Ayurveda Panchakarma Treatment

Panchakarma is a set of five therapies designed mainly for cleansing the body of toxins. Purification of the body is important before beginning any other therapy. Just like dirty linen is washed and purified before new colour can be added, the body needs to be purified before replenishing it with new health, youthfulness, vigour and vitality.

Benefits

• Complete cleansing of the body
• Elimination of toxins
• Opening up of blocked channels
• Improving strength of the digestive fire
• Speeding up metabolism
• Reducing weight
• Rejuvenating the tissues
• Relaxing the mind
• Relieving stress
• Boosting immunity

Synchronized full body massage given by two therapists in rhythmic hand movements using herbal or medicated oil. Lubricates the body, induces relaxation whilst eliminatirng impurities and pacifying the vitiated Doshas or bioenergies.

Using special poultices/bags containing medicinal herbs, heated in warm oil to relieve pain, reduce physical and mental stress and nourish and rejuvenate the body.

Different types of Potali Sweda are

• Njavarakizhi or Shastika Shali Pinda Sweda – Rice milk poultice
  One of the most popular therapies to rejuvenate the body. Poultice made of red rice cooked in medicated decoction and milk is rhythmically applied to the whole body. The treatment is recuperative and healthful and improves skin complexion, restores vigour and vitality.
• Patra Pinda Sweda or Ela Khizhi
  Herbal poultice prepared with various herbs fried in oil and used to massage the entire body. Promotes circulation and increases perspiration, helping the skin to eliminate toxins, thereby improving skin tone.
• Jambeera Pinda Sweda
  Using medicated herbs along with lemon – known for its antioxidant and detoxifying effect – to massage the body, relieving stress in deep tissues and enhancing the nervous system.
• Valooka Sweda – Sand poultice
  Medicated herbs with clean dried sand devoid of gravel made into a heated poultice and applied to the body. Helps relieve stiffness and deep-seated pain.
• Podikhizhi or Choorna Pinda Sweda – Powder poultice
  Medicated powders are made into poultice and applied to the body. Helps to liquefy fat, thus bestowing lightness to the body.

The whole body is gently massaged with medicated powders prepared with various herbs. Stimulates energy flow in the body, detoxifies and nourishes the body tissues, activates the skin’s natural metabolism and helps to reduce cellulite. Cleanses and refines the skin structure and gives the skin a soft, silky texture and a lustrous glow.

Dhara is an Ayurvedic treatment method applying a continuous stream of warm, medicated oil to different parts of the body. The temperature and speed of the oil stream are kept constant during the 30-60 minute treatments. This specialized therapy soothes and relaxes the entire system.

There are many types of Dhara, but mainly

• Shirodhara
  Medicated oil or decoction is poured in an even stream on to the centre of the forehead. Pacifies and revitalizes mind and body, improves memory, addresses neurological disorders and helps with sleep and blood pressure problems.
• Sarvanga Dhara
  Stream of warm, medicated oil or decoction is poured all over the body. Alleviates memory loss, lack of vitality, neurological disorders, calms the nervous system, reduces stress, heals and rejuvenates the skin, helps with joint pain.
• Netra Dhara
  Specific medicated oils or decoction is poured over the eyes. Eliminates fatigue and pain in the eyes relieving muscular tension, helps improve eyesight, reduces wrinkles and brings luster to the eyes.

Internal and external oleation and fomentation therapies for a few days in a row. Once the toxins are liquefied and gather in the upper cavities of the body, the patient is given emetic medicine and decoction. This helps to eliminate toxins from the tissues. Especially recommended for Kapha-dominated conditions.

Elimination of toxins with the help of internal and external oleation and fomentation therapies and herbal laxative to facilitate evacuation of the bowels which helps to cleanse the body of toxins. Recommended for Pitta-dominated conditions.

Specialised treatment for strengthening knee muscles and the architecture of the knee to improve its functioning, using warm, medicated oil in a specially made mould. Lubricates the fluids in the joint, removes stiffness and pain, increases blood circulation, improves mobility.

Ayurveda’s unique contribution to the medical world. This therapy has enormous benefits, especially in complicated and chronic diseases. The herbal decoctions, oils, ghee or milk administered give highly positive effects, especially for Vata predominant conditions.

A small mould is kept on the neck or spine into which warm, medicated oil is poured. Strengthens the muscles to improve the functioning of the vertebral column, alleviates pain, eases stiffness, lubricates the discs and nerves, restores flexibility.

Medicated oil is kept on the head with the help of a cap, enhancing the neurons and relaxing body and mind. Tackles issues of anxiety, insomnia, neurological and psychological disorders, stress and skin disorders.

Cleanses the blood, either in a specific area or the entire body. Useful in various skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema and local lesions such as abscesses and pigmentation.

Using medicated steam on specified areas.

Using medicated steam, this full body therapy helps to release deep-seated toxins and relieve stress.

Introducing medicated smoke into the ears helps for ear aches, itchy ears, tinnitus etc.

Smoke of medicated herbs smeared with ghee/oil is inhaled through nostrils and mouth for curing various ailments of the respiratory tract. Helpful in colds, sinusitis, cough, neurological disorders etc.

Using gentle massage and fomentation followed by nasal drops, the treatment clears and cleanses the entire head region and relieves various ailments.

Practiced either as a preparatory component to Panchakarma or as an independent intervention, Swedana is praised for its relaxing and detoxifying effects. Helps to liquefy and mobilize the Doshas.

This internal oleation is a major preparatory procedure to be performed before Panchakarma (purification). The entire procedure of purification is based on the proper mobilization of humors (doshas) from the periphery. This is achieved with the help of Snehana (oleation) and Swedana (fomentation).

Massage with medicated oil, followed by herbal bath. For diseases of the spinal cord, hips and lower back, also helpful for genitourinary tract disorders and gynecological conditions.

Using medicated oils, this relaxing massage activates vital Marma points on the feet. Alleviates pain, improves muscle tone, is calming, promotes sleep.

Using Ayurvedic herbal paste this face mask revives the skin’s texture, glow and freshness, and helps prevent ageing by restoring elasticity.

Used to lubricate the delicate filaments of the ear canal, dislodge impurities and sharpen the hearing. Creates a feeling of deep restfulness, useful in treating insomnia, reduces ear infections, enhances sense of hearing, reduces itching, dryness and ringing in the ear.

Excellent treatment for many common eye ailments such as pain, itching, tearing, burning sensation and reddish discoloration. Cleans and removes impurities and relieves eyestrain.

Palliative treatment using medicated oil, paste and decoction. Relaxing and calming procedure to treat many physical and mental ailments.

Uses herbal pastes on your body. Rejuvenates skin, also useful in treating various ailments. Acts as a scrub to smoothen the skin, rejuvenates the blood circulation, relieves pain and helps with skin disorders. Purifying, anti-inflammatory.

Medicated herbal paste is applied to the head and covered with a cap made of banana leaf. Highly balancing and relaxing and boosts the activity of neurons, helps relieve insomnia, stress, migraines.

The whole body is anointed with streams of lukewarm medicated oil while simultaneously softly massaged, using rhythmic hand movements. Helps to relieve pain and nourish the joints, nerves and muscles, increase flexibility, reduce stress and induce peace of mind and relaxation.