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PANCHKARMA
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| Significance of Panchkarma in
Ayurveda |
| Ayurveda emphasizes
preventative and healing therapies along with
various methods of purification and rejuvenation.
Ayurveda is more than a mere healing system; it
is a science and an art of appropriate living,
which helps to achieve longevity. Panchakarma
is Ayurveda's primary purification and detoxification
treatment. Panchakarma means the "five therapies".
It is a comprehensive system of knowledge and
practices to purify the body of toxins and restore
it to balance with natural law. These five 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 is ineffective
if special detoxification diet is not given along
with the treatments. Panchakarma plays a vital
role in Ayurvedic medicine, both in health as
well as in disease. Although panchakarma is often
thought of as the entire procedure, it really
is only one part of a group of therapies belonging
to a class of cleansing procedures called shodan.
There is also a group of milder techniques called
shaman for those not strong enough for shodan.
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| In
today's world when more and more people
are falling prey to the adverse effects
of stress and anxiety, which is leading
to diseases like improper digestion, lack
of sleep, allergies, chronic fatigue, cancer,
heart diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis etc.
The importance of pancha karma in ayurveda
is borne out by the fact that it is applicable
to all cases covering a wide range of preventive,
curative, and |
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promotive conditions. These
diseases are caused mainly due to deeply seated
toxins. With the process of Panchakarma it eliminates
these toxins from the body, allowing healing
permanently of tissues, channels, digestion
and mental functions. In Ayurveda, the treatment
is broadly divided into two categories: Shodhana
and Shamana. Curing the disease by cleaning
out the impurities is called Shodhana chikitsa,
which is the principle of Panchakarma. It involves
the clearing of vitiated doshas (vata, pitta
and kapha) which cause the disease and thereby
the restoration of equilibrium of doshas.
Panchakarma includes the following five purification
therapies:
- Vamana (emesis),
- Virechana (purgation),
- Basti (enema),
- Nasya (nasal insufflation) and
- Raktamokshan (blood-letting).
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| Purification Therapy Basti Karma |
Vata's predominant site
is the colon. Ayurvedic basti involves the introduction
into the rectum of herbal concoctions of sesame
oil, and certain herbal preparations in a liquid
medium. Basti karma is the most powerful of
the five main procedures of Panchakarma. The
literal meaning of basti is bladder. Medicated
enemas are used for various specific reasons.
In general, Basti treatment is used to promote
elimination of the loosened vata dosha out through
the rectum. There are many specific enemas listed
in Ayurveda. Basti involves introducing medicinal
substances such as herbalized oils and other
herbal decoctions in a liquid medium into the
rectum. Basti is especially good for vata disorders.
It alleviates constipation, distention, chronic
fever, the common cold, sexual disorders, kidney
stones, heart pain, vomiting, backache, neck
pain and hyperacidity. Since vata is mainly
located in the colon and bones, the medication
is administered rectally. If the treatment is
properly administrated basti helps to rejuvenate
the body, provides strength and long life, and
improves the complexion and the voice. Enemas
should not be given to persons suffering from
shortness of breath, chronic abdominal pain,
bleeding from rectum, cough, diarrhea, and severe
anemia.
Types of Enemas:
- Nirhua Basti (Decoction Enema) - mainly
herbal decoction and small amounts of oil
- Anuvasana Basti (Oil Enema) - mainly warm
oils with small amounts of herbal decoction
- Brihmana Basti (Nutrititive Enema) - warm
milk, meat broth, bone marrow soup, etc.
Functions of Basti
- It cleanses and detoxifies the body.
- It is divided into strong treatment that
penetrates in to deeper dhatus and mild treatment,
which work on the superficial level of dhatus.
- It means promoting secretions in the colon.
- It promotes the liquefaction of ama and
mala (waste products) in the colon.
- It helps the colon expel them. Similar to
western enemas, this basti increases colonic
peristalsis, producing rapid elimination of
the faeces.
- It is palliative.
According to the traditional texts of Ayurveda
there are eight main types of basti
- Anuvasana.
- Niruha-Asthapana.
- Uttara Basti.
- Matra Basti.
- Karma Basti.
- Kala Basti.
- Yoga Basti.
- Bruhana Basti.
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