PANCHAKARMA THERAPY : VISION PANCHAKARMA

India has been the birth place of many sciences, Astronomy, Mathematics, to name a few. Ayurved was also born and nurtured in India that is thousands of years ago. Ayurved, like every science, has its theoretical understandings of causality. Like other biological sciences, Ayurved is divided in eight parts. Teleological determinism in Ayurved derives from fundamental sciences of Indian culture. 

Ayurved is a most ancient science of our country, a science of life. Ayurved is a preventive science than a medical science. Its antiquity going back to the sacred VEDAS. It is a tradition with unbroken practice of thousands of years in India and now is flourishing even to day as recognized system of medicine with rich acceptability by the masses. Ayurved is becoming a global scientific discipline. 

Ayurved is a living system of medicine, is a holistic science and has attracted the people of the world and the medical profession at the large scale. Ayurvedic medication is safe and has a range of unique therapeutic modalities. 

Ayurved is very near to holistic health sciences or drugless therapy.
This treatment includes five main procedures with preparatory procedure and post Panchkarma procedure. 


Basic approach of Ayurved is ……. 
Maitenance of health of healthy people and Treatment of the diseases of diseased.

This approaches are classified in two group broadly.
   [1] Shodhan therapy – (Biopurification or Elimination treatment )
   [2] Shaman therapy – ( Palliative or Alleviation therapy ) 

Shodhan therapy is known as Panchkarma therapy. This is a recognized as a therapeutic procedure. 

Panchkarma consist of two words. Pnach and Karma. Literarally meaning of panch is five and Karma is methods of treatment or five fold therapy or five fold specialized techniques of therapy.

Amongst the above SHODHAN CHIKITSA is a PANCHAKARMA CHIKITSA. Out of eight branches of Ayurved, PANCHAKARMA is included in KAYACHIKITSA branch (General Medicine).

 [1] SHODHAN CHIKITSA is a method of treating diseased by eliminating DOSH out of the body by PANCHAKARMA procedures that is five biopurification procedures.

 [2] SHAMAN CHIKITSA is a method of treating diseased by subsiding DOSH in the body by appropriately planned diet, drugs and lifestyle.

Shodhan therapy is purificatory therapy. This therapy cleans the body tissues (shroto shodhan). It brings about the harmony of Three Dosh. With administration of this therapy vitiated Doshas are removed from the body. It gives the long lasting benefits in the body. Shodhan therapy is a management of the individuals which promotes and preserves the normal health for long time.

Shaman therapyis palliative therapy. Treatment given by this therapy also brings Dosh in perfect state of equilibrium with Ahar, Vihar and Aushadh. It is stated in texts that therapeutic response produce by the Shaman therapy is of sort duration. Disease may relapse after some time.

Pathogenesis of any disease, there is an imbalance of DOSH which causes to vitiate of DHATU and MALA, and the treatment is to correct the imbalance of DOSH. 

Panchkarma – Shodhan therapy is administered in three stage.
   [1] Purva karma – Preparatory procedure.
   [2] Pradhan karma – Main purificatory procedure.
   [3] Pascht karma – Post procedure.

Purva karma 
   [1] Pachan (Digestives)
   [2] Dipan (Stimulatives)
   [3] Snehan (Oleative therapy)
   [4] Swedan (Sudation – Fomentation)

Some of the scholars has accepte only two Purva karma
   [1] Snehan karma – Oleation therapy
   [2] Swedan karma – Sudation – Fomentation

Pradhan karma 
[1] Vaman karma (Therapeutic Emesis)
[2] Virechan karma (Therapeutic Pugation)
[3] Anuvasan basti (Therapeutic oil base Enemata)
[4] Asthapan Basti (Therapeutic decoction based enematas 
[5] Nasya karma or shiro virechan (nasal insufflation -Errhines)

This is a classification of Pradhan karma of Panchkarma according to Kayachikitsa.

Sushrut sanhita has described Pradhn karma of Panchkarma in a different way.

   [1] Vaman karma (Therapeutic Emesis)
   [2] Virechan karma (Therapeutic Pugation)
   [3] Basti karma (Therapeutic Enemata)
   [4] Nasya karma (Errhines)
   [5] Raktamoxan (blood letting)

The treatment of Panchkarma therapy is proceeded with Purva krms. This procedure is advocated for improving Jatharagni .

Purvakarma
Snehan karma means oliation therapy. Various medicated oils and Ghee – clarified butter are prescribed for inducing snehan – oleation of body. This procedure makes the vitiated Dosh easily extractable from the body.Snehan karma – oleation creates microcirculatory channels lubricated and Dosh can easily comes out of the body.

Swedan karma means induction of swed in the body. This is a fomentation inducing sweating. This procedure helps in melting the vitiated Dosh and are expelled out of the body through lubricated microcirculatory channels. 

Pradhan karma
Vaman karma means to a therapeutic vomiting. This procedure is indicated for purification of thorasic region of the body. This procedure to eliminate vitiated Dosh through oral route.

Virechan karma means therapeutic purgation. This procedure removes Dosh from abdominal region. Of the body through anal route. Several purgative preparations are prescribed in the texts.

Basti karma means therapeutic enemata. Basti karma is administered through various routes like rectum, vagina and urethra. Baasti is administered with herbal decoctios with oil or without oil. The mane of Basti is given according to route. The term Basti is used when decoction / oil through anal route, uttar basti is used when it is administered though urethral or veginal route. Basti eliminates Dosh when expelled out through its given route. Basti materials produce pharmaceutical actions in the body.

Basti karma is divided in two type.
   [1] Asthapan or niruha basti – decoction based
   [2] Anuvasan basti – oil based

Nasya karma means required medicines administered through nasal passage. It may be administered in liquid, powder or vapour form. This procedure if specially indicated for Urdhva jatru gat rog – E.N.T.disorders.

Raktamoxan karma means the procedure of blood letting for therapeutic pupose. It eliminates the vitiated Dosh from the body.

Paschat karma : 
After administration of Pradhn karma Paschat karma is to be administered. 

Dhumpan, Kavalgraha, Gandush and sansarjan karma is necessary. 
Dhumpan is medicated specialized smoking, Kavalgraha is medicated gargles to be kept in mouth, and Gandush is a medicated gagling. Sansarjan karma is a process of dieting to restore digestive functions ( Agn) by advocating specific dietetics regimen. In is a increased diet system.

Panchkarma therapy is prescribed for three purpose.
   [1] Preventive purpose
   [2] Rejuvenation purpose
   [3] Curative purpose

Ayurvedic classics has prescribed specific karma – procedure for particular Dosh.
   [1] Basti karma for Vaata Dosh
   [2] Virechankarma for Pitta Dosh
   [3] Vaman karma for Kapha Dosh.