Panchakarma is a type of purification therapy used in Ayurvedic medicine that aims to cleanse the patient of both physical problems and emotional ones. Treatment may vary in length from a couple of days to several weeks, depending on your health needs. During panchakarma, you will likely eat a mono-diet, or a diet consisting of only one type of food, in order to accelerate the healing process.
About Ayurveda
Ayurveda originated in India and is commonly considered the world's oldest healing system, according to AltMD. Ayurvedic theory teaches that disease begins in the digestive system. Poor diet, improper food combinations, repressed emotions, stress and bad lifestyle habits can impair digestion, causing a buildup of a toxic substance known as ama. Ama interferes with the normal flow of energy throughout the body, causing disease and imbalances in the body and mind.
About Panchakarma
Ayurveda teaches that treatment and prevention of disease involves ridding the body of toxins through proper diet, healthy lifestyle habits, exercise and an appropriate cleansing program. Panchakarma is a five-fold purification treatment that uses therapeutic vomiting, purgation, enema therapy, nasal cleansing and blood purification to rid the body of ama. It may also incorporate pre-treatment oil therapies to prepare the body, and an aftercare stage to promote continued healing and provide preventative training.
Benefits
Ayurvedic practitioners have used panchakarma for centuries to treat chronic disease. According to AltMD, panchakarma is particularly useful for conditions that are metabolic or stress-related. Ayurvedic theory recommends panchakarma for the treatment of allergies, asthma, cancer, high cholesterol, depression, diabetes, insomnia, digestive problems, heart disease, high blood pressure, immunodeficiency, infections, obesity, skin conditions, liver problems, fever and parasites. Panchakarma may be used in conjunction with traditional medical treatments such as chemotherapy or surgery to promote healing.
Dietary Therapy
Certain lifestyle and dietary guidelines are a part of any panchakarma treatment. According to the Ayurvedic Institute, the recommended diet consists of kitchari, a mixture of basmati rice and mung beans, with ghee, a clarified butter oil. The purpose for the panchakarma mono-diet is to give the digestive system the opportunity to rest so that your body can focus on its detoxification efforts. All other foods should be avoided. Cold drinks, cold foods, caffeine, sugar, dairy and alcohol are prohibited during panchakarma therapy.
Precautions
According to AltMD, some panchakarma treatments are not recommended for children, pregnant women or the elderly, or for treating certain health conditions. Seek treatment from qualified and experienced panchakarma practitioners only. Side effects of panchakarma may include fatigue, headaches, congestion and a temporary increase in symptoms. Because part of panchakarma involves releasing stored emotions, some patients may experience depression or other psychological issues during treatment.
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