The history of Ayurveda dates back to the second century BC. The ancient schools of Hindu philosophy known as Vaisheshika and the school of logic known as Nyaya formed the groundwork for Ayurveda.
The Vaisheshika school divides an object’s properties into six categories: substance, particularity, activity, generality, inherence, and quality, which are referred to as Dravya, Vishesha, Karma, Samanya, Samavaya, and Guna in Sanskrit. Later, the Vaisheshika and Nyaya schools collaborated to establish the Nyay-Vatika school. The nyya-vaieika school later brought dignity to old knowledge and aided in the dissemination of Ayurvedic knowledge.
Even before these schools were created, and even now, the genesis of Ayurveda is regarded as divine, stemming from the Hindu God Brahma, who is known as the creator of the cosmos. It is thought that the universe’s originator passed on this holistic knowledge of healing to the sages for the benefit of humanity. The knowledge of traditional remedies was passed down from the sages to the followers and eventually to the average man through numerous publications and oral narrations. The knowledge regarding the medicinal virtues of the herbs was written in the form of poetry known as “Shlokas.” Sages used these to describe the usage of medicinal plants.
Panchakarma
The “Pancha karma” approach is used in Ayurvedic remedies. Pancha karma therapy employs a variety of techniques to rejuvenate the body, cleanse it, and increase longevity. The Pancha karma is made up of five karmas (activities) that are utilized to remove poisons from the body’s tissues. They are the Virechan (purgation by the use of powders, pastes, or decoctions), Vaman (forced therapeutic emesis through the use of specific medicines), Basti (the use of enemas created from medicated oils), Rakta moksha (blood detoxification), and Nasya (administration of medicines like decoctions, oils, and fumes through nasal route).
Pancha karma is divided into three steps: Poorva karma (body preparation for therapy), Pradhan karma (primary therapeutic process), and Paschat karma (consisting of regimens to be followed to restore digestive and other absorptive procedures of the body, back to the normal state). In the oleation procedure, clarified butter and medicinal oils are employed. Swedan (sweating) is caused by exposure to steam for certain areas of body therapy. Forced emesis, also known as vamana, is caused by the administration of a liquorice and honey decoction, followed by the administration of curd and rice a few hours before. These drugs are thought to increase the emesis effect.Virechana, or laxative therapy, is administered through the use of herbs and liquids such as senna, cow milk, psyllium seed, and castor oil. Pancha karma enemas can be made from medicinal oils or herbal decoctions such as sesame or anise.
Ayurveda emphasizes on Traya Upstambha (Aahar, Nidra & Brahmacharya) as the modus operandi to salubrity. With the advent of concepts such as nutrigenomics, gut microbiota, epigenetics, and psychosomatic approach to deal with non-communicable diseases, we are now in acceptance with age-old Ayurvedic procedures & principles of managing the health of individuals.
Classical Panchakarma is basically performed in three stages-
Purva Karma – preparation of the body:
- Snehan or Oleation therapy.
- Swedana or Fomentation therapy.
Pradhana Karma – main therapies
Vamana:
is therapeutic emesis. In this process, Dosha are eliminated through the upper channels, i.e., mouth
Virechana:
is therapeutic purgation. In this procedure, the orally administered drug acts on internally situated Dosha and expels them out of the body through the anal route.
Basti:
this is a process by which the medicated oil or decoction is administered through the urethra/vagina/anal route with the help of Basti Yantra. Basti therapy is considered as Chikitsardha among all the therapeutic measures used in Ayurvedic medicine
Nasya:
medicine administered through the nose spreads throughout the Shiras and helps in the evacuation of Dosha and thereby pacifying the diseases
Raktamokshana :
removing vitiated blood from the body (blood letting).
Pashchat Karma
a set of rules and regulations which are followed to facilitate the re-customization of the body with the natural environment.
Keraliya Panchakarma is a simplified form of Panchakarma therapy that has been practiced in Kerala for a long time. This practice is very different from the classical Panchakarma. These procedures are specialized varieties of Snehana and Swedana which have more nutritive/nourishing effects than bio-cleansing or depleting effects. In Keraliya Panchakarma , the selection of drugs is very important. It is used for preparing Dhara, Lepa, or Pinda and is done by taking into consideration the nature of the disease that is to be treated. The five major components of Keraliya Panchakarma are as follows:
- Dhara Kalpam
- Pindasweda
- Annalepam
- Kaya Sekam
- Shiro Sekam
Dhara Kalpam
ara Kalpam is a kind of Shiro Dhara or Murdha Taila (Implementation of oil to the head/scalp) in which prescribed medicinal oil or liquid is repeatedly poured over the forehead and then let to drip over the scalp from a specific height for a set amount of time. The therapeutic fluid is chosen in this process based on the type of ailment, as well as the client’s condition and endurance.
Pindasweda
Shashtikashali Pindasweda also known as Navarakizhi is a Kerala specialty of treatment. Here heat, massage, and pressure are provided which nourish muscles and stimulate nerve endings.
Kaya sekam
Kaya sekam or Pizhichil with medicinal oil is a more sophisticated type of Parieka Sweda that originated as a Kerala specialty. Pizhichil is the method of inducing perspiration in the body by putting lukewarm medicinal oil in a certain pattern. It is a Panchakarma sample preparation method that has the benefit of producing both Snehana and Swedana effects in the same time.
Annalepanam
The Annalepana paste (Kalka) of Shashtikashali (a kind of rice) is smeared all over the body. The only difference between it and Shashtikashali Pinda swedan is that instead of Pottali, the paste or Payas (Kheer) is applied straight to the skin. The Shashtikashali is combined with Balamula Kwath in this method.
Shiro lepam
Shiro lepam is a method of the appliance of the paste of medicines over the head for a particular period of time.
Rebooting oneself with age-old Ayurvedic healing techniques of Aahar and Panchakarma according to the individual’s bodily constitution or Prakriti. The Ayurvedic Doctor guides this calming and renewing stage therapy, taking into account Prakriti, specific needs, and bodily reactions to herbal Ayurvedic components.
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Dr. Deepali Swami (MD Ayurved)
Our personalized programs are carefully put together by highly qualified Ayurvedic physicians and include therapeutic massages, diets, pranayama, meditation, Yog Nidra, interesting lifestyle transforming experiences, and much more. Your Panchkarma program is put together according to the number of days you have chosen to stay with us. The daily consultations with the Ayurvedic physician will ensure.
