Today’s lifestyle filled with stress and strain of this competitive world and new eating habits affects and challenges our health like never before. Our synthetic diet in place of a natural one exposes us to toxins resulting in disorders of metabolism. Ayurveda shows us a healthy way of life
When the digestive fire (agni) is in a balanced condition, the three doshas -vata, pitta and kapha- are in equilibrium. Waste products (malas) are produced and eliminated normally; and the mind, senses, and consciousness are working harmoniously together. When the balance of any of these systems is disturbed, the disease process begins. Basically, any aggravation of the doshas affects agni (the digestive fire) and produces toxins or ama. Other factors play a role in the formation of ama, as well. Some of these factors are poor digestion of food, improper food combinations and choices, poor drinking water, pollution, pesticides in food, emotional and physical stress or trauma, and so on. These toxins accumulate and spread throughout the body and eventually deposit themselves into the deeper tissues, organs or channels, creating dysfunction and disease.
In diseased condition, the doshas manifest their particular symptoms. These symptoms denote malfunctioning of the doshas. The purpose of treatment of all diseases is to keep the doshas in equilibrium. In Ayurveda there is three steps in treating any diseases, they are samsodhana – cleansing process, samsamana – palliative measures and nidanaparivarjana – treating the causes.
Panchakarma actually is a group of treatments, five in number, all of which are not commonly practised in all diseases. The panchakarma are vamana, virechana, snehavasti, kashayavasti and nasya. Vamana is emesis, virechana is purging, vasti is enema, which of two kinds done with medicated oils and medicated decoctions and is called snehavasti and kashayavasti respectively. Nasya is instillation of medicines through nose.

VAMANA – USE OF EMETICS

This therapy is mainly used in cases of chronic disorders due to Kapha dosha. It involves induced and controlled vomiting with the help of medicines. It is used to treat chronic asthma, chronic hyperacidity etc. Vamana should not be given to the very young or the very old or during pregnancy and should always be administered under a physician’s supervision

VIRECHAN – USE OF LAXATIVES

This therapy is mainly used in cases of chronic disorders due to Pitta dosha. It involves induced and controlled purgation with the help of medicines. It is used to treat jaundice, chronic helminthes cases etc. Virechan should not be given to the very young or the very old or during pregnancy and should always be administered under a physician’s supervision.

VASTI – MEDICATED ENEMA

Involves administering medicines as enema. The medicines used can be decoctions, pure / formulated oils, milk etc. It is used to cure arthritis, backache etc. Nasya – Nasal administration of medication
Nasya is administered through the nose. Medicated powders, decoctions or oil drops are introduced into the nasal passages. They remove residual doshas and toxins from the head and neck area. Nasya is used in cases of migraine, chronic rhinitis, epilepsy etc.

RAKTA MOKSHANA – BLOOD LETTING

Is done either with the help of venesection, or using leeches. It is mainly used to cure gout, skin and blood disorders (pigmentation), elephantiasis, alopecia. Rakta-mokshan should not be given to the very young or the very old or during pregnancy and should always be administered under a physician’s supervision.

PURVAKARMA: PRE-PURIFICATION MEASURES

Before the actual operation of purification begins, there is a need to prepare the body in prescribed methods to encourage the body to let go of the toxins. The two procedures are ‘snehan’ and ‘swedan’. Snehan is the oil massage. Oil is applied to the entire body with a particular type of massage which helps the toxins to move towards the gastro-intestinal tract. Oil massage also makes the superficial and deep tissues soft and supple. Snehan is given daily for three to seven days, as indicated. Swedan is sudation or sweating and is given every day immediately following the snehan. An herbal concoction may be added to the steam to further loosen the toxins from the individual. Swedan liquefies the toxins and increases the movement of toxins into the gastro-intestinal tract. After three to seven days of snehan and swedan, the doshas become well “ripened”. A particular panchakarma method is then given according to the individual’s constitution and disorder, prakruti and vikruti, respectively.

PIZHICHIL

lukewarm medicated oil is applied on the body of the patient lying on the “Dharapathi”. Oil dipped pieces of cloth are squeezed by hand and the oils rubbed smoothly over the body of the patient by masseurs on either side. The medicated oil is pressed out of the cloth uniformly over the body at a defined height and massaged by skillful hands. Fresh medicated oil is used every day and the treatment may last fourteen or twenty-eight days.
This treatment is indicated in stiffness and pain of joints and limbs, dislocation of joints, paralytic conditions and in pregnant ladies with a history of uterine inertia in earlier deliveries. Many persons also undergo this treatment for rejuvenation and preservation of health to offset early aging. Sclerotic changes can be prevented by this treatment

UZHICHIL

This whole body deep muscle massage with oil is a very relaxing technique. It gives all the benefits of Abhyanga and tones the muscles. Uzhichil regulates the flow of energy within the body and improves circulation.

NAVARAKKIZHI

Navarakkizhi involves massaging of the body with small linen bags filled with Navara (Shastika), after a liberal application of medicated oils. Depending on the kind of disease, this massage is preceded or followed by Pizhichil.
This particular treatment is very well known in Kerala, India, where the ancient martial art Kalari orig-inated.
Navara Kizchi is also of great benefit to those with atrophy of the muscles, arthritis, weakness of the extremities, tremors and fibromyalgia. Healthy individuals will benefit from this treatment’s anti-aging effects and its ability to prevent disease

SIRODHARA

According to Ayurveda, Sirodhara is the best treatment for diseases of the nervous system and for emotional problems such as chronic depression and anxiety (panic) attacks. It is also recommended for chronic headaches, as well as ear, nose and throat problems, and is especially useful for pain management.
The term “Sirodhara” literally translated means head (Sira) and continuous flow (Dhara). During this treatment there is a constant flow of either specific oils or herbal preparations on the forehead. Medicated oil, medicated butter milk , cows milk or human breast milk are allowed to freely flow over the upper part of the fore head continuously for specific periods This process stimulates the part of the brain known as the pineal gland. Among its other functions, the pineal gland produces serotonin and melatonin. These hormones play an important role in each person’s emotional balance, and melatonin is also known to have an anti-aging quality.

ABHYANGAM

Special type of oil massage in which strokes are given according to the diseases for 45 minutes per day for 14 days. This treatment is very useful for Obesity, especially for Diabetic gangerene (a condition due to lack of blood circulation in the extremities of the body) etc.

KATIVASTHI

In this process specially prepared warm medicated oil is kept over the lower back with herbal paste boundary. This treatment lasts for 45 minutes to 1 hour and it is good for any type of back pain and spinal disorders.

UROVASTHI

Warm medicated oil is kept over the chest for 45 minutes. This is an effective treatmentfor asthma, other respiratory problems, heart diseases and muscular chest pain.

KSHEERADHOOMAM

This is fomentation with medicated cow milk. This treatment is good for facial paralysis, Bell’s palsy, speech disorders and other nervous disorders of the face