Panchakarma
Panchakarma in Ayurveda, the Indian systems of medicine
Panchakarma therapy is an integral part of Ayurveda, the ancient medical system of India. According to Ayurveda, every person is born with a basic nature that does not change over time. In Ayurveda this genetic make up is known as one’s prakruti. The Sanskrit word Prakruti has different meanings. Outside the world of ayurvedic medicine, the word mainly stands for ‘Nature’ – the universe with all its phenomena. But the word is used in the ayurvedic medical parlance to denote a person’s constitution in terms of the three somatic humors – the tridoshas. The concept of tridoshas which forms the key stones of the vast structure of the ayurvedic science or the Indian system of medicine needs further explanation.
Tridosha
According to Ayurveda, the human body is composed of Doshas, Dhatus and Malas.
Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the three somatic humours. Though they provide for the whole system, the humours have their Read more...
Dhatu
In Ayurveda, the science of life and health, the word Dhatu is defined as a factor that supports the body. The accumulation of Amam (toxins) in the system vitiates the Tridhatus and causes their imbal Read more...
Amam
In Ayurveda, the Sanskrit word Amam denotes internal toxins that cause disease. Amam is a product of improper metabolic functioning whereby the system absorbs micro-molecules of undigested foo Read more...
Pharmacology
The principles of Ayurvedic pharmacology are fundamentally different from those of other systems of medicine and health especially allopathy. Most Ayurvedic medicines are prepared form herbs.
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Panchakarma
The word Panchakarma means five actions. According to one school of thought, Panchakarma refers to Nasya (nasal therapy), Vamana (emesis), Virechana (purging) and two kinds of Vasti (therapeutic enema Read more...
Three stages of Panchakarma therapy
Panchakarma is always performed in three stages – Purva Karma (pre-treatment), Pradhana Karma (primary treatment) and Paschat Karma (post-treatment). The patient who opts for any one of the five Read more...
Shodhana
Shamana and Shodhana are the two concepts of disease management in Ayurveda. Shamana means alleviation. Shamana methods mitigate the disease and its symptoms. Shodhana means elimination and Shodhana m Read more...
Snehana (Oil therapy)
Sneha means oil. Snehana is the term used in ayurveda for oleation or the application of oil. Oil may be administered either internally or externally. Saturation of the body with oils either way l Read more...
Snehapana
In Snehapana, a prerequisite in Panchakarma, Tikta Ghruta or ghee infused with herbs is orally administered to the patient for a specific period. This ghee is made from clarified butter (obtained from Read more...
Abhyanga
Abhyanga means oil massage. While a person may perform Abhyanga on his own as part of his daily routine for health, trained masseurs are required to perform this therapy when it is used for disease ma Read more...
Patrasweda
Patram and Ila mean leaf. Kizhi means linen bundle. Ilakkizhi or Patrasweda is a kind of sudation therapy using herbs. Leaves of Arka (Calotropis Gigantea), Karanja (Pongamia Glabra) and Dhatura (Datu Read more...
Choornasweda
Podikkizhi is another method of therapeutic sweating followed in Ayurveda. In this the body is fomented thoroughly with linen bundles (Kizhis) containing drugs in powdered form. Horsegram, blackgram, Read more...
Pindasweda
Navarakkizhi, Kerala’s unique contribution to Ayurveda, involves fomentation of the body with a bolus of cooked rice. Shastika or Navara, a particular kind of rice known for its medicinal value, Read more...
Pizhichil
Pizhichil and Sarvangadhara are technically the same. Pizhichil literally means squeezing. Here a warm medicated oil is squeezed onto the patients body from a piece of cloth that is periodically soake Read more...
Dhara
Dhara is the continual pouring of warm medicated oil or a herbal decoction over the body. It is a kind of external application of medicated liquids. Dhara with oil is one of the major oil therapies. W Read more...
Dhanyamla Dhara
An infusion prepared from some cereals (Dhanya) and vinegar (Amla) obtained from citrus fruits is called Dhanyamla. Navara rice, horse gram, millet, sliced citrus fruits and dried ginger are bun Read more...
Ksheeradhara
Dhara with medicated milk is called Ksheeradhara. Cows milk is preferred, but sometimes buffalos milk is used. Decoctions of various herbs are added to the milk. Ksheeradhara may be either for the hea Read more...
Netradhara
Extracts of herbs that possess preventive and curative properties are used for Netradhara. The procedure of this eye treatment is very simple. A stream of herbal extract is gently poured into the eyes Read more...
Shirodhara
For carrying out Shirodhara – Dhara on the forehead, a Droni alone is not enough. A structure similar to a drip stand is used to suspend the vessel that holds the Dhara fluid. The vessel has a h Read more...
Avagaha Sweda
Avagaha means immersion. Avagaha Sweda is sweating by immersion. Here, the patient is made to sweat while seated in a large tub. For treating diseases like hernia and painful micturition, warm medicat Read more...
Bashpasweda
Bashpasweda (Bashpa means steam) is another type of sudation therapy. Here, herbal steam is applied evenly to the entire body.
Before starting therapy, the patient is given cool liquids to prevent Read more...
Nasya as Pradhana Karma
Nasya
Nasahi Shirasoo Dwara…
“The nostrils are the entrance to the head and the effect of the drugs administered through the nostrils spreads in and alleviates illnesses thereby pro Read more...
Virechana Nasya
Virechana Nasya cleanses the nasal zone using medicated oil or ghee, decoctions, herbal juices and so on. This type of Nasya is good for health problems like chronic headaches, throat diseases, Read more...
Shamana Nasya
The patients shoulders, neck and face are first massaged with herbal oils like Ksheerabala or Dhanwantaram before Shamana Nasya. This is followed by sudation. Fomentation with a towel dipped in Read more...
Vasti
Vasti is the most important of the Panchakarma therapies in Ayurveda. It involves the introduction of herbal oils and decoctions into the colon through the rectum. Of the three humours, only Vata, con Read more...
Kati Vasti
The waist area of the body is called Kati. Vasti in this case implies a container. Kativasti is an effective therapy of Ayurveda for Katisula, which is the term for lower backache or stiffness or pain Read more...
Netravasti
Netravasti is a treatment of Ayurveda for the eyes. To undergo this treatment the patient is made to lie on his back on the Droni. Receptacles are built around the eyes with black gram dough for the r Read more...
Shirovasti
Shirovasti is considered more of a palliative (Shamana) treatment of ayurveda than an eliminative (Shodhana) one. As usual the treatment is preceded by oleation and sudation.
A leather sleeve abou Read more...
Pichu
Pichu and Shirovasti are treatment of ayurveda, theoretically the same except for the modes of application which vary. Both treatments are for ailments affecting the regions above the neck, especially Read more...
Urovasti
Urovasti is a treatment of Ayurveda similar to Kativasti in treatment method. Urovasti is administered to the Uras or the chest to treat pain in the sternum area. As in Kativasti, a reservoir is built Read more...
Upanahasweda
An Upanahasweda is the local application of a medicinal paste to alleviate pain associated with swelling in Ayurveda.
First a medicinal paste is prepared out of various substances. Either seeds ha Read more...
Talam
In Ayurveda, a treatment method in which medicinal paste applied on the crown or forehead is called Talam. Different kinds of Talams are prescribed according to the nature of the illness. Treatments l Read more...
Talapotichil
Wrapping up the head with medicinal paste is known as Talapotichil in ayurveda. It is an important treatment for many minor and major diseases that afflict the head. The hair on the head is completely Read more...
Karnapoorana
Karnapoorana literally means filling the ears. As Poorvakarma in Ayurveda therapy the ear lobes are gently massaged with oil. The patient is then made to lie on one side. Lukewarm, purified medicated Read more...
Lepana
Lepana is a treatment method of Ayurveda in which the external application of medicated paste on any part of the body where pain associated with inflammatory condition persists. The ingredients of the Read more...
Udwartana
Udwartana means to elevate or to promote. The name can be attributed either to the therapys ability to improve the body condition or to the upward strokes used in massage here, unlike in other ayurved Read more...
Snana
Snana is not an Ayurvedic treatment. Snana comes under Paschat Karma or post treatment care in Ayurveda. A daily bath after an Abhyanga or self-administered whole body oil massage is prescribed as par Read more...
Peyadikrama
During the Panchakarma therapy, the Amam (toxins) accumulated in the Dhatus and various channels of the body is brought into the gastro-intestinal tract, from where it is expelled. During this process Read more...
Kudipravesika
Charaka the ancient authority on Ayurveda defines it as the science of longevity. Rasayana Chikitsa (Rejuvenation therapy) and Vajeekarana Chikitsa (Virilization therapy) constitute two important chap Read more...