Ayurveda and Panchakarma

Ayurveda – the science of life! Unlike the common healthcare disciplines, Ayurveda believes in the direct relationship between Universe and the human body, mind, and spirit. Health and life are not separate but are intertwined. The environment around us is connected with our body, and a balance exists between both. Ayurveda represents the knowledge of life and is a balanced combination of the art of healthy living and modern science.

Ayurveda is a traditional health care system that uses comprehensive natural healing practices that work on ailments and enhance the overall wellness of the human mind and body. It doesn’t only focus on the physiological aspects of the diseases but also analyses the psychological elements. In this way, it aims to eliminate the root cause of health problems.

Ayurveda believes that one can achieve and maintain good health and have a healthy life by focusing on re-balancing emotions, practicing yoga and pranayam, controlling diet, and making lifestyle adjustments. Like other traditional medicine, Ayurveda too believes in the five elements of nature. They are – water, earth, fire, space, and air.

These elements combine in the body and govern the three life forces, or energy, called Doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Anyone can enjoy a blissfully happy life with perfectly balanced doshas. But when they suffer imbalance, the person is propelled into a “vikruti” – an imbalanced state of mind and body. Stress, anxiety, dehydration, low energy, or excessive exertion are some of the forces that may disturb balance.

Ayurveda offers extensive therapies and remedies for the young, old, sick, healthy, and everyone in between. People for generations have trusted Ayurveda for its holistic approach. It’s also garnering western civilizations’ attention for being a traditional medical system focused on cure and prevention. Ayurvedic therapies enhance well-being, revitalize the body and soul, and restore lost body strength.

Ayurveda emphasizes that health is not only about not having the disease but also the state of balance between Dathu, Dosha, Malakriya, and Agni. It includes Indriya (sense organs), Manas (mind), and Prasanna Atma (soul). Three doshas in our body- Vata, Pitta, and Kapha- represent our nervous system, the metabolic system, and the nutritive system, which maintains the body’s balance. A disturbance in the balance between these doshas can lead to disease manifestation. Ayurvedic treatment aims to revive the original condition of calmness between the doshas. There are specific recommended regimens and treatments to acquire the same, such as Rutucharya, Dinacharya, Rasayana–Vajikarana, Vega Adharana, and Panchakarma.

What is Panchakarma?

Panchakarma is derived from a mixture of two words: Pancha, meaning five, and Karma, meaning procedures. Panchakarma combines methods for lubricating and cleansing the body of all unwanted waste. It contains five types of therapies that are internal cleansing and nourishing processes. These therapies may benefit the management of musculoskeletal conditions and auto-immune psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Panchakarma stands for five different cleansing methods:


• Vamana (Therapeutic Emesis)
• Virechana (Therapeutic Purgation)
• Vasti (Therapeutic enema)
• Nasya (nasal insufflations of medicines and elimination of toxins through the nose)
• Rakta Mokshana (Therapeutic Blood-letting).

However, the therapies are personalized based on age, medical condition, sex, constitution, dosha vitiated, etc.

The Five Vamanas:
• 

  Vamana:

  Under this procedure, the practitioner, with the help of therapies, induces vomiting. Vamana is advised to be performed between 7-8 am and is chiefly used to discard Kapha (mucous) dosha accumulated in the upper gastrointestinal tract. It helps cleanse the upper gastrointestinal till the duodenum (end of stomach) and part of the respiratory tract. Vamana may benefit people suffering from bronchitis, asthma, sinus problems, cold, cough, etc.

• 

  Virechana:

  Under Virechana, the practitioner induces purgation to eliminate excess pitta (bile) accumulated in the gall bladder, liver, and small intestine. Waste is discarded through the anal route. Preferably done early morning, around 6 am, The procedure helps to reduce symptoms of rashes, acne, vomiting, skin inflammation, nausea, etc. It clears the lower gastrointestinal tract from the duodenum (end of the stomach) to the exit.

• 

  Vasti:

  Vasti refers to the procedure of a therapeutic enema. Under the process, the practitioner introduces medicines in suspension form through the genito-urinary route or anal. Vasti can be oil-based or decoction based, and it helps to eliminate Vata dosha. It helps in relieving chronic fever, distension, kidney stones, constipation, heart ailments, sexual diseases, muscle spasms, joint pains, muscle spasms, arthritis, backache, headache, gout, etc. Oil enema helps lubricate the rectal area and take all the lipid-soluble waste out through the anus.

• 

  Nasya:

  Under Nayasa, the practitioner administers medicines through the nostrils. In Ayurveda, it is believed that our nose is the doorway to our brain and consciousness. It is through the nose that our ‘Prana’ (life force) enters the body. It also governs our intellect, mental activities, memory, concentration, etc. The procedure should be best practiced in the morning or evening. Nasya helps people suffering afflictions in the head and neck region, like migraine, sinus congestion, convulsions, and ear and eye problems. It helps clear the respiratory tract and paranasal sinuses.

• 

  Rakta-Mokshana:

  The procedure includes therapeutic bloodletting. It is believed that the toxins in the gastrointestinal tract are easily absorbed in the blood. This can lead to diseases of the circulatory system like heart disease, hypertension, and skin disorders like eczema, acne, itching, etc. The treatment believes in taking a small amount of blood from a vein, relieving tension and discards the toxins in the blood. The Therapeutic Decoction Enema cleanses the area from the transverse colon to the anus.

Harivihar is one of the best panchakarma resorts in Kerala. Its rejuvenating and curative treatments help cure many ailments in the human body through Ayurveda. Various diseases like arthritis, low back pains of different causes, obesity, stress, anxiety, headaches, etc., are treated here with good results. The resort offers various customized packages from 3 to 21 days. The exquisitely beautiful resort also offers detoxification and rejuvenating treatments to boost immunity and improve the vitality of its visitors. For more queries, please click here!