Shodhana

Ayurveda is the science of life. It is a holistic approach for better living. According to ayurveda, disease or health issue can occur due to the accumulation of the toxins in the body. Toxins can be generated in our body with the exposure to the environment around us such as chemical pollutants in the air and it can be consumed with food. The food we eat needs to be digested well, if the digestion is impaired then it may lead to toxins being accumulated to ensure good health, it is required to detoxify the body periodically. Ayurveda suggests periodical cleaning not just for unhealthy or sick patient but also for healthy people to cleanse them, recharge them and to keep them away from the diseases. Panchakarma is the most essential part of Ayurveda treatments. It is preventive, preservative, promotive, curative and rehabilitative therapy. The umbrella of Panchakarma includes five major therapeutic procedures Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (therapeutic purgation), Basti (therapeutic enema),  and Nasya (therapeutic errhine), Raktamokshan (blood letting) and many allied therapies.

There are three stages in panchakarma therapy, all equally important.

The use of medicated oils, either internally or externally, is called Snehan (oleation). Snehan refers to the administration of medicated fats or the massage of oil over the skin for a specific period. Many methods of Snehan therapy have been described in the Ayurvedic texts. The use of oleation results in unctuousness and softness of morbid doshas, which become easily extractable and ready to move from places where their occupation is undesirable and unwarranted.

Snehan is performed using substances of vegetable origin such as Til, Erand, Mahua, Sarson, Neem, Karanj, Shaijan, Priyal and Bahera, as well as substances of animal origin such as milk, curd, Ghee, meat, fat and bone tissue. The use of a specific snehan substance also depends upon the season of treatment.

Abhyang is an ancient relaxing massage technique originating in Ayurveda, which utilises warm medicated oil to benefit the mind, body, spirit and the immune system. Abhyang massage can help your body get rid of all the ama or toxins accumulated from the chaotic lifestyles of the modern world.
In Abhyang, an ample amount of warm oil is applied to the entire body combined with massage strokes that follow the direction of the movement of arterial blood. As mentioned by the Brhat Trayi and Laghutrayi Ayurvedic texts, abhyang is a part of daily practices that one should follow to maintain well-being and good health. It also acts as a prelude to  Panchakarma therapy , the five-step method of purgation and elimination that intensively detoxifies the body. Long-term

Abhyang practice can bring many benefits:-

• Stress relief
•  Maintain a healthy blood pressure
•  Improve skin health
•  Improve blood flow to the skin
• Reduce wrinkles, scars and cellulite
• Decrease hyperpigmentation
• Enhance skin smoothness and softness
• Revitalises the emotional and spiritual aspects of the self
• Reduce muscle ache and stiffnesss
• It pacifies the aggravated vata and removes ama (toxins) and strotorodha (blockage of circulatory channels) from the body.
• Abhyang offers better flexibility and mobility of the muscles and joints.
• Promotes lymphatic drainage
• Promote physical strength
• Improve vision
• Increase energy and alertness within the body
• Delay ageing and its related changes

Vaman is one of the five therapies of panchakarma in Ayurveda. Vaman means therapeutic vomiting which is a medicated emesis. This treatment is done for the aggravated kapha dosha, which dislodges the toxins mainly from the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. This therapy is done for preventive & curative purposes.

Benefits:

1. Lightness in the chest is often experienced after undergoing the vaman therapy.
2. People analyses things more efficiently, promotes good voice and good appetite.
3. In ancient days vaman was said to be given to one, after consumption of poison or food poisoning which is today followed by stomach wash in modern science.
4. After vaman, the sinuses are cleared which in turn provides relief from congestion, wheezing and breathlessness.
5. It is a highly efficient treatment in Asthma and skin related problems like psoriasis.
6. Reduction in weight and cholesterol & triglycerides.

Used for all kapha type disorders, and good for pitta headache, asthama, dizziness, nausea. It will help to release blocked emotions, respiratory congestion, bronchitis, chronic cold, sinus, asthma.

The Ayurvedic therapy of Virechana is one of the five sacred therapies of the Panchakarma, which can heal and purify the mind as well as the body from within. The word ‘Virechana’ refers to purging or any substance that might induce purgation in the body.

Virechana is a controlled process that assembles all the ama or toxins of the body, concentrates them in the small intestine and eliminates them. It helps the body to reach a state free from the aggravated Pitta dosha and its toxic disease-causing symptoms. Moreover, Virechana also leads to the formation of new Pitta in the body which aids in digestion and metabolism. The different herbs used in the therapy serve as laxatives and decongestants that cleanse the colon, stomach, sweat glands, liver and spleen. It is beneficial for the treatment of all disorders caused due to Pitta imbalance or aggravation, such as hyperacidity, acid peptic disease, colitis, migraine, chronic headaches, allergies and several skin diseases like leprosy, dermatitis, eczema, etc.

 Virechana  Benefits :

• Disorders arising from Pitta aggravation, such as acne, eczema, gastritis, stomach and intestinal ulcers, liver infections.
• Skin problems like furuncles, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, blisters, freckles, discoloured patch on the face, etc.
• Anaemia and non-healing wounds
• Chronic fevers that last for more than ten to fourteen days
• Vomiting and chronic poisoning
• Problems in the urogenital system
• GERD
• Haemorrhoids or piles
• Abdominal tumours
• Enlargement of the spleen or splenomegaly
• Hepatomegaly and jaundice
• Erysipelas infection affecting the upper dermis and extending into the superficial cutaneous lymphatics
• Swelling and tenderness in the joints
• Glaucoma

Advantages Of Virechana :

• Slows down the ageing process
• Enhances the immune system of the individual
• Increases sexual power
• Calms the mind and relaxes the body
• Improves digestion, metabolic power and cleans the gastrointestinal tract entirely
• Increase blood flow in every cell of the body and enhances the beauty of the individual
• A completely safe procedure for the removal of excess doshas from the body without any complications or side effects.

Nasya involves administering medications and herbal extracts through the nasal cavity to treat different complications affecting the region above the shoulder. It is an essential part of panchakarma. When carried out systematically, Nasya treatment can work wonders to control migraine headaches, sinusitis, congestions in breathing, infections, and various other problems.

In Nasya Panchakarma therapy, the herbal oils, medicated powder, and Ayurvedic formulations that are delivered through the nostrils are absorbed by the blood vessels and make their way into the circulatory system. As they effectively reach the nervous system through nerve endings in the nasal cavity, they have a calming effect on the nerves; they reduce stress and anxiety, and promote restful sleep. Moreover, Nasya therapy is also known to slow down the aging process and early graying of hair.

Benefits of Nasya

• Effectively treats headaches, migraine, and conditions like cervical spondylosis.
• Strengthens the immune system and the sense organs.
• Stimulates the centres of the brain that regulate emotions and relieves stress.
• Improves skin complexion, hair health, and texture, and prevents premature greying.
• Nasya benefits brain function and may help in the management of paralysis.
• Helps in the treatment of disorders that occur with age like muscle and joint pain.
• Enhances the sense organs activity and protects the individual from brain diseases.
• Smoothens your nasal passage; treats nasal allergies and polyps.
• Removes toxins from the head and neck area.
• Prevents goitre, tonsillitis, and motor disorders.
• Alleviates chronic pain.
• Cures insomnia.
• Prevents aging and thereby graying of hair.
• Relieves from pain in the ear, head, and throat.
• Relieves tension from the neck and shoulder region.
• Relieves from toothache and other dental problems.
• Other conditions that Nasya therapy helps with include hemiplegia, paraplegia, diseases of the eyelid, Multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.
• Regulates menstrual cycle.

Rakta Moksha, also called bloodletting, is a traditional Ayurvedic treatment method for the removal or displacement of impure blood from the affected body part. Rakta Moksha therapy is also regarded as one of the five ama elimination procedures in Panchakarma.

Rakta dhatu is one of the seven dhatus or bodily tissues. When the Rakta dhatu is healthy, it enhances the individual’s complexion and enables the proper nourishment of the muscles and other tissues. In its vitiated state, it leads to several diseases like mukhapaka (oral ulcers), raktapitta (epistaxis), vaivarnya (discoloration of skin), kushta (skin diseases), gulma (tumor), etc. Some of the factors that produce toxins in blood, according to Ayurveda, are:

• Excessive consumption of salt, sour, unctuous, and heavy foods
• Alcohol intake
• Overeating
• Sleeping immediately after meals
• Excessive exposure to sun or heat
• Stress

By letting out the blood through Rakta Moksha Ayurveda therapy, all the problems caused due to vitiated blood can be eliminated. There are two categories in the way the Rakta Moksha treatment is performed.

Shastra Visravana

Shastra Visravana therapy is performed using metal instruments. In this therapy, the blood is let out through two procedures:

• Siravyadha (puncturing the vein)
• Pracchana (creating several incisions over the skin)

Anushastra Visravana

The therapies in Anushastra Visravana are performed without using metal instruments. They are of four types:

• Jalouka Vacharana: Application of jalauka or leeches are preferred in cases of vitiated Pitta doshas in blood.
• Alabu: Due to the bitter, dry, and pungent nature of calabash gourd, it is useful for bloodletting in Kapha dosha vitiation. This procedure involves making multiple incisions on the skin and then extinguishing an ignited wick over the affected area to create a vacuum that drains the blood out.
• Shrunga Vacharana: Here, the Shrunga or horn of a cow is used to bring out blood in Vata dosha vitiation.
• Ghati Yantra: The method of extracting blood is similar to Alabu therapy, but it uses a pot instead of the gourd.

Indications

• Leukoderma
• Psoriasis
• Leprosy
• Eczema
• Urticaria
• Hives
• Varicose veins
• Enlarged liver or spleen
• Acute appendicitis
• Trigeminal Neuralgia

Benefits

• Expels out disease-causing vitiated blood from the body
• Prevent tumors and edema
• Helps to balance Pitta dosha aggravation
• Beneficial in bleeding disorders
• Prevents allergies and repeated hives
• Helps to manage high blood pressure and arthritis
• Treats chronic diseases, such as psoriasis