Ayuveda New Series Part 3

This post is all about Panchakarma(Purification), signature therapy of Ayurveda that promises effective treatment outcome.

Panchakarma has 3 major steps( In brief)

1. Purvakarma- This step is preparatory, here the patient condition is assessed and also prakriti  is analyzed, predominant doshas( Vata,Pitta, Kapha) and dushyas( saptadhatus) is identified and based on which the shodhana karma/purification procedure is decided. 
2. Pradhana Karma- The main therapy here is purification procedure or in common language its called detox procedure. 
3. Paschat Karma- The Dos and Don’ts after the purification

Let me elaborate now for each of the panchakarma procedure( One in each post)

1. Vamana( Emesis/Vomiting)- Conditions in which Vamana is preferred is in cases of skin diseases, Asthma and for diseases above the chest to expel the vikruta kapha(vitiated kapha/excess mucus) from the body. The patient is prepared for one week prior to actual detox day. First 3 -5days patient is given digestives{ we call it deepana(increasing the digestive fire) and pachana(Increasing the digestive capacity) dravyas} and once we know that the digestive power is good enough, patient is given medicated ghee( Called as Snehapana) to drink starting with 30ml on day one, early morning on empty stomach. THIS IS PURVAKARMA

Patient is informed to take sips of hot water at frequent interval throughout the day until the ghee gets digested and patient starts having appetite for food. Once he/she starts with hunger pangs, they are given watery rice porridge to be eaten( now at some hospitals they even give khichadi/pongal, but I personally feel porridge is best). Same procedure goes for day 2, based on the amount of time taken to digest the previously administered medicated ghee, the next day’s dosage of ghee is fixed. Vaidya, checks upon patient everyday, vitals monitored and digestive capacity assessed. The same procedure follows everyday until Sneha lakshanas( I will explain this in a moment) are obtained. 

The maximum number of days the ghee is administered is 7 days not more than 7 days. Why so? if that’s your question, here is the answer- That is because after 7 days ghee becomes satyma( body accepts it and starts digesting it) to the body and that is not the intended outcome of the therapy. 

Let me take you to little more depth of this subject as to why Ghee is given in the first place. 

Snehapana- Before any procedures(external therapies) in Ayurveda snehana(Oiling/lubrication) and Swedana(Steam) is done to help facilitate easy movement of the toxins to expel it. 

Our text says the reason to give medicated ghee to drink is, it helps bring all the accumulated toxins from periphery to central (stomach) and then expelling it is easy. 

What is Sneha Lakshana?

The person starts having beautiful moisturized skin even without having to apply moisturizer, the first sign the Vaidya looks for

Secondly the patient starts to have loose stools that contains ghee, this indicates Ghee has reached saturation in the body and patient is ready for the main therapy. Once the ghee reaches saturation within the body, ghee administration is stopped and the following next 2-3days patient is given Abhyanga (full body) with medicated oils, followed by steam and is done once a day. Food restrictions holds good on these days too.

Just a day before the actual detox procedure( Vamana in this case), patient is given kapha utkleshana(that which increases the kapha in the body or the mucus) foods. 

If your question is to know what those foods are? Please wait for my next post:)

Trust me, it would be your favourite tasty foods that you would love to eat..Keep wondering what it could be..hahaha

See you in the next post..picture abhi baaki hain 😉 Take care

Image Credit- The Hindu Business Line