Panchakarma and Ayurveda are interconnected concepts. By definition, Panchakarma is a specialized medicinal practice that employs the basic concepts of Ayurvedic medicine to develop a personalized and vigorous regimen to treat and prevent disease. Ayurveda is practiced by adhering to specific diet and lifestyle guidelines, which include the application and ingestion of herbs designed to prevent illness caused by toxicity coupled with mind/body practices such as yoga and meditation. Panchakarma focuses intently on the cleansing and rejuvenation aspect of the Ayurvedic tradition. The word Panchakarma literally translates into “five acts," and in practice, the therapy is accomplished by using five specific therapeutic actions to remove toxins from the system without causing unintended damage.
The concept of doshas is applied to the principle of movement of energy within the body system in Panchakarma and Ayurveda. Panchakarma focuses on the equilibrium of three doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha—to prevent and treat disease. Vata is the primary movement of life force, pitta is the energy of digestion and metabolism, and kapha is the energy of structure and lubrication. Before a Panchakarma regimen is planned, a professional Ayurvedic clinician determines where specific imbalances are prominent, which then helps him or her to determine the current static state of the doshas and the appropriate treatment method. The digestive fire, or “agni,” is another important concept in Panchakarma and Ayurveda because it is the primary way in which the body breaks down and removes toxins.
Massaging herb-infused oils is often the first step in Panchakarma and Ayurveda practice. Panchokarma treatment stimulates the digestive fire by using vigorous massage, sometimes coupled with hot steam therapy, in order to reach and medicate the deep tissues within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The massage is also conducive to the deep relaxation that is needed to implement mind/body medicine effectively. After this preliminary step, the remaining procedures are implemented to promote the removal of accumulated toxins through the body’s natural channels of elimination. The procedures include a nasal administration of herbal saline and the most powerful of the Panchokarma procedures, “basti,” which introduces medicated oily substances into the colon.
After Panchokarma treatment is complete, the individual is usually instructed to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent the accumulation of toxins. If the doshas remain balanced and free from hindrance, it is thought the disease process will often times not progress. If the system does become unbalanced, however, Panchokarma treatments can be designed that will take into account the individual’s whole Ayurvedic history, which then helps the process become genuinely holistic and more effective.
