'Panchakarma', as the name indicates is a method of treatment, which includes five (Paanch) basic procedures (Karma). Through these different procedures are put under the umbrella term 'Panchakarma" different medicines are used for the different procedures depending upon the constitution of the patient. The physician determines the kind of procedure and the types of medicines to be used after examining the patient. It is not necessary that a patient should undergo all the five procedures of treatment used in Panchakarma. Panchakarma should not be administered to those below seven years and those above 80 years. If it is done properly healing of the disease treated, along with clear intelligence, alertness of the senses, stability of the body, efficacy of digestion and absorption, prolongation of youth are all achieved.

The panchakarma method of medication mainly involves two processes- anabolic (reduction) and catabolic (building up).

Medicated emesis (vamana), medicated purgation (virechana), nasal medication (nasya), medicated enema (vasti) and blood letting (raktamoksha) are the five purification procedures for removing accumulated toxins and other waste materials in the body.

What is Panchakarma?

In ancient times, legend spoke of life extension therapies whereby an elderly man or woman could engage in certain kinds of therapies that would transform and rejuvenate every cell in the body from old and toxic to youthful and vital. The result, says the legend: an 80- or 90-year-old would come out looking 30 or 40 years old with newly grown hair, teeth, and skin.

Panchakarma treatments and panchakarma therapy have been shown to create measurable brain wave coherence and to lower metabolic activity. They allow the body and mind to drop into a profound level of peaceful-ness. In this state of relaxation, it is possible to cleanse toxins from tissues as well as to release deeply held emotional tensions. You will experience a calm and clarity resembling the crystal water of a still mountain lake.

Panchakarma Treatments and Therapy
The descriptions that follow cover the variety of therapies that may be performed during a Panchakarma treatment series and represent the actual treatments used in the ancient art of life extension. Many of them are performed by two Ayurvedic therapists working in synchrony. Two, three, and sometimes four of these Panchakarma therapies are linked together during the course of one day's treatments.

Garshana

Garshana treatments consist of a dry lymphatic skin brushing with either a wool or a silk glove. This enhances circulation and cleans the skin so that subsequent oil and herbal treatments can penetrate deeply into freshly cleansed pores of the skin.

Abhyanga

Abhyanga is an individually prepared herbal-oil massage designed to deeply penetrate the skin, relax the mind-body, break up impurities and stimulate both arterial and lymphatic circulation. This effect enhances the ability for nutrients to reach starved cells and for the removal of stagnant waste. The desired result is a heightened state of awareness that will direct the internal healing system of the body.

Swedana

Swedana is an individually herbalized steam bath, during which the head and the heart are kept cool while the body is heated to remove mental, emotional and physical toxins lodged deeply within the tissues. The cool head and heart provide a sense of calm and openness while the therapeutic steam over the entire body can penetrate and cleanse deeply, without the body becoming overheated and stressed.

Shirodhara

Shirodhara is administered by gently and methodically pouring warm herbalized oil over the forehead, synchronizing brain waves and profoundly coordinating and calming the mind, body, and spirit.

Udvartana

Udvartana is a deeply penetrating herbal paste lymphatic massage. This powerful exfoliating treatment magically conditions the skin while pressing stagnant lymphatic toxins out of the body.

Basti

Basti is an herbal enema specially prepared to pull toxins out of the colon. This is the final stage of each daily Panchakarma treatment. The freshly loosened impurities from each day of treatment are flushed out of the body via the effects of the basti. The basti also transports Ayurvedic medicines into the blood and tissues in order to trans-form the memory of damaged and toxic cells. It is considered one of the most important and most powerful aspects of the Panchakarma treatment.

Shiro-Abhyanga-Nasya

Shiro-Abhyanga-Nasya is a luxurious combination of a deep head/neck/shoulder massage and facial lymphatic massage, followed by deep inhalation of therapeutic aromatic steam, and a nasal and sinus nasya with herbalized nose drops. This popular treatment is an invaluable tool balancing most head, neck and respiratory disorders.
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