A Comprehensive Guide to Panchakarma and Rasayana

Panchakarma, the holistic approach to mind, body, and soul cleansing is becoming extensively popular globally for its amazing benefits. With origins tracing back to 4000-5000 years ago in India, Panchakarma is a five-fold Ayurvedic therapy that flushes out all the toxins from the body to make all the organ in the body function in harmony. In this blog post, we have explained what is Panchakarma, its benefits, therapies, and the role of Rasayana in promoting complete health and wellbeing. Read on.

What is Panchakarma?

Panchakarma purifies, harmonizes and balances the body. It is a process to bring positive change in mental, physical and emotional levels. Panchakarma believes in the concept of absorbing the useful matter in body and discarding the waste. Be it the food, experiences, or feelings, if not digested properly, can cause imbalance.

Benefits of Panchakarma

Panchakarma flushes out toxins from body, thus helps fight acute and chronic lifestyle diseases such as respiratory issues, arthritis, cancer, obesity, high cholesterol, anxiety, diabetes, digestive disorders, ulcers, heart problems, and nervous disorders. Some of the benefits of Panchakarma are:

•    Flushes out toxins

•    Boosts metabolism and manages weight

•    Fires up digestive fire

•    Opens up the blocked channels of the body enabling life energy to flow

•    Relaxes the mind and body

•    Rejuvenates tissues

•    Boosts overall body immunity

Panchakarma Therapies

Vaman

Vaman helps cure the problem of weight gain, asthma, and hyperactivity. It uses the process of oleation, wherein, oil or oily substances are applied to the body to carry medicinal ingredients inside and loosen up the toxins that might be stuck in tissues and cells. The process is followed by fomentation that makes the tissues more flexible. The toxins that were relaxed by oleation accumulate in the upper cavities of the body. The person is then given emetic medicines that enable vomiting and toxins are flushed out of the body.

Virechan

The therapy is effective in pitta dominated conditions and fighting diseases such as jaundice, colitis, and celiac infection. Virechan flushes out toxins through the bowel. Effective purgatives aid the bowel movements.

Basti

Basti deals with complex mental conditions and cures vata dominated conditions including arthritis, piles, constipation, etc. Also, It eliminates toxins by administering medicines into the rectum.

Nasya

Nasya targets the toxins in the head. It cures sleep issues and neurological disorders, sinusitis, respiratory issues, and more health problems. In Nasya, fomentation is done firstly through head massage, and medicinal nose drops are used later to flush the toxins out.

Raktamokshan

Raktamokshan acts on the full body. As different methods aid the cleaning process, it is effective against skin infections, abscesses, and pigmentation.

Side Effects and Precautions

Albeit for a good cause, certain patients might experience headaches, congestion, and depression during the treatment. This is due to the emotional and physical cleansing. It is worth mentioning that certain processes need medical guidance, and children, pregnant women, and old people must not undergo these.

What is Rasayana?

Rasayana is the preservation of the good health that Panchakarma creates in your body. Rasayana uplifts mental and physical health and reverses the process of aging. It encourages mental development and improves body’s resistance against diseases.

Types of Rasayana

Medicinal Rasayana

Medicinal Rasayana is a combination of nourishing foods and beneficial herbs to develop resistance, health, and longevity in the body. A single herbal preparation uses 10 to 20 different herbs.

Behavioral Rasayana

Behavioral Rasayana uses meditation and yogic techniques to soothe the mind and senses. It increases the wellbeing and happiness quotient of the patient, and is, therefore, the most sought after treatment in this stress prone world.

Benefits of Rasayana

Rasayana improves the mind and body function enabling individuals to live naturally in a stress-free manner. This automatically adds to their life expectancy and immuno-efficiency. The various processes help in establishing healthy eating habits and lifestyle in patients while benefiting their brain, eyesight, and senses.

Side Effects and Precautions

Similar to Panchakarma, Rasayana is also a detoxifying and balancing process, so it might have the same side effects as Panchakarma. Some patients might have nausea and headache that will fade off soon.

The Wrap Up

The combination of Panchakarma and Rasayana is perfect for your well-being, health, and long life. Though this demand some time from your busy schedule, but will certainly add quality and more years to your life.