What’s Pancha Karma?

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Pancha karma or panchakarma is the arm of Ayurvedic medicine which focuses on eliminating disease. In Ayurveda, there are two aspects to medical practice. The first is about maintaining good health, and the other is about treating disease, including pancha karma—the active elimination of disease when it appears. The Pancha karma treatment uses a number of techniques to purify the body, with the aim of expelling disease-causing toxins. Pancha karma is also seen as a restorative experience, as it restores health and balance to the body.

There are three phases in pancha karma: the first, the pre-treatment, involves the preparation, with the use of abhyanga, a type of Ayurvedic massage with oil; a special diet; and the use of therapeutic steam to open pores and begin cleansing the body. The actual treatment is the next stage, which involves a variety of detoxification treatments, and then patients undergo follow-up care, which may involve lifestyle changes to prevent the disease from recurring.

Pancha karma literally means “five actions,” so it should come as no surprise to learn that five different treatments are involved in pancha karma. The first is vamana, controlled vomiting. Virechana involves the use of laxatives to cleanse the small intestines, while basti uses enemas to cleanse the large intestines. In nasya treatments, herbs are applied through the nose, while raktamokshana calls for therapeutic bloodletting. Outside of India, practitioners are more likely to prescribe other treatments instead of raktamokshana.

The treatments used in pancha karma vary according to the patient and his condition. Ayurveda is based on the balance of the doshas, ​​or the three body humors. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the individual case of each patient. Most patients have one dosha dominant, but elements of other doshas are also involved and treatment should bring the doshas into harmony with each other.

As with traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda has inspired medical treatment in other regions of the world. Isolated pancha karma techniques are often offered by alternative medicine practitioners, sometimes without the care and attention patients would receive from an Ayurvedic practitioner. Since Ayurveda is based on a complex interconnected system and whole body approach to wellness, isolating aspects and applying them independently may not always produce favorable results.

Individuals interested in Ayurveda should seek treatment from a licensed practitioner, ideally one who has trained in India, where standards for training and certification are standardized. Several professional organizations of Ayurvedic practitioners can be found around the world to offer referrals and recommendations.

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