subject: Panchakarma - The Role Of Panchakarma In Ayurveda By Ayurvedic Center New York [print this page] The term Panchakarma comprises two words: Pancha, meanting five; and Karma, meaning methods or measures. Panchakarma plays a vital role in Ayurvedic medicine, both in health as well as in disease.
The importance of Panchakarma in Ayurveda is born out by the fact that it is applicable to all cases covering a wide range of preventive and curative conditions. A common comparison states that just as dyeing is not properly effected if the cloth is not properly washed and cleaned - in the same way - no therapy works well if the purificatory measures are not taken beforehand. It is postulated that the vitiated Doshas and malas of the body need to be eliminated before any specific measure is taken to cure the disease.
Panchakarma forms a part of the regimen of preventive medicine, as it is a prophylactic measure in the context of epidemics and pandemics. It is also indicated as a preparatory procedure before the administration of Rasayana or Rejuventation therapy and Vajikarana or the therapy for the promotion of virility and sexual stamina. Each one of the Panchakarma procedures have to be applied with due consideration to the particular type of doshic disturbances and indications and contraindications of their use. Therefore, the patient has to be carefully examined, assessed, and prepared before the administration of one or the other procedures.
Panchakarma has three steps. First is Purva Karma (preparation), Panchakarma, Paschat Karma (Post Activities).
Before actually doing the Panchakarma some preparatory treatments are done. These are called Purvakarma.
Purva Karma includes the Snehana & Sweadana.
Snehana is the main Purva karma procedure. Literally, Snehana means to oleate or to make smooth. It is a specific treatment for vatic disorders. Oily preparations given are ghee, oils and fats. The patient is administered oily preparations both internally and externally.
Sweadana is designed to induce sweating by application of heat. There are a number of ways and means to practise this procedure like steam bath and poultices are used on specific parts of the body. Many kinds of warm medicated oils, water, milk and herbal decoctions are also used. They are either used in a bath tub or are poured on the body. These types of fomentation treatments are very beneficial in diseases like pains in the joints, neck, lumbago, hemiplegia, urinary disorders, renal diseases, muscular dystrophy, common cold, asthma and loss of muscle functions. Sweadana or fomentation liquefies or digests the Doshas and opens the mouth of blocked channels and pores of cell membrane. This makes the elimination of wastes easy when the actual Panchakarma are performed. So after doing these Purva Karma or preparatory treatments, the main karmas (Panchakarma) are done.
The Panchakarma
Panchakarma includes five types of treatment which are as follows:
Vamana - use of emetics
Virechana - use of laxatives
Basti - medicated enema
Nasya - Nasal administration
Rakta Mokshana - blood letting
The Paschat Karma
Paschat Karma advises a special post therapy dietetic regimen which is designed to restore the digestive and absorptive capacity of the person, thus restoring him to the normal state of health.
