुनीश्वरैः || (शा.उ. ८/६३)

According to the Acharya Atreya school of thought, five Panchakarma therapies are:

          A.    Vaman (Therapeutic Emesis)

          B.     Virechana (Therapeutic Purgation)

          C.     Niruha Basti(Decotion based enema)

          D.    Anuvasana Basti (Oil based enema)

          E.     Nasya (Errhine therapy)

According to the Acharya Dhanwantari school of thought, five panchakarma therapies are

          A.    Vaman (Therapeutic Emesis)

          B.     Virechana (Therapeutic Purgation)  

          C.     Basti (Enema)

          D.    Nasya (Errhine therapy)

          E.     Raktmokshana (Bloodletting therapy)

PASCHATKARMA (POST OPERATIVE TREATMENT)

After the bio purification, Agni and strength of the body becomes weak. So to restore the strength of Agni and body, special dietetic regimen is advised as well as restriction related to food and behaviors are also advised.

Paschatkarma includes:

        A.    Samsarjana Karma

        B.     Tarpanadi Karma

        C.     Rasanayadi Karma

        D.    Samana