Ayurveda 
Panchakarma: The Detoxification Therapy
in Ayurveda
by Dr. Savitha Suri

According to Ayurvedic texts our body is crisscrossed by srotas or channels or tube like structures. This net work contains both microscopic and macroscopic channels. (Digestive system, nervous system , circulatory system etc are few examples of these channels). Innumerable physiological process like breathing, blood circulation, secretions of enzymes, hormones etc, flow of signals, supply of nutrients, filtration of toxins, excretion of waste etc are aided by these tubular structures. Diseases occur when toxins get accumulated in body and clog these channels. Unhealthy diet, lifestyle, stress, changes in environment etc lead to accumulation of toxins in body. These accumulated toxins have to be expelled out in order to keep our body healthy. Through Panchakarma therapy these toxic clogs are removed to normalize the physiological process. Hence Panchakarma therapy is called as detoxification therapy. Panchakarma therapy can be administered to a normal person to prevent diseases and keep his body healthy. The ideal season to expel toxins through this therapy, is rainy season.

Panchakarma therapy is also used as a purification therapy to cleanse the body before starting a treatment. A diseased body can be compared to a soiled cloth which can not be colored as we desire. Hence to attain the maximum benefits , the body has to be purified or cleaned before starting the treatment. The cleared channels help medicines to penetrate the deeper tissues.

The detoxification process contains three steps:

Purvakarma - Preparations which have to be done before the detoxification
Pradhanakarma - The main detoxifying process
Pashchat karma - Rehabilitating the diet and lifestyle after the detoxification process.

Purvakarma

These steps are adopted to soften the channels and toxins, so that the toxins can get detached and eliminated easily during main detoxifying process. The hard toxic clogs are made to get loosened by increasing body fire or Agni. Medicines are administered internally for this purpose. This process is called as - deepana and pachana - in Ayurveda. ( the duration of this process is 3-5 days depending on the conditions and diseases).

Later whole body is oleated internally and externally with medicated oil or ghee. This process is called as - Snehana .

Internal oleation is done by administering small quantities of medicated oil or ghee internally. The duration of internal oleation, quantity and type of medicated oil or ghee is determined by the physician after analyzing the body constitution of the patient. The patient has to eat liquid food or light food on the day prior to internal oleation. After consuming the medicated oil or ghee the patient is encouraged to sip warm water frequently. When medicated oil or ghee is completely digested, the patient is advised to consume light food.

External oleation is done after the completion of internal oleation.. The whole body or body part is massaged with medicated oil. Few types of external oleation are used as treatment methods. They are:

• Abhyanga ; Massaging whole body    
• Lepa - Smearing medicated oil and herbs   
• Mardana - Kneading the body parts with fingers and fists.  
• Padaghata - Tampling the body with foot. 
• Gandusha - The mouth is filled with oil and is retained for a longer period of time. 
• Parisheka (Pizhichil ) - The warm medicated oil is poured continuously over the entire body for an extended period of time.

Soon after oil massage the body or body part is exposed to heat through steam bath or other heating methods according to the physician's choice. This process of exposing body to heat is called as swedana or sweating. Both snehana and swedana help to soften the channels and toxin clogs. Elimination of toxins becomes easy when channels are soft and toxins are loose.

Pradhana Karma

This is the main detoxifying process. The softened and loosened toxins are expelled from body by five methods. Considering these five major detoxifying methods the whole process is named as "Panchakarma" (Pancha = 5, Karma = process ).

• Vamana (through Emesis), 
• Virechana (Purgation), 
• Niruha basthi Basthi (enema with herbal concoctions),
• Anuvasana basthi (enema with medicated oil) 
• Nasya (nasal drops) and
• Raktamokshana (Blood letting).

Physician can chose any of these detoxifying methods according to disease and prevalence of doshas.

Vamana

Vamana means expelling doshas through oral route. It is emesis therapy. Before inducing vamana the toxins and vitiated doshas are brought to amashaya or stomach with various preparatory methods like snehana and swedana. The emesis should never be induced in empty stomach. Vamana therapy is conducted in early hours of day, when kapha dosha is dominant. Vitiated doshas and accumulated toxins are expelled through methodically induced emesis. Patient is required to be relaxed calm and devoid of any mental stress through out the therapy. After emesis therapy, patient is gradually rehabilitated to regular diet and lifestyle.

Detoxification through vamana is suggested in diseases which mainly involve kapha dosha. The disorders like cough, asthama, indigestion, poisoning, repeated attacks of tonsillitis, nasal discharge, tuberculosis, etc are treated with vamana therapy. Children and elderly are not to be subjected to this therapy. The same holds good for obese and weak persons. After vamana the loud speech, overeating, continued sitting, too much walking, anger, anxiety, coitus, retention of natural urges have to be avoided.

Virechana

Virechana is expelling the vitiated doshas and toxins through purgation. This therapy can be conducted as an individual detoxification therapy or as a follow up therapy next to vamana to ensure complete detoxification. Virechana is a non painful and easiest procedure. Complications are usually very rare in this therapy. This detoxification method helps to expel toxins and vitiated doshas from blood, liver and intestines. Usual panchakarma preparatory methods like snehana and swedana are completed before inducing purgation . Virechana is induced by administering herbal purgatives in morning between 8 am to 9 am, when pitta dosha is dominant. Patient is made to drink warm water repeatedly as he passes stools. Patient is later rehabilitated to his regular diet and lifestyle.

This therapy is suggested for disorders in which pitta is prominent dosha. Skin diseases, jaundice, constipation, headache, fistula, hemorrhoids, intestinal parasites, herpes, anemia, edema are few of many diseases in which Virechana is the chosen as detoxifying therapy. Contraindications for virechana therapy are ulcerated rectum, pregnancy, obesity, diarrhea, cardiac ailments, tuberculosis, children and elderly.

Basthi Karma

Basthi karma is expelling body toxins and vitiated doshas by introduce medicated liquids or oils through anus, urethra or vaginal canal. Basthi means urinary bladder. In ancient times the enema apparatus used to be made up of urinary bladder of animals. Hence this detoxification process is called Basthi karma.
Basthi karma is mainly used in vata dominant diseases.

Basthi karma is usually performed after the first two detoxification process namely vamana and virechana or only after virechana. After completing preparatory procedures (snehana, swedana), patient is allowed to lie on his left side and medicated oil or herbal decoction is administered under hygienic conditions. Patient has to lie on his back for 10-15 minutes after basthi is given.

There are two types of Basthi - Anuvasana basthi and Niruha basthi.

Anuvasana basthi

In anuvasana basthi medicated oil is introduced through anus, immediately after the consumption of food. There will be no harm even if medicated oil remains inside colon for a long time. This type of basthi nourishes and strengthens the body.

Niruha basthi

In this type of basthi (also known as asthapana basthi) an enema of herbal decoction is given. Niruha basthi is administered in empty stomach. The administered decoction has to come out from body within 45 minutes. The expelled herbal decoction brings out toxins and vitiated doshas along with it. Anuvasana basthi and Niruhabasthi are given alternatively. Patient is advised to take bath after herbal decoction is expelled. Unlike vamana and virechana, strict diet and lifestyle rehabilitation is not required after basthi karma, as basthi do not cause irritation in digestive system. But it is necessary to take light and nourishing food.

Introducing medicated liquids and oils through urethra in men or through vagina in women, is called uttara basthi.

Basthi karma is usually recommended in

1. Diseases involving joints like arthritis, gout etc,
2. Neuro muscular problems
3. Osteoporosis
4. paralysis
5. Low back pain
6. Obesity
7. Disorders of intestines
8. Menstrual problems of women

Benefits of basthi

Basthi improves vision, decreases weight in obese people, increases weight and nourishes emaciated persons, slows down ageing process and boosts health.

Nasya karma

Nasya karma means administering drops of herbal liquid preparations or medicated oils through nose. This detoxification method is also known as Shirovirechana. Vitiated doshas and toxins which are accumulated in head and neck are expelled through nose and mouth along with nasal and oral secretions. As a preparatory procedure the head and face of patient is massaged with medicated oil (Administering medicated oil before nasya karma is not advised) and steam bath is given only to head and neck region. Patient is made to sleep on his back with foot end elevated and head reclined. The medicated liquid or oil is administered in drops to both nostrils consecutively. Patient is advised to inhale the medicine slowly. After nasya karma the patient must avoid talking loudly, getting angry and laughing.

According to the type of medicine used, the nasya karma is divided into four types. They are:

• Navana Nasya : In this type drops of medicated oil is used.
• Avapidana Nasya: Here squeezed juice of herbs is used.
• Dhmapana or pradhamana nasya : Fine powder of herbs are made to inhale through an apparatus called 'nadi yantra' (a tube like apparatus)
• Dhuma nasya : Fumes of medicinal herbs are inhaled in this type of nasya.

Nasya Karma is indicated in tonsillitis, stiff neck, stiff jaw, headache, sinusitis, stammering, hoarseness of voice etc. Nasya Karma should not be performed when patient has indigestion, consumed alcohol, taken head bath, and tiered, pregnancy.

All panchakarma or detoxification therapies have to be conducted strictly under the supervision of well experienced qualified Ayurvedic doctors.

Pashchat Karma

A strict diet and lifestyle procedure has to be followed through out Panchakarma treatment. The rehabilitative procedures to bring back the diet and lifestyle to normal are considered as 'paschat Karma'. In this stage the digestion power is brought back to normalcy. Medicines are administered to rejuvenate the body or to treat the disease.

During Panchakarma treatment the following rules have to be strictly followed.

• One has to use only warm water to drink, bathe and for other activities. 
• Person who is undergoing Panchakarma therapy cannot indulge in sex.
• Sleeping in daytime is contraindicated.
•  Natural urges should not be controlled.  
• Exposures to extreme temperatures or weather conditions have to be avoided.
• Keeping awake at night is not advisable. Foods which cause indigestion can not be consumed.
• Exercise and mental stress have to be avoided.

The Panchakarma therapy is not advisable for persons in whom the following conditions exist:

• Menses
• Lactation
• Cancer of the Lungs or Testicles
• Melanoma HIV or AIDS
• Extreme Obesity
• Lympho-Sarcoma
• Hypertension
• Congestive
• Heart Failure
• Emaciation
• Any Active Infectious Disease
• Pregnancy
• Angina Pectoris

The benefits of Panchakarma are as follows:

• Toxins are eliminated from body.
• Doshas get Balanced.
• Stress is reduced and body gets relaxed.
• Slows ageing process and increases the lifespan.
• Increases glow and luster of skin.
• Boosts body immunity and body energy level.
• Enhances strength, energy, vitality and mental clarity.
• Reduces dependence on alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Help to implement healthy diet and lifestyle.

June 21, 2008

Images under license with Gettyimages.com

Dr. Savitha Suri B.A.M.S is Chief Consultant physician at Chaitanya Integrated Medical Center, Udayagiri, Mysore, Karnataka, India. She is practicing Indian Systems of Medicines since 12 years. By arrangement with http://www.ayurhelp.com

Disclaimer: 
Information provided in this article is for the sole purpose of imparting education on Ayurveda and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician.   

Top | Ayurveda