Panchakarma

Panchakarma literally means five therapeutic procedures.

Panchakarma

The five therapeutic procedures are generally indicated for expelling out the excessively aggravated dosha and maintain equilibrium of dosha in body. Panchakarma is the most essential part of Ayurveda treatments. It can be practiced as preventive, preservative, promotive, curative and rehabilitative therapy as per the need of the patient.

Five therapeutic procedures

Vamana ( therapeutic emesis):

It is beneficial in vitiation of Kapha dosha disorders. For preservation of health, it is followed in Vasanta ritu (spring season) during March-April in India.

Virechana (therapeutic purgation):

It is beneficial in vitiation of Pitta dosha disorders. For preservation of health, it is followed in Sharada ritu (autumn season) during October in India.

Basti (therapeutic enema)

It includes two types viz. Niruha (enema with medicinal decoction) and Anuvasana (enema with unctuous substance mainly oil).It is beneficial in vitiation of Vata dosha disorders. For preservation of health, it is followed in Varsha ritu (rainy season) during July-August in India.

Nasya (nasal errhines/ drug delivery through nose)

It is indicated in the disorders of body parts above the supra-clavicular region like head, ear, nose and throat.

Raktamokshana (blood letting modalities)

This procedure is indicated in vitiation of blood specifically in the diseases like Kushtha(skin diseases), Vatarakta etc.

Related Chapters

The description of Panchakarma procedures is elaborated in sections of Siddhi Sthana and Sutra Sthana chapters. The medicines used in these procedures are described in Kalpa Sthana.

• Kalpana Siddhi, Panchakarmiya Siddhi, Bastisutriyam Siddhi, Snehavyapat Siddhi, Netrabastivyapat Siddhi, Vamana Virechana Vyapat Siddhi, Bastivyapat Siddhi, Prasrita Yogiyam Siddhi, Trimarmiya Siddhi, Basti Siddhi, Phalamatra Siddhi, Uttar Basti Siddhi
• Snehadhyaya, Swedadhyaya, Upakalpaniya Adhyaya, Chikitsaprabhritiya Adhyaya

Researches on Panchakarma

• Bharti Gupta, Physiological and biochemical changes with Vamana procedure, AYU, 2012, 33,3:348-355
• Santoshkumar Bhatted, VD Shukla, Anup Thakar, NN Bhatt, A study on Vasantika Vamana (therapeutic emesis in spring season) - A preventive measure for diseases of Kapha origin, 2011, 32( 2): 181-186
• Ranjip Kumar Dass, Nilesh N Bhatt, Anup B Thakar, Vagish Dutt Shukla, A comparative clinical study on standardization of Vamana Vidhi by classical and traditional methods, 2012, 33 (4) : 517-522
• Somsri Wiwanitkit, Viroj Wiwanitkit, Vamana procedure, AYU, 2011, 32(3): 434
• Adil Rais, Santoshkumar Bhatted, Clinical study to evaluate the effect of Virechanakarma on serum electrolytes, AYU, 2013,34(4):379-382
• Anand RM, Gurjar GK, Virechana Karma in Indian literature, Bulletin of Indian Institute of History of Medicine, 1976;6(1):37-41.
• Yashwant M Juneja, Anup B Thakar, Clinical evaluation of Basti administered by Basti Putak (Pressure method), Enema pot method (Gravity fed method), and syringe method in Kshinashukra (Oligozoospermia), 2011 , 32 (2) : 234-240
• SS Savrikar, CE Lagad, Study of preparation and standardization of Maadhutailika Basti' with special reference to emulsion stability, 2010, 31(1) : 1-6
• Pharmacodynamics of Nasya Karma K.Y., Srikanth, V. Krishna murthy, M. Srinivasulu, International Journal of Research in Ayurveda & Pharmacy, 2011; 2(1):24-26.