Given below are the essential steps of Panchakarma treatment:
Step 1: Poorva Karma
This is the preparatory procedure that is necessary before the Pradhan Karma. Poorva Karma comprises Snehan or oleation and Swedan or fomentation. These procedures remove toxins from the body and prepare it for the main process.
Enumerated below are the two main processes of Poorva Karma:
Here, the practitioners apply and massage an individual’s body with oil or oily substances. If one minutely studies Ayurveda, one will find the recipes of many oils. One can prepare these medicated oils from home-grown and mineral ingredients. The oil or oily substance removes the toxins that are stuck in the cells.
Fomentation treatment follows the oleation treatment. This treatment makes the patient sweat. The formation therapy allows tissues which became delicate from the earlier treatment to strengthen. Moreover, the toxins released by oleation therapy will melt away after the patient undergoes this therapy. It also helps to flush away additional toxins.
Step 2: Pradhan Karma
After Poorva Karma, the Panchakarma practitioner prepares for the main procedure. If it’s a case of an increased level of toxins in the upper respiratory tract, he/she will choose Vamana for this step. Similarly, the practitioner will choose Virechanam if there is an accumulation of toxins in the lower gastrointestinal tract.
The following are the various therapies for detoxification:
- Vamana- This is the Panchakarma treatment for vomiting.
- Virechana- This refers to induced purgation. It clears up the lower gastro.
- Nasya- This procedure maintains the health of the eyes, ears and nose.
- Vasti -This is the procedure that treats male and female urinary disorders.
- Rakthamokshana- This treatment focuses on removing toxins from the bloodstream.
Step 3: Paschat Karma
This procedure refers to the diet the patient needs to follow after the Panchakarma procedures. It helps in restoring his or her digestive and absorptive capacity.