About Panchakarma

After doing many PKs at home or abroad, with studies in India and England (at EIVS and Ayurveda UK) focusing mainly on Panchakarma and Rejuvination, I came to believe that most, if not all, of our problems, physical and emotional, can be helped through two main forms of ayurvedic treatment: ‘a massage therapy’ snehana* (a healing massage) to calm the mind, release toxins and tension (disperse negative emotions, feel happier and then make healthy choices); and a Detox based on a ‘Panchakarma Cleanse’.  When both are combined  you are removing toxins from body and mind, and creating a mind/body connection and shift which results in transformation to our whole being resonating with our bodies and innate intuition and intelligence, giving us a deep desire to be healthy and to change old habits, long after it has ended.

A full Panchakarma (meaning five actions necessary to cleanse – purgation, vammana, basti, nasya and bloodletting) has been tried and tested for thousands of years with fantastic results for bringing deep change and healing to many physical and emotional disorders, removing the toxins from the deeper tissues and organs, leaving you with a sense of revitalisation, energy, happiness and renewal.  This unique system follows an in-depth consultation to find out your type, health issues and imbalances, to make a programme accordingly.

Stage 1 Preparation – a change in your diet to clear toxins and remove the toxic thoughts/foods and substances, to clear the body and mind, balancing the digestion.
Stage 2 Oilation purvarkarma – this involves taking specific herbs and oils combined with massages, steams or hot baths, to dislodge the toxins from deeper in the tissues, taking them to the digestive tract.
Stage 3 Purgation – (part 1 of the cleanse using various procedures suitable for you), toxins are removed gently from the small intestine, liver, organs.
Stage 4 Re-kindling the digestive fire
Stage 5 Basti – removing toxins from deeper within the colon and from the tissues.
Stage 6 Rejuvenation – where the digestion is balanced and body recovered.
In total 14-21 days would be the amount of time required if doing this at home, where only three of the cleansing methods are usually used. However, personalised plans can be made depending on the person and health issues involved.

Usually we would go to a spa to do this, or abroad for a minimum of three weeks Panchakarma programme, but it is equally, if not more, valid to apply good practice during our daily lives, in the home and work environment, and to be able to apply these principles of healthy living on a regular basis. A PK programme or Ayurvedic Detox will give you tools to use in your daily life, resulting in a sense of well-being not usually achieved with quick fix, fad diets, which usually target weight loss only. A PK cleanse will leave the body feeling light, refreshed and calm, cleansing the deeper tissues to bring a significant change and healing to the physical and emotional being, giving you tools to use long after the Detox has ended. A Panchakarma cleanse at home will be offered by many ayurvedic therapists in and around your area.

It is recommended to try a full Panchakarma in a retreat at least once, as to remove ourselves from daily life to rest the mind is equally important  – it will also be a life changing experience, bringing deep, significant change.

*snehana (oil massage) means ‘to heal and give love’.
To take control of our life through a Detox is ‘giving love and healing to yourself’. So we have the perfect combination as love can heal all…

Recommended Reading:
Ayurveda And Panchakarma by Dr Sunil V Joshi.