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The purpose of all ayurvedic remedies and herbal medicines
is to keep the doshas or the humors in equilibrium, since an
imbalance indicates a disease condition. Samsodhana (cleansing
process), samsamana (palliative measures) and nidanaparivarjana
(treating the causes) are the three main stages through which
ayurvedic remedies usually progress.
Of these three remedial phases, samsodhana is considered a
prominent process and according to ayurveda, should be administered
with full care. Panchakarma is synonymous with this process.
In fact, panchakarma is a group of five ayurvedic remedies,
all of which are not practiced in all diseases.
Ayurveda recognizes that all living and non-living things are
composed of panchamahabhut or five basic elements of the entire
creation. One branch of Indian philosophy—Sankhya, states
that there are 24 elements in all, of which five are the foundation
of the gross world: earth, water, fire, air and ether. According
to ayurveda these five elements in different combinations constitute
the three body types/doshas—vata (air and ether), pitta
(fire) and kapha (earth and water). These two theories are the
guiding factors of ayurveda as a therapeutic science.
Ayurveda advises undergoing panchakarma at the seasonal changes
to both keep the metabolism strong and keep toxins from accumulating
in the body as well as the mind. The process finds the way to
the root cause of the problem and corrects the essential balance
of mind, body, and emotions. It is considered extremely effective
to go through the process of panchakarma prior to any rejuvenation
treatment (rasayana/herbal medicines), for it cleanses the body,
improves the digestion, the metabolic processes of the body
and cleanse the thought process as well.
Basically, panchakarma is meant to make an individual most
receptive to the curative process of ayurveda by removing accumulated
waste in body and mind.
Vamana (Emesis)
It is a process of therapeutic vomiting (induced), which helps
eliminate the toxic or waste matters from the stomach and thoracic
cavity. Kapha dominant diseases like severe skin diseases (psoriasis,
urticaria); bronchial asthma, mental disorders etc. are selected
for this treatment procedure. This process is not suggested
for expecting mothers. Normally eight bouts of emesis are followed.
The vomiting is stopped when yellow coloration is seen. Then,
dhoomapana—inhalation of medicated fumes—is done through
a special process. Finally, certain rules have to be followed
called paschatkarma that basically implies strict diet regimen.
The entire treatment takes 15 days, and requires good attention
as well as skilled assistance.
Virechana (Purgation)
This eliminates the toxic or waste matters from the intestine.
It also cures pitta or pitta-dominated diseases. Poorvakarma
or initial process of cleansing like vamana is suggested here.
About 20 purges may be seen in this process depending on the
patient's health.
A mild form of virechana without the poorvakarma, is an integral
part of ayurvedic therapy. It is also used for prevention of
diseases.
Vasti (Enema)
The process of vasti or therapeutic enema is resorted to eliminate
toxins from colon, and strengthens the tissues. Two kinds of
vastis are followed in ayurveda. Snehavasti is the vasti where
medicated oils are used. This is not advised in patients suffering
from diabetes, anemia, diarrhea, and obesity. Poorvakarma is
required here.
For kashaya vasti, honey, rock salt, sneham (oils), paste of
medicines are required and mixed one by one in the above order.
This concoction is taken in an empty stomach. After the process
the patient is allowed to take a bath.
Diseases like hemiplegia, and disease due to vata are treated
by this process. Medicines are selected as per disease and stage.
Nasya (Nasal Application of Herbal Medicines)
Nasya is instillation of medicine through nose. It is an important
procedure of ayurveda for the treatment of sirorogas or diseases
affecting head area. Nasya helps cleanse the head and sinuses.
The process is contraindicated in various psychological diseases,
asthma and cough.
Here, the patient is to inhale lightly warmed oil. Warmed oil
is massaged in the patient's neck, shoulder, palm, face and
sole before and after the process of nasya. Different timings
are indicated for different dosha types. Morning time is prescribed
for kapha diseases, noon in pitta diseases and evening in vata
diseases.
Raktamoksha (Blood-Letting)
Susruta gave stress to Raktamoksha (blood-letting) as one of
the panchakarma, taking two of the vastis as a single karma
(here, procedure). The process of letting out the vitiated blood
is termed raktamoksha. In this procedure localized impurity
or poison from the blood is removed through various methods.
Often leech is used to suck out the impure blood from the affected
area. Bloodletting is also done to eliminate toxins from the
blood stream causing various chronic skin disorders like urticaria,
eczema, scabies and leucoderma etc. The method was also effectively
used to cure enlarged liver and spleen.
There are steps to be followed before doing panchakarma called
poorvakarma. One is snehana or oleation where medicated oils
are applied internally and externally. Another process called
swedana or sudation is actually classified into four types to
induce sweating. The purpose of poorvakarma is to liquefy and
guide the provoked doshas to the mainstream to facilitate the
sodhana or cleansing.
Following a strict ayurvedic diet also forms part of the ayurvedic
treatment method. Ayurveda emphasizes that the diet we take
has a close influence on our mind and body. According to ayurveda,
the mind has three possible states (tri-gunas) that are related
to the three states of our physical constitution or the three-dosha
types. Sattva, or peaceful equilibrium, rajas, or excessive
activity and tamas, or inertia—the three tendencies or
gunas of mind influence the imbalances in the three doshas.
Specific dietary adjustments serves to maintain the balance
of specific doshas and thus entail perfect health. Appropriate
diet can be used to remove or neutralize toxins in the body,
also.
Ayurveda suggests eating food until one's appetite is satisfied.
When ill, one should eat only light food, and then normal food
in small quantities, until half the appetite is fulfilled. One
important rule in ayurveda is never to combine contradictory
foods in terms of their qualities. Some of the commonly followed
rules on food habits according to ayurveda are as below:
• Keeping high-protein or high-fat food items in separate
meals from lighter foods such as starches and vegetables.
• Not mixing milk with yogurt.
• Not eating cooked foods and raw foods at the same meal
since they require different types of digestion.
• Avoiding drinking milk while eating radishes, tomatoes,
meat, fish, eggs, citrus fruits.
• Eating fresh fruit separately from other meals (except
the cooked fruits).
• Some specific vegetables and grains are forbidden in
some specific days of a month. Diet is to be compatible with
changing seasons.
Practice of yoga is an integral method in ayurveda, which is
applied to keep both the body and mind healthy and relaxed.
It is recommended for cure as well as for prevention of various
ailments. Different yogasanas are prescribed for different dosha
based ailments. The lifestyle regimens mentioned in yoga are
integral to ayurvedic treatment. Meditation is often recommended
to maintain balance or peace in the thinking process. Meditation
removes any disturbances in the balance of the three mental
states of sattva, rajas and tamas.
Recommendation of gems to avoid any imminent problem is associated
with Jyotish Shastra (astrology). Ayurveda applies Jyotish Shastra
(astrology) to ascertain the imminent diseases an individual
is going to suffer as well as to ascertain what type of gems
would be beneficial for him. Ayurveda prescribes nine precious
gemstones to be used externally and internally as well. Apart
from recommending wearing gems, the rasayana branch of ayurveda,
also, recommends calxes of various gemstones (bhasma) as internal
medicine.
Marma Chikitsa is a significant aspect of the ayurvedic treatment.
Marmas are specific points on the body where the application
of pressure or insertion of needles (bhedana) induces the flow
of vital energy (prana) along a complex system of subtle channels
called (nadis). Basing on the knowledge enumerated in Dhanur
Veda (deals in martial art), ayurveda recognizes about 350 therapeutic
marma points and over 100 lethal marma points within our body.
The injury to some of these lethal marma points can lead to
instant death. Massage is widely applied in the treatment of
marmas.
Oil is an integral ingredient in ayurvedic treatment. Sesame
oil and ghee (Butter oil) is commonly used. Oil can be administered
internally as nasal-drops (nasya) or can be used for mouth gurgling.
The external oiling is in the form of a massage. Specific oils
are used for individuals having specific dosha types of vata,
pitta and kapha.
Kaya kalpa literally means renewal of the body. This is a unique
method of treating both the gross and the subtle body to prolong
the youthfulness and vigor in younger people, and revive the
vitality in old. The treatment method of kaya kalpa is considered
to be the culmination of ayurvedic knowledge as a complete medical
science. The two significant branches of ayurveda—kayachikitsa
and rasayana deal with this method.
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