Panchakarma - Ayurvedic Complete Detoxification and Cleansing

Panchakarma is Ayurveda's primary purification and detoxification treatment. Panchakarma means the "five therapies". These 5 therapeutic means of eliminating toxins from the body are Vamana, Virechana, Nasya, Basti and Raktamoskshana. This series of five therapies help remove deep rooted stress and illness causing toxins from the body while balancing the doshas (energies that govern all biological functions).
Panchakarma Diet

Panchakarma is ineffective if special detoxification diet is not given along with the treatments. We at Ayurveda Retreat are very aware of this and every individual undergoing Panchakarma receives special diet which is monitored every day by the doctor. Additional treatments may be recommended by doctor but there will be no extra charge.

Vamana
Vamana is a medicated emesis therapy which removes Kapha toxins collected in the body and the respiratory tract. This is given to people with high Kapha imbalance. Daily treatment involves loosening and mobilizing the toxins in an effort to finally eliminate them.

Benefits of Vamana: Bronchial Asthma, Chronic Allergies, Hay Fever, Vitiligo, Psoriasis, Hyperacidity, Chronic Indigestion Nasal Congestion, Edema, Obesity, Psychological disorders, Skin disorders.

Virechana (Purgation)
Virechana is medicated purgation therapy which removes Pitta toxins from the body that are accumulated in the liver and gallbladder, it completely cleanses the gastro-intestinal tract. It is a safe procedure without side effects. Benefits of Virechana help root out Chronic Fever, Diabetes, Asthma, Skin disorders such as Herpes, Paraplegia, Hemiplegia Joint disorders, Digestive disorders, Constipation, Hyperacidity, Vitiligo, Psoriasis, Headaches, Elephantiasis and Gynecological disorders.

Basti (Enema or Colonic Irrigation)
Basti (Enema) is considered as the mother of all Panchakarma treatments since it cleanses the accumulated toxins from all the 3 doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, through the colon. Basti is also highly beneficial as a rejuvenating treatment. Medicated oil or ghee and an herbal decoction is given as enema to clean the colon and increase the muscle tone. This procedure is usually applied for 8 to 30 days, based on the medical condition of a person. Benefits Hemiplegia, Paraplegia, Colitis, Convalescence, Cervical Spondylosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Constipation, Digestive disorders, Backache & Sciatica, Hepatomegaly & Splenomegaly, Obesity, Piles, Sexual Debility & Infertility.

Nasya (Nose Cleaning)
Nasya involves administration of medicated oil through the nose to cleanse accumulated Kapha toxins from the head and neck region. Based on the medical condition of a person, it can be given up to 30 days. Nasya benefits include Trigeminal Neuralgia, Bel's Palsy, Improves memory & eye sight, Insomnia, Elimination of excess Mucus Hyper pigmentation in the face, Pre-mature graying of hair, clarity to voice, Headaches of various origin Hemiplegia, Loss of smell and taste, Frozen shoulder, Migraine, Stiffness of the neck, Nasal Allergies Nasal Polyp, Neurological dysfunctions, Paraplegiar, Sinusitis.

Raktamokshana
Raktamokshana is procedure to cleanse the blood and is advised only in very rare conditions. It is not advisable during general Panchakarma. Most Ayurveda Centers including ours do not offer Raktamokshana due to the high risk of infection involved in blood cleansing.
Ayurvedic purification procedures

It has now been scientifically shown that a natural purification treatment can successfully eliminate environmentally toxic substances such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB's) and pesticides from the body, without damaging side effects. 

A study at the Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa in collaboration with a special laboratory at Colorado University demonstrated that classical Panchakarma treatment eliminated up to 50% of the detectable toxins in the blood. 
Chemicals injure health 
The world's largest facility for substance identification, the Chemical Abstracts Service in Columbus, Ohio, USA, currently has more than 13 million artificial substances registered. At least 100,000 of these industrial commodities combine into a chemical “soup” which we constantly absorb through food, air and our skin. Experts calculate that in Germany 30% of the population suffer from environmentally induced diseases. 
Most of the toady's environmental toxins are lipophils that accumulate in the fatty tissues of the body. These fat-soluble toxins are associated with a range of diseases such as hormone disruption, immune system suppression, allergies, diseases of the liver and skin, various types of cancer, neurological illness, reproductive disorders and deformities.
The study
The study consisted of two parts: a cross-sectional comparison and a longitudinal pre- and post- treatment. It was designed to examine the level of contamination by toxins in the population and the effectiveness of Panchakarma treatment in eliminating these poisons.
Panchakarma Treatment

Several modalities in the Ayurveda detoxification procedure use non-toxic, lipophilic materials, such as clarified butter in the oleation phase and herbalized sesame oil in the massage and enema treatments. These traditional methods are believed to sequentially loosen and remove lipid soluble toxicants from their deposited sites and stimulate their elimination.

The cross-sectional study
88 subjects, age 45 years and older, participated in the cross-sectional study: 48 had previously undergone the detoxification procedure an average of 18 times and 40 had not. Blood samples from both groups were sent to the Analytical Laboratory in the Department of Environmental Health at Colorado State University that was blind to the

treatment status of the subjects.

PCBs and Pesticides Found in Blood Samples

Blood samples from both cross-sectional groups were assayed for 17 lipophilic toxicants, including 9 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and 8 pesticides and metabolites, such as DDE, a by-product of DDT. The specific PCBs and pesticides that were studied had either been previously linked to major health problems or had been of high concern for their potential toxicity.

The results showed that blood levels of PCBs and several pesticides were significantly lower in the detoxification group than in the controls.

The longitudinal study

In the longitudinal study, blood samples from 15 subjects who participated in the Vedic Approach to Health Ayurvedic detoxification procedure were assayed, pre- and post-treatment, by Colombia State University Analytical Laboratory.

The results of the two-month longitudinal study showed that PCBs and Beta-HCH levels were reduced by 46 percent and 58 percent respectively in the MVAH detoxification group. Without this intervention, the expected drop in PCBs and Beta-HCH over two months would be only a fraction of one percent. Previously, no method had been scientifically verified to reduce levels of these lipid-soluble toxicants in the human body without causing negative side effects.

Assessment
The study came to two conclusions:

1) An alarming finding of the study was that PCB and DDE levels appear to be unexpectedly high in the general population, and may actually be increasing. This is surprising since these toxicants were banned decades ago in many countries. However they have not disappeared from the environment since they have half-lives several years in duration. Also they are still entering the food chain through imports.

2) Within days Panchakarma treatment eliminated a large proportion of these fat-soluble toxins from the body. Without this intervention, the expected drop would be only a fraction of one percent.

 An ancient cleansing ritual that is apt in today's modern world also….

Panchakarma is an ancient Indian Ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation practice that works to clear out excesses in the mind and the body. Panchakarma means "five actions" which remove toxins built up in the body over a period. It instills a sense of balance and calms right down to the cellular level.

Panchakarma at Ayurveda Kendra is an individualised therapy that remains as faithful to the ancient tradition as possible. It's a system based on natural holistic healing by strengthening the body and allowing natural healing mechanisms to work to their fullest potential.

The physician determines the kind of procedure and the types of medicines to be used after examining the patient. It is not necessary that a patient should undergo all the five procedures of treatment used in Panchakarma. Panchakarma should not be administered to those below seven years and those above 80 years.

Medicated Emesis (Vamana), Medicated Purgation (Virechana), Nasal Medication (Nasya), Medicated Enema (Vasti) and Blood Letting (Raktamoksha) are the five purification procedures for removing accumulated toxins and other waste materials in the body.

Let us look, little in detail, what these procedures involve.

1. Pre-Treatment (Poorva Karma):
These are certain procedures followed for preparing the body before doing Panchakarma for the total elimination of toxic deposit. These procedures are done for seven days. Snehana (Oleation) and Swedhana (Sweating) are the two steps involved in pre-treatment for Panchakarma. Swedhana is followed for two days after Snehana. After completion of these courses, the patient is advised to take rest, avoid cold, take warm baths, get adequate fresh air and eat easily digestible food.

The pre-treatment is followed by the purgation or purification therapy. Purification is done in two ways - Emesis (Vamanam) and Medicated Enema or Decoction (Vasti). This is done for three days.

2. Therapeutic Vomiting (Emesis or Vamana)
In this process excited and vitiated humors are removed from the upper part of the body by way of vomiting. Vomiting is induced with herbal emetic substances for the purpose of eliminating vitiated Kapha and Pitta. Emesis is effective in the treatment of disorders like asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, indigestion, epilepsy, excessive salivation and diseases in fatty tissue and muscular tissue like hemorrhoids and tumors of fat and muscle. The quantity should be given till the patient's stomach is completely full.

3. Purgation Therapy (Virechana)
Virechana is the cleansing of the Pitta and the purification of blood toxins. Generally, it is administered for three days after the Vamana treatment but this may vary. If Vamana therapy is not needed, Virechana can be administered directly after Poorva Karma. Virechana cleanses the sweat glands, small intestine, colon, kidneys, stomach, liver and spleen. A number of effective and safe herbs can be used as a laxative. Virechana is used for treatment of skin diseases.

4. Medicated Enema (Vasti)
Medicated enema is universally regarded as the most important procedure in Panchakarma therapy since it removes the excess Vata Dosha (humor) from the entire body. Medicated enema is mainly of two types.

5. Nasal Medication (Nasya)
Nasya is the procedure in which medications are administered through the nostrils in order to purify the head and neck region. The medicines used for this procedure are oil, pastes, powers, plant juice, decoctions, infusions and even smoke.

6. Rakta Moksha (Blood letting)
Bloodletting is an invasive procedure; hence only a licensed physician should administer it. This treatment is used only for the treatment of blood related and Pitta related disorders such as skin, liver spleen and conditions like gout, headaches and hypertension. Jalauka (Leeches) is the most renowned method of blood letting and the mildest of all types. It is a safe, painless and effective form of treatment