About Panchkarma Therapies

The word 'abhyanga' itself means ‘to massage’. Special type of oil massage in which strokes are given according to the needs for about 45 minutes.

Abhyanga is done with a combination of specially prepared Ayurvedic herbal oils and applied all over the body stimulating the vital points. This is very good for the general health of the skin and prevents early aging and relieves muscular aches and pain. Massage also makes the skin smooth and makes it shine. Persons, who take a massage regularly, recover from injuries faster. Those who regularly massage experience the process of healing immediately and they face comparatively less pain.

After the massage herbal steam bath is also given. Abhyangam can increase the production of white blood corpuscles and antibodies, which provide more resistance against viruses and diseases. This helps the defense mechanism in the body and increases immunity towards environmental changes.

Swedana is a steam treatment. The word Sweda is derived from Sanskrit “swid”, meaning 'to sweat or to perspire'. So Swedana is the process of inducing sweat with the help of steam, generated from medicated herbal decoctions. Many people use it specifically to refer to one swedana treatment, the closed steam box. In Ayurveda, swedana is used to relieve excess doshas from the body, establishing a state of balance which promotes general health.

An immensely detoxifying steam therapy using hand formulated herbs which are infused into your private steam chamber, allowing the body to cleanse, purify and release toxins. This leaves you with a glowing complexion, ease of muscle tension and a sense of wellbeing.

A short oil application and massage will precede the steam treatment to aid in the release of toxins and is highly beneficial for those looking for a cleansing therapy.

This is a type of sudation process in Ayurveda. Here steam is generated by boiling the Fresh herbs in water and sweating is induced by that steam. It clears all the channels of body. Ihis improves peripheral circulation by vasodilatation and controls the blood pressure. The medicines used in steam are helpful in relieving pain, reducing pain and swelling. It also reduces the weight by dissolving the fat under the skin.

Pottli or Patrasweda is a kind of sudation therapy using herbal leaves. Leaves of Arka (Calotropisgigantea), Karanja (Pongamiaglabra), Dhatura (Daturametel) and so on are chopped and mixed with grated coconut, mustard and rock salt. The proportion of the ingredients varies according to the symptoms of the disease. The mixture is warmed in a pan smeared with coconut oil and then tied up in linen bundles to be used for fomentation. Prior to fomentation. Oil is applied to the crown. As sudation is the primary aim of fomentation, the Pottli have to be kept at a constant high temperature by warming them every now and then.

In rheumatic pains and associated swelling of the joints, fomentation and massage with Potli Sweda (bundles containing leaves) bring relief.

Induction of perspiration by applying heat using heated packs of herbal powder is referred to as Choorna Pinda Sweda. It is effective in cases involving pain and swelling in the joints.

Depending upon the requirement, whole body below the neck or a part of the body may be treated by this procedure. Abhyangam followed by application of the heat with the warm packs of herbal powder for about 30 to 45 minutes.

'Shiro' in Sanskrit means 'head' and 'dhara' means to 'flow'. So, according to Ayurveda, the flow of oil on the head is known as Shirodhara.

In this treatment, warm oil falls in a continuous flow on the forehead from a pot positioned above the head. The substance used could be medicated oil, buttermilk or some herbal decoction. The individual is made to lie on his back below a pot hung at a specific height.

This rhythm of the flow of oil on the forehead relaxes the mind; releases pent up stress and eliminate toxins. The person experiences a blissful state of total peace and serenity. This treatment lasts for thirty to forty minutes.

Shirodhara is advised for people with mental stress. It offers natural and therapeutic relief for all neurological disorders. The simplicity of the therapy is that it treats the disease at the root level and rejuvenates the person. The entire process culminates in the person feeling a profound sense of peace and calm.

The focus of this treatment is on the head, neck, and shoulders. Using Ayurvedic oils this massage is performed in a seated position using gentle pressure to ease muscle tension. It is perfect for stressed tired shoulders, those who suffer from headaches and very beneficial for aiding a good night’s sleep.

Shirovasti is considered more of a palliative (Shamana) treatment that an eliminative (Shodhana) one. The treatment is usually preceded by oleation (Sheehan) and sudation (Swedana). In Shirovasti, a leather sleeve six to eight inches high is fastened with a varti (headband) to the head of the patient. The inside of the sleeve is lined with kneaded dough so that the oil does not leak. The patient is asked to sit in an upright position and oil is poured into this sleeve & allowed to remain on the head for a while. The length of time the oil should be kept there is determined by the severity of the disease. Usually it is up to fifty minutes for diseases caused by severe Vata disorders.

This treatment is prescribed for disorders like facial paralysis, cataract, deafness, earache, insomnia and other diseases that afflict the cranial nerves.

Mainly used in the elimination of vata related toxins.

The purvakarma stage involves oil & sweat therapies. In the pradhanakarma stage, lukewarm, freshly prepared vasti liquid is injected into the colon via the rectum. This is later discharged from the body along with the toxins.

Mainly used in the elimination of kapha disorders.

In the purvakarma stage, patient goes through oil therapy for 3-7 days. The patient also goes through the medicated sweating process. By the end of this the toxins are all moved into the stomach. During the pradhanakarma stage, the patient is given an emetic which induces vomitting. All the toxins from the stomach are removed this way. In the paschatkarma stage the patient is made to inhale medicated smoke & give complete rest.

Mainly used in the elimination of pitta related toxins.

Purvakarma procedures involving Internal and external oleation followed by therapeutic sweating are essential before virechana. During the pradhanakarma stage the patient is given drugs that stimulate bowel movements & the toxins are removed via the rectum. The patient is made to drink hot water to aid in the process.

Our senses are constantly bombarded on a daily basis by particles and toxins. Although our bodies have a wonderful filtrations system we can still suffer from congestion leading to ailments of the sinus and headaches. Nasya is a traditional treatment for relieving the discomfort associated with head and sinus problems.

A combination of soothing face, head and chest massage with steam treatment. Medicated oils are used to make this therapy an instant relief for sinus problems and congestion as a light steam aids in purification.

Nasya is the best procedure for treating Sirorogas (diseases affecting the head area) like migraine, chronic headaches, sinusitis, ear, nose and throat disorders. This involves the purification of the head region of the patient. In this process, the imbalanced doshas above the neck are removed through the nasal openings.

Nasal errhines are given to the patient in the form of medicinal oils, medicated powders or churnas, medicated juice/milk or medicinal fumes. The importance of this Panchakarma technique has been specified in the disease of the ear, nose and throat, mental diseases, toxicity, epilepsy, headaches, and untimely graying of the hair.

This process is used where the illness is caused due to the impurity of blood. The impure blood is let out from the body by using special surgical instruments or with the controlled use of leeches to suck out the impure blood. In this process, oil & sweat therapy is not used.

The central portion of the body is called 'Kati'. Vasti implies a container. Kativasti is an effective therapy for lower backache or stiffness or pain felt along the back.

A small receptacle of black gram dough is made on the lower back, around the lumbo-sacral area. After ensuring that this is leak-proof, lukewarm herbal oil, which alleviates pain and strengthens the bone tissues, is slowly poured into it. The oil and receptacle are removed after about half an hour. The affected area may be gently massaged with same oil. The patient is then advised to take rest for a short while.



.

For the severe condition of gridrasi (sciatica) and osteo-arthritis of the hip, a disease condition characterized by severe pain in low back region radiating down the leg, a combination of shamana (palliative) and shodhana (eliminatory) measures is necessary if a relapse is to be avoided

Janu Vasti is an Ayurvedic treatment that provides a simple and high effective relief to knee pain. This treatment is especially potent to the knee pain caused by Osteo Arthritis. In this procedure the medicated oil is retained in the knee joint for a particular duration. This relieves stiffness and pain and help easing the movements at the knee joints. This also strengthens the muscles, joint and the surrounding soft tissues thus provides improvement in the circulation and enabling the patient resuming back to their daily activities and work.

Greeva refers to the neck. Greeva Vasti is a hot oil therapy that is used in the treatment of neck pain and related ailments of the neck. . It is a procedure that involves oleation and sudation over the posterior neck region

The Greeva Vasti means a treatment in which medicated oils are poured and pooled for a fixed duration of time in a compartment or a cabin constructed over the Greeva region (Cervical region). The part of the spine that occupies the neck is called the cervical spine. This procedure is unique, which comprises both snehana (oleation) and swedana (sudation) and The deep fomentation of the oil radiates through the Skin, myofacia, muscles and ligament releasing tension and stiffness of whole neck region.

Hrid Vasti in Sanskrit refers to Hridaya - the Heart. It is local oil pooling treatment done over the chest.

Hrid Vasti is an oil bath for the heart where a medicated hot oil preparation or freshly prepared herbal decoction is poured over the heart region. Hridaya, the heart is considered as one among the trimarma (three vital areas) measuring about four fingers (four angulipramana), covering heart & middle of sternum.

A specialized dosha specific herbal lepa or mask used to cleanse, exfoliate, tone and hydrate the facial skin and bring out the beauty within.

This ritual begins with bathing and cleansing the feet. Gentle pressure is applied to restore vital energy using anti-inflammatory oil on the feet and ankles to reduce swelling and relieve tiredness. A superb treat for the feet.

Udwartana means to elevate or to promote. The name can be attributed either to the treatment's ability to improve the body condition or to the upward strokes used in massage here, unlike in other Ayurvedic treatments.