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Panchkarma
Basic
Principles
Panchakarma
consists of medicated emesis (vamana) to remove excess
kapha, therapeutic purgation
(viracana) to clear excess pitta,
medicated enema (vasti) to eject excess vata, nasal
drops or snuffs (nasya) for diseases of the head &
neck and bloodletting (raktamokshana) in case of blood
disorders. Five purification procedures for removing accumulated
toxins and other waste material in the body. As the humors and tissues
are related closely to each other, this discharge procedure affects
the tissues indirectly by the strong elimination of related humor.
For example, the pronounced elimination of kapha
by herb induced emesis causes an effect on the nutrient tissue fluid
pool, containing water and electrolytes, plasma, muscle, fat. Or
the large release of pitta by selective purgation similarly causes
an indirect effect on the total colouring material in the body or
blood. Vasti is somewhat different, as it is meant to nullify
excess vata and contains
warm oleation substances. During its long contact with the membrane
of the large intestine, it separates layers of faecal matter and
thus enhances better absorption, which is responsible for the ultimate
nourishment of all tissues. Nasya in turn cleans the sinus
and thereby improves the function of sense organs.
Physical
and mental diseases occur due to the vitation of somatic doshas
vata, pitta
and kapha and due to
mental doshas Rajas and Tamas. Volitional transgression,
effect of time and senses are the three primary causes responsible
for vitation of biological and mental doshas. Food, drinks & environmental
factors with similar properties to the doshas vitiates
them and cause disease. Panchakarma's purificatory therapies
balance out the three doshas, acting both as a curative
and a preventive measure.
Introduction
| Basic Principles | Three Stages
| Durations

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