Panchakarma is the ultimate mind-body healing experience not only for detoxifying the body, but also for strengthening the immune system and restoring balance and well-being. The word panchakarma itself means five therapeutic measures in Sanskrit. It includes five types of advanced treatments for evacuating the vitiated dosha from the body. It includes:
*Vamana
*Virechana
*Vasti
*Nasya
*Raktamoksha
Panchakarma can be administered both to a healthy and an ailing person. In a healthy person, it has a preventive, restorative, and rejuvenative effect on the body, while for an ailing person, it has curative benefits. Panchakarma is the most effective way of ridding the body of harmful toxins and rejuvenating it to the deepest cellular level. It is a highly effective way of de-stressing and reversing the ageing process.
The most profound effect Panchakarma treatments offer is the manner in which they reconnect the individual to their true nature, which is often obscured by stress and toxic accumulation. The rebalancing that occurs in the nervous system is most noticeable, and the deep sense of feeling centered is often transformational. At times, a few kilograms in weight are lost during treatment - a positive sign that toxins are indeed being removed. The complete process consists of three steps: Poorvakarma, Pradhanakarma, and Paschatkarma.
-Poorvakarma - Pre-cleansing period
It is the preparatory procedure required before the main procedure to enable a person to receive full benefits of the main treatment. This method helps to dislodge the accumulated doshas or poisonous substances from various parts of the body, thus helping to bring them to the koshta (alimentary canal or GI tract). This includes:
*Pachana - To keep the digestive fire at its best. Attained by oral medication.
*Snehana - Oleation Therapy. It can be attained both externally and internally. External oleation therapies include various types of body therapies like Abhyanga. Internal oleation can also be given through medicated ghee (snehapana). This therapy makes the body soft and helps to disintegrate the toxins.
*Swedana - Sudation Therapy. This therapy liquefies the toxins and facilitates the movement of toxins into the GI tract. Includes choornapinda swedam (podi kizhi), patrapotala swedam (ela kizhi), pizhichil, etc.
-Pradhanakarma - Cleansing period
This is the main part of Panchakarma. According to the strength of the patient and the state of dosha vitiation, suitable elimination therapy is selected. They are of five types:
*Vamana - Done if there is an increased level of kapha dosha collected in the upper respiratory tract and body. Induced vomiting helps in clearing the upper GI tract to the duodenum and part of the respiratory tract.
*Virechanam - Cleanses pitta dosha by clearing toxins from the body. Induced purgation clears the lower GI tract from the duodenum (end of stomach) till the anus.
*Vasti - Considered as mother of panchakarma treatment and cleanses the accumulated toxins from all three doshas. good for all other ailments like abdominal flatulence, spleen diseases, indigestion, acidity, burning sensation, constipation, gynecological problems, urinary calculi, numbness, rectal pain, various types of arthritic problems, over-appetite, dehydration, etc.
*Nasya - Administration of herbal preparations through the nostrils. It is the main treatment for the diseases of the head and neck. This treatment is effective in diseases such as headaches, facial palsy, discharge from the nose, throat diseases, mumps, epilepsy, skin diseases, discoloration, hair falling, and premature greying.
*Raktamokham - Blood letting in controlled amounts removes the vitiated blood from the body. It is a localized treatment. Extraction of vitiated blood is by using surgical instruments or other tools. Carefully controlled amounts of blood are removed to calm and balance pitta dosha.
-Paschatkarma - Post cleansing period
Here, the cleansed body is slowly brought back to normal physiological condition, and final balancing of dosha is done by specific dietary regimen and different medicines.
-Ayurveda therapies
There will be one or more daily sessions of Ayurveda therapies per day. This does not mean that there will be two therapies every day. The doctor will prescribe therapies as per the body constitution and health condition, and some days there will be two therapies and some days just one. Your well-being is the most important factor, and the doctor will prescribe therapies only as per the needs. They will not do therapies as per the demand from the guests.
-Sample daily schedule
*07:30 - 08:30 Yoga session
*08:30 - 09:30 Breakfast
*09:30 Lectures on Ayurveda
*10:00 - 12:30 Consultation with Ayurvedic doctor and Panchakarma treatments
*13:00 Lunch
*14:00 - 16:00 Panchakarma treatments, sightseeing, local visit, body and mind relaxation time, or outdoor activities
*16:30 Tea and snacks
*17:00 - 18:00 Yoga and meditation
*19:00 Dinner
The daily schedule will be provided after the daily consultation with the doctor.