My Experiences with Panchakarma Ayurveda Treatments III
My Experiences with Panchakarma Ayurveda Treatments III
A Lot of effort has been taken to gather the information in the following details of treatments of Panchakarma. I have done a lot of research on the web as also discussions with the therapists who administered the procedures to me. The Senior doctors and the Post Graduate interns at the hospital also played a major role in trusting me to part with the information I asked for. I hereby recors the invaluable support from all who have helped me in this endeavour.
The treatments when I started to write seem to be going on and on which might make the blog too long to read and grasp in a single sitting. I having taken an opinion poll have decided to split the blog into two parts for easier reading. This effort will be incomplete without my going on record to thank my wonderful readers and followers of my blogs who are the inspiration behind the whole project and have been egging me on to write more and more.
When I started to pen this series, I never realised the enormity of the task. I realised it only when I completed it. Once again I go on record to thank everyone.
Nothing in this blog is original. It has completely been sourced from the web. Only the language and style of writing is my own. I hope by acknowledging this I will not get into any copy write issues.
In this treatment, boiled egg and herbal powders together are made into a bundle and are applied to the whole body along with hot medicated oils and turmeric powder. This is indicated in Muscular atrophy, muscular weakness, stiff joints, joint pain and sports injuries. Mutta Kizhi is very effective in facial paralysis and hemiplegia.
Indication :
Cervical spondilitis Frozen shoulder
Knee pain
Joint pain
Lack of strength
This treatment was done for both of us 5 days for 45 minutes each day.
Knee pain
Joint pain
Lack of strength
This treatment was done for both of us 5 days for 45 minutes each day.
Nasyam
20 minutes
Nasyam is a therapeutic treatment for the nose, throat, sinuses and head. The face, shoulders and chest are massaged with specific herbal oil and the herbal extracts and herbal oils are measured exactly and instilled into the nostrils, while inhaling. After this process, the area around the nose, chest, palms and foot are massaged vigorously.
This Ayurvedic therapy can provide a miraculous remedy for congestion. When it is combined with Abhyangam, it also calms the body, relieving it of stress and toxins. It also helps regulate our hormones. This extended therapy will cleanse, purify and strengthen the nasal passages allowing you to breathe fully and easily again.
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This treatment was done for both of us for three days.
Karna Poorana
Karnapoorna! Or Karna Purana. And there might be a 3rd or 4th spelling or 5th spelling, but no matter, it’s important to know that it exists.
Do you know what it is?
For the seven of you raising your hands, awesome! For the rest of you, let me happily share.
Do you know what it is?
For the seven of you raising your hands, awesome! For the rest of you, let me happily share.
Karnapoorna is one of the many therapies in Ayurveda that is done with oil. It means, putting oil in your ears!
Now, not only is it a therapy, but it’s also used as swastha vritta (mmwaahahaa..I love throwing in sanskrit sometimes just to keep you on your toes), which means preventive medicine 🙂
You can do karnapoorna as needed or once a week as part of your routine to stay healthy.
Karnapoorna is best for vata imbalances including:
- Insomnia
- Ringing in the ears
- Headaches
- TMJ
- Anxiety or worry
- Jet-lag and ears popping/crackling in airplanes
Other benefits are:
- Improves hearing
- Loosens ear wax (who doesn’t want that?!)
- Strengthens the bones in the ear
- Prevents neck stiffness
Intrigued yet? Give it a try.
It might tickle at first, but stick with it for about 30 seconds, then you should feel calm and happy.
***Do not do karnapoorna after a shower or swimming. Oil and water do not mix and it could do bad things. Okay?!***
Here’s what to do:
Warm some sesame oil or ghee and put in shallow bowl.
Use a cotton ball to soak up the oil.
Lay on one side and squeeze the oil out of the cotton ball into your ear (it will tickle).
Massage your ear lobe and bones gently for a couple minutes.
Lay for 20 minutes (even 10 minutes does some
good).
Put a towel over your ear, tilt your head so the oil drizzles out.
Repeat other side
This was done for me for improving my hearing in my affected ear. 20 minutes after Sanatana (Mutta) Kizhi for 5 days.
Netrra Tarpana (Lepam)(Basti)
Netra Tarpana cools, lubricates, and rejuvenates the eyes improves the inner vision by clearing out the subtle channels associated with inner and outer perception.
It helps to bring back brightness and clarity to the eyes as impurities are expelled out.
The treatment is done by creating a pool of pure herbal ghee (clarified organic butter) over the eye.
The eyes comfortably swim in the ghee for about 20 minutes.
Duration: 30 minutes
Benefits Of Netra Lepam
- Relieves the strain due to constant glaring to the Computer & TV screen, Refractive errors of the eyes, Chronic Conjunctivitis Corneal Ulcer, Dry Eye Syndrome, Eye diseases due to aggravation of Vata and Pitta toxins, Glaucoma
- Helps in preventing early formation of Cataract, Improper co-ordination and loss of movement of the eye balls, Pain and burning sensation in the eyes.
- Refreshes tired, sore, dry, itchy, and teary eyes
- Eases eye tension and proves to very soothing for dry and tired ‘computer eyes’
- Relieves eye socket tension, twitches, and squinting
- Eases wrinkles and dark circles around eyes
- Improves Vision,Nourishes and rejuvenates eyes
- Enhances the beauty of the eyes
- Preventive therapy for people suffering from Diabetes and hypertension
- This treatment was given to me for five days for 30 minutes each day after Sanatana(Mutta Kizhi).
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Shiro Pichhu
Shiru Pichu is an Ayurveda treatment procedure which comprises of two terms,
Shiro meaning head, Pichu meaning a swab or sterile cotton pad or a sterile cloth dipped in medicated oils. The Ayurveda treatment of Shiro Pichu falls under the category of Murdhni Taila. It is an effective Ayurvedic treatment advised for prevention and getting rid of many psychosomatic illnesses.
BENEFITS:
- Reduces the burning sensation in the scalp and other scalp diseases.
- Prevents hair fall, split hair and premature greying of hair.
- Relieves headache and migraine.
- Induces sleep.
- Improves memory.
- Decreases stiffness in neck and eye strain.
- Treats psychological as well as neurological disorders like paralysis and facial palsy.
TREATMENT:
The Shiro Pichu Treatment involves keeping a gauze piece or cotton soaked in warm medicated,herbal oil over the affected area. The gauze will be most usually kept over the head or on forehead over the anterior fontanelle. The medicated oil for the Ayurvedic therapy will be prescribed according to the prakriti of the client or the ailment. Make sure to discuss your health issues in detail with your Ayurvedic doctor to ensure suitable treatment and immediate recovery. The treatment may last for 45 minutes to 1 hour. It might also be followed with a relaxing head and neck massage depending on the health condition.
This treatment was given to me for five days for 45 minutes each day. I had to shave my head for this.
This photo was taken during the treatment.
This treatment was done after the Sanatana Kizhi (Mutta Kizhi) treatment in the afternoon.
Thalam
This therapy is useful for relieving from anxiety, disorders related to shoulder muscles pain, It is found beneficial in insomnia, mental disorders, migraine. It brings about a feeling of wellness. It is even found effective in alleviating hyper tension. It improves memory and concentration. It clears the nasal passage, smoothens the throat and imparts coolness to the body and calms mind. The depression related with modern lifestyle has created many problems and thalam is designed as an ayurveda therapy.
This was done for my wife Bhagirathi for five days 45 minutes a day after Sanatana Kizhi.
Kadi Kizhi
Beneficial for the for the following ailments
Relieving aches and pains
Helping with weight loss
Alleviating edemas
Combating hypertension
Treating Diabetes
This was done for my wife Bhagirathi for five days 60 minutes a day.
Vamana Treatment
Vamana is one of the five purification therapies of Panchakarma. It is the procedure of removing the kapha toxins from the body. The patient is forced to Vomit and bring out all the Mucus out of the body.
Purpose of Vamana treatment:
- Vamana treatment is targeted to expel increased Kapha Dosha out of the body.
- When Kapha dosha gets increased, it causes certain types of diseases – such as cold, cough etc.
- If the extent of Kapha increase is less, then some oral medicines can be given to suppress it. But if it has increased to a large extent and if it has moved from its natural place to other places, then it needs to be expelled out of the body.
- By expelling it out, the disease gets cured, often completely. Since Kapha is situated in the chest region, expelling it from the oral route is very easy. Hence, Vamana treatment is designed.
- To expel it out, first the Kapha Dosha needs to be forcefully brought from the extremities and different organs into the stomach, and then vomiting is induced.
Advantages of Vaman therapy:
- Vitiated and aggressive Kapha dosha is expelled out of the body, leading to cure of disease.
- The digestion and metabolism power gets enhanced, Normal health is restored;
- The sense organs, mind, intelligence, and complexion become clear and gain strength;
- The person gains strength, nourishment and immunity,
- It improves the chances of fertility, virility and sexual power.
- It helps to slow down aging process.
- One can live healthily for long time.
We were spared from this treatment as both of us were not having any Kapha dosha and were too old to be treated with this.
Basti Treatment
Basti is the treatment where the patient is given herbal enaema and forced to empty his bowels (Large Intestines) and clear the colon.
As nature transitions seasons and exhibits change, Ayurveda recommends cleansing and rejuvenation to help the body adapt. Of particular focus at this time of the year is balancing vata. There is no system in the body that is not touched by vata, and according to Ayurvedic tradition, vata alone is responsible for more that 55% of the diseases encountered by humans.
Panchakarma is recommended at the change of seasons to help balance the shifts in doshas that can accumulate with the change in environment. The primary treatment in panchakarma that is geared towards vata is basti (Ayurvedic enema). Basti is so highly revered in the panchakarma process that it is said that the benefit received from basti is equal to the cumulative benefit of the other four processes in panchakarma. And that only makes sense, given the prevalence that vitiated vata plays in the disease process.
Basti works in the region of the colon, but its impact is so far reaching and deep that simply calling this process an enema does not do it justice. Recall that as the major seat of vata in the GI tract, the colon is critical in keeping vata balanced in the entire body. In the stages of samprapti (Ayurvedic pathogenesis), vata first accumulates in the colon, and then as it begins to “overflow”, it will spread and create imbalanced vata in other susceptible parts of the body. This systemic imbalanced vata can affect almost any system in the body, as vata is a necessary presence throughout the body; it is likely to affect the systems which have some weakness (a khavaigunya). Basti provides herbal cleansing and nourishment directly into the intestines and colon, without having to be digested by the stomach and upper GI tract, as would be the case with anything taken by mouth.
Traditional Ayurvedic teaching reminds us that basti can be used for a variety of reasons, including bowel regularity, joint support, excess vata in digestion causing occasional gas, nervous system support, and healthy sleep patterns.1 Clearing vata from the system also helps create energy and vitality as well as clarity in the mind. Basti promotes overall well-being, a graceful aging process, luster and a healthy glow. Multiple international studies have been done regarding the benefits of basti, and they also show benefits to joint, back, and bone health.
Basti does have some general situations in which it is contraindicated, including pregnancy, menstruation, diarrhea, inflammation of the anal region or rectal bleeding, and extreme weakness or debility.1 Generally, basti is well tolerated in appropriate candidates, and a proper basti should result in 1-2 bowel movements with cleansing of the fecal matter as well as a feeling of lightness and a promotion of appetite and agni.1,6 If the basti was insufficient, one may be left with pain, incomplete fecal clearing, and/or swelling.6
Prior to doing basti, one can prepare by applying warm oil (such as sesame) to the abdomen and lower back in a clockwise direction following the flow of the intestines. If one is so inclined, one can even do a full body massage with warm oil to help with oleation and loosening of toxins. After massage with warm oil, one can place a warm pack, such as a hot water bottle) to the abdomen for a few minutes, allowing the intestines to be primed for the application of basti.
Basti can be classified in a variety of ways. While there are a number of treatments that can be referred to with the term basti, here we are speaking only of rectal basti, as this is the primary treatment for our dosha of choice, vata. Rectal basti is usually one of two major types: niruha basti, which is done with herbal decoctions and is purifying and cleansing in nature; and anuvasana basti, usually done with oil, which is nourishing, strengthening, and oleating in nature.
Niruha basti, which is best done in the morning on an empty stomach, can use an endless variety of herbal decoctions. Often dashamula is used as one of the ingredients, as it is a primary herbal remedy to dispel excess vata. Classical formulas add triphala, rock salt and honey to the dashamula.6 Modern variations will choose any number of cleansing or rasayana herbs depending on the desired outcome. Guduchi has a cooling, calming effect and can help balance pitta. Punarnava helps balance excess water in the system and can also balance kapha. Other nourishing rejuvenatives can include ashwagandha or shatavari. To help irritation in the system, licorice can provide a soothing nature. And for a cleansing effect, triphala is a solid choice. Niruha basti can be held for 15-20 minutes, or longer if comfortable, up to 48 minutes.6 Following the administration of niruha basti, one can have a light meal of easily digestible food.
Anuvasana basti is primarily oil based and is meant to be building and nourishing. Locally, providing oleation for any dryness caused by vata can support a healthy, supple colon. More broadly, the oil helps to ground vata and promotes energy and vitality. Anuvasana basti is usually based in sesame oil, which may be plain or herbalized with supportive Ayurvedic herbs. Anuvasana basti can be held for longer periods of time, even up to a full day, as long as it is comfortable for the client, as it continues to provide a supportive effect.
There are a variety of traditional schedules which can use a combination of alternating niruha and anuvasana basti in order to achieve optimal effect. The usual protocol starts with an anuvasana basti to prime the colon, then alternates niruha and anuvasana basti to cleanse and nourish (so the colon does not become overly depleted), and ends with a number of anuvasana bastis in order to replenish and rejuvenate the colon and balance, ground, and nourish vata after the cleansing process. Caraka recommends schedules of yoga basti (8 bastis), kala basti (16 bastis), and karma basti (30 bastis), used based on the degree of vata vitiation.6 Another alternative can also be to mix the herbal decoction and oil together, blend to make a solution, and administer the basti.
After doing basti, one should take care to follow vata balancing recommendations. Eat light, grounding, warm, oleative food. Rest and avoid vata provoking activity, including excessive talking, extremely windy or cold weather, travel, and busy activity. In this way, basti can be used to keep vata balanced on a routine basis, cleanse vata during seasonal transitions, and manage more extreme vata imbalances that are causing issues in the deeper tissues.
We were spared this also as we were too old to undergo this procedure which may create other complications in elderly patients not having enough strength to bear severe loose motions.
With this I conclude this series. I hope i have given a fair idea of the Panchakarma treatment. Please feel free to comment on my blog which will encourage me to write on other topics.
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