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Originally Posted On: https://www.ayurherbs.com.au/the-panchakarma-experience-what-to-expect-from-a-panchakarma-cleanse/

 

Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system that has its roots in the Indian subcontinent at least 3000 years ago. One of the main treatments that Ayurveda is well known for its Panchakarma cleanse.

What is Panchakarma cleanse? The idea behind Panchakarma cleanse is that you are holding on to years and decades of toxins, and samskaras that need removing so your body can function optimally again.

Samskaras are subtle footprints of your past habits, that get ingrained into you and your subconscious as you move through life repeating the same patterns ad nauseam.

Read on to learn more about what the Panchakarma healing cleanse is all about, and how you can avail yourself of the opportunity to undertake this deep detoxifying cleanse.

Purvakarma – Pre-Purification Measures for Panchakarma

The panchakarma cleanse starts way before you get to the healing centre and start your treatments. It usually begins 3-7 days before your actual cleanse, and there’s a very good reason for this.

Most of us, due to our toxic lifestyle and environment, are walking around with a body filled with undigested toxins and chemical pollutants.

You can’t take such a toxic body into a panchakarma cleanse and expect everything to turn out alright. In fact, it would be quite a shock to your body to go through such a strenuous cleansing right off the bat.

Thus, your cleanse begins with Purvakarma, which comes from the Sanskrit word, Purva which means foremost, and Karma, which is action.

Through Purvakarma, you will take all those toxins in your body and channel and collect them to be easily removed at the next stage, Pradhanakarma.

Two major techniques that you will be undertaking at this stage would be Snehana and Swedana.

Snehana

This is oleation therapy, whereby you prepare your body to receive the techniques in Panchakarma. You will be applying medicated oils, ghee, and herbs to the body internally and externally.

Snehana loosens the toxins in the body and the doshas, allowing them to be expelled at the Panchakarma stage.

Pachana or Herb-Infused Ghee Intake

To further facilitate the movement of waste products (ama) from the adipose tissues, you will also have to intake herb-infused ghee. This will happen every day either on its own or with kitchari.

You will start taking this herb-infused ghee mixture 7 days before your retreat, starting with 2 tablespoons of ghee on Day 1 and Day 2 and 4 tablespoons of ghee on Day 3.

On Day 4, 5, 6, and 7, you will stop taking ghee and eat watery kitchari.

Swedana

This is a technique that induces sweat, to help move amam or toxins in your body to places where they can be easily removed during Pradhanakarma. It’s also a stress-relieving therapy.

Pradhanakarma

The 21-day cleanse where the toxins are purged and the body is healed is called Pradhanakarma and means ‘main action’.

Based on your various ailments and conditions, the therapist will create a specialized program of herbs and treatments built exactly for you. This will help balance out your doshas as well.

Nasya

In Nasya, the therapist will apply medicated oils and powders inside your nose. This will help clear your airways and is highly effective in relieving discomfort in your head and neck.

Vamana

In the early mornings, they give you an emetic herbal solution to drink on an empty stomach. If you have any Kapha dosha abnormalities, then Vamana will help balance it out.

The herbal solution will induce vomiting in you which will help with healing breathing problems, cancer, obesity, and diabetes.

Virechana

In this treatment, they give you a herbal laxative that will help expel out toxins from your gastrointestinal tract, blood, and sweat glands.

Asthapana Vasti

This is a herbal decoctive enema that will help remove toxins from the body and heal your body from disease.

Anuvasana Vasti

In this treatment, you will get an oil enema, which will remove toxins from the body and enhance the healing process.

Pashchathkarma – Rejuvenation

Once you are done with the panchakarma cleanse, you are not out of the woods yet. You need to ease your body back into living in the modern world. You do that through post-procedure rejuvenation measures.

If you want to prevent the recurrence of illness or disease, you will need to follow a strict regimen from here on out. Otherwise, the effectiveness of the panchakarma cleanse gets reduced.

Diet

Pay close attention to your diet once you get back home. Do not indulge in overly decadent meals, and ensure that you are following the diet that’s meant for your particular dosha.

Also, ensure that you get ample rest as your body is healing and needs that time to rejuvenate and rebuild itself anew. Finally, don’t forget about a strict exercise regimen to keep those toxins moving out of your body.

Pizhichil

In this treatment, you will be given a full-body massage where 3-4 litres of lukewarm oil will be applied, collected, and reapplied to your body. It is performed in the morning or evening and allows you to get soothing sleep.

Navara Kizhi

This is a sweat-inducing therapy in which medicated oil is applied to the body and then small cotton cloth boluses filled with cooked Njavara rice gets applied to the body.

Njavara rice has medicinal properties and is known as the ‘rice that cures’.

The Panchakarma Cleanse

The Panchakarma cleanse might seem like a crazy ordeal to go through, but it is well worth the effort, as you see clear results in your mind, body, and spirit rejuvenation after.

Even though it is the most extreme of Ayurvedic treatment methods out there and requires a commitment like nothing else, it works!

If you are wondering, ‘is there a Panchakarma cleanse near me’, wonder no more. Ayurherbs ayurveda clinic in Melbourne offers Panchakarma healing cleanse. Click to learn more and go out for your health today!