Pancha Karma Therapy 

Ayurveda consists of two words namely, Ayu and Veda. Ayu means life, which is a proper combination of the body, mind, sense organs and the soul. Veda means knowledge. Veda says that all things in this world animate or inanimate are composed of five primary states of matter and energy, called Pancha Bhutas. 

They are: 

1.       Prithivi   (Earth)

2.       Ap          (Water)

3.       Tejas     (Radiant Matter)

4.       Vayu      (Air)

5.       Akash    (Ether) 

Ayurveda concised the Pancha Bhutas into tridoshas called Vata, Piththa and Kapha.

Akash and Vayu Bhutas enter into the constitution of VATA.

Tejas enters into the constitution of PITHTHA.

While Prithivi and Ap Bhutas enter into the structure of KAPHA. 

When in a person these three doshas are in their natural rhythm, that means when they are in a properly balanced state he is at ease, which is called Samyavastha (well being). When this rhythm is disturbed, that means when the balance of the doshas is lost he is at disease, which is called Vaishamya. The former is order while the later is disorder. Therefore, Ayurvedic treatments aim at keeping the doshas in equilibrium.

 The treatment has three steps.

1.    Cleansing Process

2.    Palliative measure

3.    Treating the Causes

PANCHAKARMA 

Pancha Karma is a synonym for cleansing or purification process called Samshodhana. To treat a patient without first cleansing him is like painting on a dirty cloth or dying on an unclean and dirty canvas picked up from a dustbin. 

The Cleansing is done by:

 Vamana      (Emesis)

Virechana   (Purgation)

Vasti          (Enema –Urethral, Vaginal and Utrine douches and irrigations)

Nasya or Sirovirechana (Nasal Administration of medicine, errhines)

Raktamokshana (Bloodletting by venesection and leeches) 

PANCHAKARMA means FIVE KARMAS meaning FIVE TREATMENTS. Depending on the disease the cleansing is done by suitable karmas from these five karmas. 

    There are certain preliminary measures to be carried out known as “Purva Karma” previous to the Pancha karma treatments proper. They consist of Sneha and Sweda. Sneha is an administration of certain oily and greasy preparations like ghee, oil etc., both internally and externally. This has the property of softening and separating      the morbid matters that stick to the tissues. Sweda is a method of producing perspiration by means of dry or moist heat hot baths etc., which bring the waste products to certain parts of the body as stomach, intestines etc., from where they can be removed by emetics, purgatives etc. Sweda also clears out the impurities from the body through perspiration.

     After the above Panchakarmas are performed the administration of certain drugs and diets is required to assist nature in restoring the doshas, dhatus etc., to their normal state and keeping them healthy. These constitute ‘Pashchath Karma’.

    To follow these entire regimens properly, the patient should be in the hospital as an inpatient. As a general rule, the Pashchath Karma regimen is to be observed for double the time that was required for the conduction of the Panchakarma.

The following treatments are done with high efficiency in Dr. Rao’s Ayurveda and Yoga Centre at Puttaparthi: 

Abhyantara Snehana (Internal Oleation)

Bahya Snehana (External Oleation)

Abhyanga, Lepa, Udvarthana, Unmardhana, Barisheka, Samvashana, Gandusha, Murdha Thaila, Akshitarpana / Netra Tarpan, Nasatarpana, Karna poorana, Masthiskya, Sneha avagahana, Shiropichu, Shirodhara, Shiro vasthi, Kati vasthi, Ekanga vasthi, Kawala graha.

 Nadi swedana, Bhaspa Swedana, Awagaha Swedana, Pinda Swedam, patra Swedam.  

Vamana Karma, Virechana Karma, Anuvasana Vashti, Niruha vasthi, Madhu thailika vasthi, Lekhana vasthi, Ksheera vasthi, Piccha vasthi, Yoga vasthi, Karma vasthi. 

Nasya karma, - Rakta mokshana besides Rasayana and Vajikarana treatments.

DHARA

Dhara is pouring of medicated fluids in a stream. According to the regions or parts where Dhara is done, it is called by different names Moordhanyam – that done for the head. (Siro Dhara) Sarvangeeyam - that done all over the body and head. Pradesikam - that done locally to a particular affected part.

Moordhanyam – Siro Dhara

(Application of medicated fluids in a stream to the head)

Indications : (The fluid will be selected according to the patient’s problem)

Psycho neurosis, Early insanity, Epilepsy, Hysteria, Hemiplegia, Pyknolepsy, Facial paralysis, some diseases of the head, some eye diseases, some ear diseases, Maxillary sinusitis, Maxillary hypertrophic rhinitis, Parkinsonian syndrome, Peripheral neuritis, Thrombosis, Spastic paraplegia, Neurasthenia, Nerualgia, Muscular paralysis etc.,              

Uses:

Mind becomes relaxed and stable, Body gets strengthened, Memory & IQ improves, Voice becomes melodious, Skin becomes smoother, Eye disorders get reduced, Diseases pertaining to sukra (sperm) Arthavam (fluids concerned with menstruation) and hormones will be reduced. Blood gets nourished, Sleep improves, and Aging is reduced.

SIRO VASTHI

(Keeping a certain column of medicated Sneham in contact with scalp for a prescribed period) 

Indications :

Almost all Vata disorders of the head especially in severe Headache and Migraine, deafness, earache, tinnitis. Vata type of eye diseases, Insomania, Giddiness, Dryness of mouth and nose, Facial paralysis, some cases of Hemiplegia and all diseases of cerebral nerves and blood vessels. 

KAYASEKAM(pizhichchal)

 (Pouring of medicated oil on the whole body followed by light massage)

Indications:

All vata rogas. Sosham (fatigue). Hemiplegia, Skin diseases, stiffness of muscles and joints, loss of sensation and cramps in parts, Gulmam (gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, pyloric obstruction, chronic salphingitis, cystitis, chronic myelitis). 

Benefits:     

Removes the changes of old age, fatigue and increase in vata, gives strength and vitality.

Improves eyesight.

Prolongs life.

Makes skin soft supple.

Induces sleep.

Promotes nutrition.

Healthy persons also can undergo the procedure every year to prevent diseases and reduce aging. 

KATI – VASTHI

(Keeping of medicated oil or decoction on the Kati region with the help of Masha Pishti for certain period)  

Indications:

Back ache, thoracic pain, cervical spondylosis, Lumbar spondylitis, protrusion of intravertibral disc, amkylosing spondylitis, Sciatica etc. 

PINDA – SWEDAM(Navarakkizhi, Sankara Sweda, Sastikasali Pinda Swedam)

(Massage with boiled medicated rice or some other grains along with medicated warm oils, in the form of bundles)

SIRO-LEPA(Pothichchal)

( Application of medicated paste on the scalp) 

Diseases of the Head, falling of hair, head ache, burning sensation skin diseases of the head, alopecia, diseases of eye, ear, nose, skin and hair, weakness, mental faculties, giddiness, loss of memory, insomnia and insanity. It is mainly used in Vata types of disorders.

Benefits :

Improves eyesight.

Relieves emptiness of head.

Sharpens the five senses.

Refreshes the memory.

Reduces clearness of the brain and eyes.

Induces sound sleep.

Bestows pleasing appearance.

Strengthens the skin and roots of hair.

Removes burning sensations and puritus, psychic disorders will be cured. 

(Keeping medical ghee on the eye balls for a specific period contained by a dam constructed around the eye sockets with Masha pishti)

Indications  :

Almost all conditions of defective vision and eye infection.

Benefits :

Provides nourishment to the eye, removes strain and improves vision.

Exposure to medicated smoke originated from different drugs relevant to the ailments, especially in psychosomatic diseases etc.

It is also done on different parts of the skin for certain diseases.

NASYA KARMA

(Administration of drugs through nostrils)

Cures almost all the diseases of the head as easily as a vein of grass is removed from its blade. It purges and rejuvenates the tissues and organs of the head and neck.

Indications  :

Stiffness of the head, neck, teeth and jaw. Chronic sinusitis, allergies, chronic vascular headaches, migraine, epilepsy, diseases of the brain and mental retardation. Chronic coryza, uvalitis, tonsillitis, cataract, diseases of the eye lid, hemi crania, diseases of the mouth, nose, ear, eyes, facial paralysis, hysteria, hoarseness of voice, aphonia, stammering, tooth ache and other tooth disorders.