Procedures of Panchakarma
Abhyanga
This is a special type of oil massage in which strokes are given according to the circulatory channels. 107 vital points (Marmas) are present in our bodies which are the union points of different tissues. These vital points are considered for special type of Abhyangas (Massage).
Massaging the whole body with suitable oil to improve circulation, re-vitalisation and for keeping good health and to prevent ageing. It also alleviate Vata, extra dryness, hardness of soft tissue. It relaxes, calms mind and circulate positive energy through all over body.
This treatment is very useful for :
- Obesity
- Loss of skin texture
- Sleeplessness
- Fatigue
- Vata predominant diseases etc.
Navarakkizhi
Navarakkizhi is a fomentation of the body with bolus of cooked rice. Shastika or navara is a particular kind of rice known for its nutritional value. The rice is first cooked with milk and herbal decoction. Four boluses are made of the cooked rice and are tied up in linen bags.The fomentation begins with the patient sitting straight on the droni with legs stretched. The masseurs on either side perform the fomentation process in an identical manner. The movement of the hands during both fomentation and massage should always be downwards. This therapy is done in seven standard positions. This is a strengthening fomentation employed in all kinds of neurological disorders, rheumatism, arthritis congenital deformity of the limbs, dislocation of bones and joints etc..
Benefits :
- Strengthens the body
- Rejuvenates the tissues
- Improves muscle tone
- Improves blood supply by cleansing the channels of circulation
- Effective in curing diseases of the nervous system and others such as chronic rheumatism, osteoarthritis, gout, emaciation of muscles, numbness and diseases caused by vitiation of blood
- Makes the body strong and sturdy
- Nourishes the body and increases immunity
- Promotes sharpness of vision and functions of other sense organs
- Slows down aging, premature graying of hair, baldness, appearance of wrinkles over the body and other ailments caused by ging
Podikkizhi/Ilakkizhi
Podikkizhi is especially for inflammatory conditions of the bones and joints, arthritis, spinal problems, sport injuries. Treatment: herbs, leaves or powder of herbs are being applied along with warm oil all over the body. Duration: 45 minutes each day for a week up to two weeks. This therapy is effective for arthritis, Spondylosis, muscular pains, back pain, sports injuries and for all other soft tissue inflammations especially joint pains.
This treatment is very useful for :
- Relieves pain, numbness and edema
- Controls vitiated Vata
- Improves peripheral blood supply
- Cures diseases like arthritis, paralysis and convulsions
Shirovasti
Lukewarm Ayurvedic / herbal oils are poured into a cap fitted on the head for 15 to 60 minutes per day according to the patient's conditions for a period of 7 to 14days. This is highly effective for facial paralysis, dryness of nostrils-mouth-throat, severe headaches, burning sensation of head and other vata originated diseases. Different lukewarm medicated oils are over the entire head. A leather cap is used on the head to maintain the temperature. Its effects are excellent in neuralgia, hemicranias, optic atrophy, deafness, facial paralysis and all diseases affecting the cranial nerves.
Benefits :
- Reduces Anxiety and Stress
- Bestows liveliness to the organs. A clear voice and firm jaws and strength to the head
- Reduces dryness of the mouth and nose
- It is prescribed in clinical conditions like Head ache, Ear ache, humming in the ear and ailments connected with Vata in the head
Shirodhara
Medicated Herbal oil, Herbal Decoction, Milk or Buttermilk is used to pour on the fore head by special method. It rejuvenates and revitalizes the body and mind. This therapy relieves stress and strain related problems, slows the aging process, improves memory and is known to have a beneficial effect for paralysis and other neurological disorders.
This treatment is very useful for :
- Relieves pain, numbness and edema
- Controls vitiated Vata
- Improves peripheral blood supply
- Cures diseases like arthritis, paralysis and convulsions
Herbal Steam Bath (Swedana)
Different types of massage (According to diseases) of warm herbal oil are first done over the body. Next the individual is made to sit, keeping the head out, inside a steam chamber that lets out herbal steam from medicinal herbs makes the individual perspire profusely that promote cohesion between cells. The herbal steam opens up the very minute pores of the skin thereby removing all wastes and pacifying three Doshas. This is a great therapy for toning the skin and giving it a special glow.
Benefits :
- Balances Vata and Kapha humors in the body
- Detaches toxins; expels them through the tiny pores of the skin along with sweat
- Increases circulation; reduces inflammation
- Revitalizes and rejuvenates the skin
Pinda Sweda
Medium size bolus is made by different types of fresh herbal pastes and covered with cotton cloth to make it as Pinda (ball like). This Pind is then immersed in hot oil and applied on body. It is used in neurological ailments and in the management of different pains.
Pinda Sweda is one of the most important sudation therapies used in Panchakarma. During the treatment, various parts of the patient's body are uniformly massaged with a linen bundle called kizhi dipped in a special kuzhambu, or medicated oil. The kizhi is usually a fist-sized cloth-wrapped bolus, containing Shastika or Navara rice cooked in milk and a herbal mixture.
Shashti-Shali Pindasweda
Useful in neurological ailments.
Takra Dhara
Takra means buttermilk and Dhara means pouring. This therapy calms the individual down by using medicated buttermilk, which is poured onto the forehead to relieve insomnia, depression and other stress related problems.
Benefits :
- This prevents graying of the hair
- Reduces headaches
- Increases digestive power and
- Alleviates anorexia
- In cases of psoriasis, Dhara is performed on the affected area to have a curative effect.
Uro-Basti (HridayBasti)
Specially prepared luke warm medicated herbal oil is poured over the chest and retained inside black gram paste boundary for 20 to 30 minutes. The healing properties of herbal oils used for this massage enriches the blood and builds and maintains strong muscle and connective tissues of heart & chest.
This is a stimulating and therapeutic treatment for muscular chest pain.
Benefits :
- Weak Cardiac Muscles
- Angina Pectoris
- Other Cardiac Diseases
- Muscular chest pain
Greeva vasti (Manyabasti)
Specially prepared warm medicated herbal oil is poured over the neck and retained inside the black gram paste boundary for the required duration. The healing properties of herbal oils used for this therapy deeply cleans and enriches the blood, builds and maintains strong muscles, bones and connective tissues and lubricates the joints keeping them flexible and pain free.
Greeva Vasti alleviates neck and upper back conditions like Cervical Spondylosis, Stiff Neck Pain
Benefits :
- Loosens stiff joints
- Helps to cure cervical spondylitis, neck pain, paralysis and numbness of hands
- Stimulates and nourishes nerves relieving pain and numbness
Kati Basti
Specially prepared warm medicated herbal oil is poured over the lower back and retained inside the black gram paste boundary for the required duration. The healing properties of herbal oils used for this therapy deeply cleans and enriches the blood, builds and maintains strong muscles, bones and connective tissues and lubricates the joints keeping them flexible and pain free.
This is a stimulating and therapeutic treatment for muscular chest pain.
Benefits :
- Loosens stiff joints
- Helps to cure Lumbar spondylosis, lower back pain and numbness of lower limbs
- Stimulates and nourishes nerves relieving pain and numbness
Pristha Basti
Specific warm medicated herbal oil is poured over the entire back and retained inside the black gram paste boundary for the required duration. Hare also the healing properties of herbal oils used for this therapy deeply cleans and enriches the blood, builds and maintains strong muscles, bones and connective tissues and lubricates the joints keeping them flexible and pain free.
Greeva Vasti alleviates neck and upper back conditions like Cervical Spondylosis, Stiff Neck Pain
Benefits :
- Loosens stiffness of back & relieves pain.
- Helps to cure Lumbar-Cervical spondylosis, Helps to cure upper back pain and numbness of limbs
- Stimulates and nourishes nerves relieving pain and numbness
Janu vasti
This is a special treatment in which warm medicated oil is retained inside black gram paste boundary over the knee joint. This treatment is very effective in treating different conditions of the knee joints like arthritis, degenerative conditions etc.
Benefits :
- Relieves cracking of the Knee joints.
- Relives pain in arthritis of Knee Joints.
- Helps in degenerative conditions of the Knee joint.
Netra tarpanam
A special treatment in which pure medicated cow's ghee is retained inside black gram paste boundary over the eyes. This procedure takes 15 minutes.
Benefits :
- Relieves the strain due to constant glaring to the computer & TV screen.
- Helps in preventing early formation of Cataract.
- Reduces pain and burning sensation in the eyes.
- Offers a good relaxation and cooling effect to the eyes.
- It is very useful in conditions like Dry Eye.
Udwarthanam
This is a specialized herbal treatment for weight reduction. A herbal paste or powder is applied all over the body and deeply massaged with specific movements by therapists for one hour.
Benefits :
- Removes extra oiliness of skin
- Removes Kaphadosha from body
- It reduces extra fat
- Weight reduction
- Removes Cellulite
Thalapothichil
A herbal paste is applied to the entire head for 45 minutes.
Benefits :
- Hypertension
- Calming
- In Insomnia and Depression
- Hyper active conditions
- Burning sensation in the eyes and headache
Shiro pichu
A thick layer of cotton wool soaked with warm medicated oil is applied over the affected area. The oil is recycled periodically to make it warm. Medicated oil is applied to the head for 45 minutes in a special manner.
Benefits :
- Improves memory
- In Dermatitis of the scalp, Dandruff
Recommended in Neurological disorders like Paralysis, facial palsy etc.
Shiroabhyamgan
A soothing massage of the head, neck & shoulder for 15 minutes using warm herbal oils.
Benefits :
- In Insomnia & for relaxing
- Cooling to the eyes
- In headache, Pre-mature graying & hair loss
- Helps to spread natural oils over the scalp thus protecting and conditioning the length of the hair
- Promotes natural blood circulation
- Nourish the hair from the roots
- Removes accumulated toxins
- Cooling to the eyes
Lepam
Aapplication of herbal paste externally over the affected area is called Lepam. The herbal powder and the medium to make the paste are selected as per the condition. This therapy is used in wide range of conditions as from cosmetic purpose to severe skin disorders.
Very effective in :
- Skin Diseases:- Dermatitis, Scabies, Fungal Infections, Pimples, pigmentation,
- Arthritis with swelling & pain,
- Injuries
Upanaham :
Hot herbal paste is applied over affected area.
Very effective in Local anti inflammatory diseases, hair fractures of bones.
Uttara Basti :
Medicated oil or decoction is administered in to the uterus through cervix in female is called Uttarbasti.
Useful in genitourinary diseases and infertility of female.
Jalaukavacharana / Raktamokshana (Leech Therapy)
The application of leeches to suck the impure blood locally from a body part is called as Jalaukavacharan in Ayurved. It is a type of blood-letting technique performed under all aseptic precautions. The area is cleaned and leech applied. After specific time the leech gets detached and wound is compressed.
Benefits :
It helps to let impure blood and remove toxins within. It helps to reduce inflammation and pain at the site. It helps to improve the micro-circulation of the affected site.
How it works :
Leech is capable of sucking blood up to 20ml from the affected and surrounding area. The accumulated toxins and impurities are also drained along with the sucked blood. This helps in healing the affected part.