Panchakarma represents the five detoxifying therapies that removes the ama that has mixed with the dosas. It is usually used for long term chronic conditions that are stubborn and difficult to resolve .it is prescribed on a constitutional basis when the patient has sufficient strength and in the appropriate reason.
The process of panchakarma reverse the sequential progress of illness through the six stages of disease by guiding the diseased dosa and ama back through the three major pathways.
- Therapeutic Emesis(Vamana): Emetic herbs like madanphal(Randia dumentorium), vacha (Acorus calamus) and rock salt salt are given together with strong decoctions of licorice(Glycyrrhiza glabra) to clear kapha and pitta from the stomach and lungs.
- Purgation(Virechan) : Strong cathartic and laxative herbs such as jaiphal(Croton tiglium), aragwad(Cassia fistula), haritaki(Terminalia Chebula) or castor oil (Ricinus communis) are given to clear pitta and kapha from the intestines.
- Enemas(Aanuvasana and Niruha) : In anuvasana basti enemas, unctuous medicated oil and ghee are used for pure vata diseases where there is good digestion. For niruha vasti enemas, herbal decoctions using vata reducing herbs and formulas, such as dashmool and rock salt are used in vata diseases where digestion is weak.
- Nasal cleansing therapy(Nasya) : The head is steamed and medicated oil, such as anu tail, is applied to clear diseases from the head.
- Blood letting (Raktamokshan) : Pitta and blood toxaemia is reduced by either giving blood or more tradionally, by leeches. Sushruta introduced the used of blood letting instead of one of the vasti treatment.
After panchakarma should be always come a period of tonification (Brihana) and rejuvenation(Rasayana). This means using tonic herbs and nourishing diet. Ayurveda does not just leave a clean system it nurtures it back to full strength
