Panchakarma Treatment: To Detoxify and Clean the Body

by jiva ayurveda Jivaayurveda

Panchakarma is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning “five actions” or “five treatments”. Panchakarma is used mainly to purge the body of toxic materials left by disease and poor nutrition. Even thought the body has a great ability to remove toxins and repair the damage but when there is repeated dietary indiscretions, lifestyle, poor exercise patterns and genetic predisposition of metabolic co-factors, digestive enzymes, hormones, the body somehow loses its ability to protect its internal system because of the disorganization of internal homeostasis. Often diseases are caused by accumulation and expansion of toxins.

Ayurveda believes that the accumulation of waste matter is called Ama, a sticky, foul-smelling, harmful substance. It should be eliminated from the body. Panchakarma is a five-fold therapy which aims at eliminating the excess doshas and rectify the imbalances in them along with eradicating Ama from the body. The purification of tissues takes place with panchakarma on a deep level.

Panchakarma involves daily massages and oil baths, nasal administrations and herbal enemas. Usually people tend to like the experience. It’s a five-fold therapy that is based on the necessity of the individual as per his Ayurvedic constitutional type; including dosha imbalances, digestive strength, immune status, age and many other factors. Examining each individual’s needs the therapy is utilized in parts.

There are several reasons as to why Panchakarma is so highly preferred. Usually people say that it’s a comfortable and delightful therapy. But still it would be wise to have an expert to administer the therapy present because the release of toxins sometimes has a person experience discomfort.

Panchakarma therapy when administered at ayurvedic centers, involve certain steps or procedure. Meticulous efforts are put in as any wrong step can cause some damage to a person’s body.

• Abhyanga

In Abhangya, herbal massage oil is prepared as per the requirement of the individual. Its made in a way that it would penetrate the skin, the mind and body would relax, and arterial and lymphatic circulation would be stimulated. Abhyanga enables the nutrients to reach starved cells and the waste is removed.

• Shirodhara

In Shirodhara, warm herbalized oil is poured gently and methodically on the forehead. this is meant to coordinate and calm the mind, body and spirit.

• Garshana

Under Garshana treatment, dry lymphatic skin is brushed with either wool or a silk glove. With this circulation is enhanced and the skin is clean enough for subsequent oil to penetrate.

• Swedana

In Swedana , there is an individually herbalized steam bath that aims to eliminate mental, emotional and physical toxins by keeping the heat and heart cool. It’s said that when the head and heart are cool, the individual experiences a sense of calm and openness as the steam penetrates deep into the skin and tissues.

• Pizichili

In Pizichili a stream of warm herbalized oil is poured all over the body by two Ayurvedic therapists. They massage the body in a unison. synchronicity of the massage and the warmth of the oil cleanse the tissues deeply and brings upon a heightened state of awareness.

• Udvartana

Udvartana involves massages like herbal paste lymphatic massage. This massage treatment includes exfoliation that naturally restores the natural radiance of the skin. This eliminates stagnant lymphatic toxins out of the body.

There are many therapies such as taste therapy, touch therapy, smell therapy etc. all these therapies aim at bringing one’s awareness together by harmonizing all the senses together. If you feel that your body need to feel rejuvenated and a therapy session would be good for you, well, Panchakarma would be the best choice!