Panchakarma

It is medically induced vomiting, where medicines are administered orally and elimination of Vitiated / imbalanced Doshas (mainly Kapha and Pitta) from the body (mainly from stomach) is done through oral route.

Vamana is advised when Kapha is vitiated / other vitiated Doshas (Pitta / Vata) have come to seat of Kapha. Some of the health disorders which need vamana are:

• Respiratory problems like cough, asthma, sinus problems
• Digestive disorders, Diabetes, Skin lesions
• Psychological disorders like Insanity, Epilepsy etc
• Mode of action of Emetics (drugs) while inducing vamana

Emetic drugs are basically hot (Ushna) in potency. Also they are sharp (Teekshna), and have the ability to enter the minute channels in the body (Sookshma)

With the above said abilities

• The induced drug enters into minutest channels, (sookshma)
• The hot (ushna) potency liquefies Doshas / Toxins in the body
• Attacks toxins / Doshas and breaks it down to pieces.(Teekshna)
• Honey being an important ingredient of the drug, the liquefied Doshas will be brought to stomach
• Because of dominancy of Agni & Vayu Bhoota pradominancy, Udana Vayu is stimulated and the Doshas are expelled through oral root.

Based on the Dosha predominance, the emetics can be processed with different drugs.

Some of the investigations that might be necessary

• Sugar
• ECG
• Chest X-Ray
• Lipid Profile
• Liver Functioning (LFT)

Virechana is medically induced purgation, where medicines are administered orally and elimination of Vitiated / imbalanced Doshas (mainly Pitta) from the body (mainly from intestine) is done through rectum /anal route.

Virechana is advised when Pitta is vitiated (mainly) / other vitiated Doshas (Kapha / Vata) have come to seat of Pitta. Some of the health disorders where virechana can be administered are

• Respiratory problems
• E N T disorders
• Eye diseases
• Digestive disorders, Liver disorders, Constipation, Ascites
• Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, Skin lesions, Herpes
• Psychological disorders like Insanity, Epilepsy etc
• Ano-rectal diseases like Piles, Fistula-in-ano etc
• Various kinds of Arthritis like Gouty arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis etc
• Various types of Uterine disorders

Mode of action of Emetics (drugs) to induce virechana

Purgative drugs are basically hot (Ushna) in potency. Also they are sharp (Teekshna), and have the ability to enter the minute channels in the body (Sookshma), diffuse (Vyavayi) and spreading in nature (Vikasi)

With the above said abilities

• The induced drug enters into minutest channels, (sookshma)
• The hot (ushna) potency liquefies Doshas / Toxins in the body
• Attacks toxins / Doshas and breaks it down (Teekshna) and liquefied Doshas will be brought to (lower part of) stomach
• Because of dominancy of Prithvi & Jala Bhoota pradominancy, Apana Vayu is stimulated and the Doshas are expelled through rectal / anal root

There are many kinds of preparations which induce Purgation, like Lehya, Churna (Powders), Taila (oils), Ghrita (Ghee), Vati (Tabs) etc. Based on the Dosha predominance, the purgatives can be combined with different drugs.

Very useful in Vaata disorders like Neuro-muscular, Orthopedic, Digestive disorders etc. Basti is of two types

Basti can be understood as medicated enema, where medicines (medicated oils and/or decoctions) will be administered through rectal route (Anus) & toxins will be expelled out through Anus. By this procedure, correction / elimination of Vitiated / imbalanced Doshas (mainly Vata) from the body (mainly from lower part of intestine) are done.

Basti is conducted when Vata is vitiated (mainly)/ other vitiated Doshas (Pitta &/or Kapha) have come to seat of Vata.

Basti has been given very much importance for:

• it’s fast action
• it’s ability to eliminate Doshas from the body very easily
• it can perform both cleansing and nourishing action over the body
• and it can be administered for any age group.

Basti is of two types:

• Kashayabasti- Medicinal decoction is administered through anal route
• Sneha basti- Medicated oil / ghee is administered through anal route

Basti can be administered in cases of:

• All kinds of Neuro-muscular, musculoskeletal disorders like multiple joints pain, osteoporosis, different kinds of arthritis, Sciatica, Stroke, Avascular- necrosis etc
• Digestive disorders, Constipation, Liver disorders, Ascites
• Various types of Uterine disorders

Mode of action of basti

In Ayurveda classics it is considered that anus is the root of our body. As a tree gets all the necessary nutrients from its root, in humans also the medicines administered here will reach all parts of the body. As Acharya Charaka says,

It is highly difficult or impossible to understand the exact mode of action of Basti. But may be ‘as there is rich supply of blood and lymph in this area (anus, rectum, and intestines), the drugs can cross through the rectal mucosa like other lipid membranes’.

Nasya is the procedure where medicines are introduced through nasal orifice, in the form of medicated oil / ghee / powder / (fresh) juices etc.

In Ayurveda, NASA (Nostrils) are the entrance for the head region. When the vitiated Doshas are situated at head and neck and causing the health disorders, then this procedure is very much beneficial.

There are two types of Nasya

Marsha Nasya

where high dosage of medicines are introduced into the nostrils. It is capable of cleansing / nourishing the systems (like nervous system, functions of some of the endocrine glands etc) in head & neck region; based on the action of medicine used.

Pratimarsha Nasya

where minimum quantity of medicines are introduced into the nostrils and which can be practiced daily for the health maintenance purpose.
Some of the health disorders which need Nasya are

• Most of the eye diseases
• Some kind of cold, allergies (like sinusitis etc)
• Many types of the head aches
• Facial paralysis, Frozen shoulder, Cervical spondylosis etc
• Insanity, Epilepsy

Nasya gives strength to all Indriyas (mainly sensory organs)

Based on the Dosha predominance, selection of medicine (material, dosage, time of administration, additives etc) will be decided

It is the procedure in which vitiated blood is taken out by various methods.

It is very useful in the disorders of blood, when blood is vitiated by any / all of the Doshas.
(Acharya Sushruta has given very much importance for this procedure.)

Types of Raktamokshana

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Some of the health disorders which can be treated by Rakhamokshana / Blood Letting Therapy are

• Many of the skin lesions including Psoriasis
• Many of the joint disorders like Gouty arthritis
• Herpes
• Some of the eye disorders
• Abscess, Non healing wounds

Snehana means Oleation or to make smooth. (मार्दव)

Also the procedure which produces Unctuousness (स्नेहन), Oozing (विष्यन्दन), Softness (मृदुत्व), and Liquidity (क्लेदन) is known as Snehana.

It is very important to make soft all the Doshas and Dhatus before selecting any cleansing procedure. Sources of these materials are

• • • Animals
    • Plants

Though there are a number of Snehana materials in the nature, mainly Ghee (घृत), Oil (तैल), Muscle fat (वसा), Bone marrow (मज्जा) are the best among them. Ghee is considered to be the best among the above mentioned materials and in specific best for Pitta Dosha. For Vata Dosha, oil is considered to be the best.

Based on the mode of administration, this therapy is divided into two types:

• • • External
    • Internal

External (बाह्य स्नेह)

Varieties of external usage of Sneha have been explained in Ayurveda classics, which can be selected in both healthy and unhealthy person. Some of them are:

• • • Abhyanga (Oil Massage)
    • Pariseka (Pouring the oil over the body systematically)
    • Lepa (Application of oil)
    • Pichu (Keeping cotton (which is dipped in the leuk warm oil) over the affected area.)
    • Basti (Keeping oil over the affected area for few time with the help of reservoir made out of
    • wheat flour or blackgram paste)
    • Gandusha (like Gargling)
    • Karna poorana (Filling ears with medicated oils, keeping for few minutes)

Internal (आभ्यन्तर स्नेह)

For the internal administration of Sneha, one must be cautious about Agni (Digestive fire). For a person having good Agni and without any signs of INDIGESTION, Sneha can be given. Based on the need of the person / body, and capacity of AGNI, the mode of administration of Sneha & the dosage will be decided.
As per mode of action, it is divided into

• • • Shodhana (For Dosha elimination)
    • Shamana (For Dosha palliation)
    • Brimhana (For nourishing)

Based on the requirement of the body, sometimes only one type of Sneha is selected; sometimes 2 or 3 or all the 4 varieties of Sneha can be mixed together.

Importance of Swedana

This procedure is very important to liquefy the vitiated Doshas inside the body (which are already made soft by oleation / स्नेहन procedure), later to be brought to Koshtha (कोष्ठ), which will be eliminated by inducing either Vamana / Virechana.

There are different types by which Swedana can be conducted Based on Agni

• By using Fire (साग्नि स्वेद)
• Without using Fire (निरग्नि स्वेद)
• According to area / location
• Local sudation (ऎकाङ्ग स्वेद)
• Whole body fomentation (सर्वाङ्ग स्वेद)
• Based on the strength of the person and the disease
• Mild / Gentle sudation (मृदु स्वेद)
• Medium sudation (मध्यम स्वेद)
• High grade / Maximum sudation (महा / तीक्ष्ण् स्वेद)

Based on the techniques, they are classified as

• Direct Heat ( ताप स्वेद )
• With Poultice ( उपनाह स्वेद )
• With warm liquids ( द्रव स्वेद )
• Steam ( ऊष्मा स्वेद )

Swedana is very useful in

• In most of the respiratory disorders (like Cold, Cough, Dyspnoea, Asthma, Allergies, including infections)
• Joint pains, Head aches etc
• Musclo-skeletal disorders (Low back ache, Sciatica, Various types of Arthritis like Osteo, Rheumatoid, Gouty etc)
• Neurological problems like Hemiplegia, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia, Bell’s palsy etc
• In some of the Urinary problems