What is Panchakarma?
Panchakarma is a personalized, cleansing and rejuvenation program that brings longevity and vitality. It is the most potent healing treatment within
Ayurveda. Deep physical, mental and
emotional healing is often experienced. People
report a feeling of lightness in the body and clarity of mind, the weight naturally
balances. The five to seven days of cleansing involves a two-hour treatment
consisting of a warm, nurturing oil massage, followed by a relaxing
full body steam treatment, which enables the oils to penetrate and lubricate
the tender bodily tissues, called dhatus.
Dhatus are the constituents that make up the physical body, from
superficial to deep; plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, nerve, and reproductive
tissue. Then shirodhara follows, a continuous flow of warm, nurturing, herbalized
oil streaming down the forehead to balance out the central nervous system. Bastis or herbalized enemas are usually recommended during PK.
There are five actual
cleansings in Panchakarma - Pancha means five and Karma means action- They are the cleansing of the nasal and sinus
passages, or nasya; the cleansing of the colon, or basti; cleansing of small
intestines, or Verechena; cleansing of the stomach and lungs, or vamana, and
cleansing of the blood known as rakta moksha. These will be done as appropriate
to your dosha type. The daily oil massage and steam treatment is necessary to
facilitate the movement of the build up of toxins in the body. They are carried through the many channels that feed the bodily tissues, to
the central part of the body and into the gastro-intestinal tract from where
they can be safely eliminated. The individual constitution and current
imbalance(s) determines which cleansings are appropriate and necessary.
Before your treatment, you will be asked to start your journey one to two weeks before. This is called Purvakarma. You will be asked to start a vegetarian diet, along with internal oleation every day using Ghee or Hemp Seed oil. The basic idea behind the function of Purvakarma can be understood with the following analogy. Suppose you oil a bowl thoroughly and then pour honey into it. The honey cannot stick to the bowl because the slippery quality of the oil does not allow it. So the honey can be poured out of the bowl much more easily than if the bowl hadn't been oiled. Ama (toxins) has the same sticky quality as honey, and so it moves and dislodges more easily after the body has been thoroughly oiled and relaxed. The idea behind Purvakarma is that through oleation, deep rooted toxins will be dislodged from the dhatus (organs), and sent to the GI tract to be gently and safely eliminated through panchakarma.
Individual Panchakarma programs can be as short as a week and as long as a month or even longer in some cases. During this time, clients are advised to put aside the usual preoccupations with work and family and devote themselves to rest as much as possible, both physically and mentally. They should surround themselves with a warm, comfortable and pleasant environment, reduce sensory input and avoid experiences that provoke strong emotions. It is also advised to meditate and do specific yoga postures, if so desired. This is an essential aspect of Panchakarma, since it will help the detoxification process go deeper.
The diet prescribed during and after treatment is also a key element in this therapy. Heavy food interferes with the cleansing process, so it is advised to eat small amounts of kitchari (a nourishing and cleansing porridge made with split mung beans, basmati rice, medicinal spices and clarified butter or ghee) to provide the body with enough nutrition to keep it strong, as well as to keep the digestive fire kindled throughout the process.
According to Ayurveda, it is not enough to simply abstain from food to obtain the maximum benefits of a cleansing program. In fact, Ayurveda discourages long term fasting because the sudden onslaught of ama, (toxins) that can flood the system from fasting for more than a few days is often too drastic and can damage the tissues, weaken the digestion and have long term health repercussions. Just fasting does not necessarily insure that the toxins that are deeply rooted will be removed. This is why Panchakarma lubricates and prepares the body for the removal of ama. Furthermore, it focuses on the individual doshic imbalances and uses herbs and herbal preparations to support and enhance the cleansing process.
Before your treatment, you will be asked to start your journey one to two weeks before. This is called Purvakarma. You will be asked to start a vegetarian diet, along with internal oleation every day using Ghee or Hemp Seed oil. The basic idea behind the function of Purvakarma can be understood with the following analogy. Suppose you oil a bowl thoroughly and then pour honey into it. The honey cannot stick to the bowl because the slippery quality of the oil does not allow it. So the honey can be poured out of the bowl much more easily than if the bowl hadn't been oiled. Ama (toxins) has the same sticky quality as honey, and so it moves and dislodges more easily after the body has been thoroughly oiled and relaxed. The idea behind Purvakarma is that through oleation, deep rooted toxins will be dislodged from the dhatus (organs), and sent to the GI tract to be gently and safely eliminated through panchakarma.
Individual Panchakarma programs can be as short as a week and as long as a month or even longer in some cases. During this time, clients are advised to put aside the usual preoccupations with work and family and devote themselves to rest as much as possible, both physically and mentally. They should surround themselves with a warm, comfortable and pleasant environment, reduce sensory input and avoid experiences that provoke strong emotions. It is also advised to meditate and do specific yoga postures, if so desired. This is an essential aspect of Panchakarma, since it will help the detoxification process go deeper.
The diet prescribed during and after treatment is also a key element in this therapy. Heavy food interferes with the cleansing process, so it is advised to eat small amounts of kitchari (a nourishing and cleansing porridge made with split mung beans, basmati rice, medicinal spices and clarified butter or ghee) to provide the body with enough nutrition to keep it strong, as well as to keep the digestive fire kindled throughout the process.
According to Ayurveda, it is not enough to simply abstain from food to obtain the maximum benefits of a cleansing program. In fact, Ayurveda discourages long term fasting because the sudden onslaught of ama, (toxins) that can flood the system from fasting for more than a few days is often too drastic and can damage the tissues, weaken the digestion and have long term health repercussions. Just fasting does not necessarily insure that the toxins that are deeply rooted will be removed. This is why Panchakarma lubricates and prepares the body for the removal of ama. Furthermore, it focuses on the individual doshic imbalances and uses herbs and herbal preparations to support and enhance the cleansing process.
My goal is to see that your specialized program is positive and satisfying. You will be given practical tools and guided before, during and after your session. Ayurveda is the science of self-healing. I am merely the facilitator for your inward journey to a successful experience. It is up to you to use the tools you have been given in order to create radiant health, happiness and intuition
Panchakarma will be speciffically designed to address your individual needs
and health conditions. Includes daily assessment, main meal of kitchari, teas,
all treatments, yoga suggestions for your body type and condition, unlimited support via email and phone, and private counseling.
Panchakarma will be speciffically designed to address your individual needs
and health conditions. Includes daily assessment, main meal of kitchari, teas,
all treatments, yoga suggestions for your body type and condition, unlimited support via email and phone, and private counseling.
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