During the summer it is good to have body care that reduces heat build-up in the body. One such treatment is Panchakarma, an incredibly enjoyable and vitally important purification process that has been refined in India over thousands of years. This purification is an important part of Ayurveda, the science of life from India.
Panchakarma works on the principle that a healthy body has a balance of three elements; the element of movement or flow, vata; the release of energy or metabolism, pitta; and the structure, kapha. Disease is considered a dis-equilibrium between these three physiological operators.
For example, vata, being movement or transport in the body, is like the wind: light, cold and always moving or shifting. Vata governs elimination, nervous system activity and locomotion. If imbalanced, vata creates a drying, cold, brittle and irregular influence. Think of a tree at high altitude, exposed to the wind and cold.
Pitta, being metabolism or transformation of energy, is by nature hot, red, sharp and penetrating. When imbalanced it expresses itself as inflammation or heat, so any disease ending in -itis (meaning inflammation) is generally a pitta disorder.
Kapha governs the fundamental quality of structure in the physiology, so its nature is solid, stable, heavy and inert. When aggravated (or increased out of proportion), kapha manifests as obstruction as well as heaviness or swelling. Sinus congestion, obesity, diabetes, and edema are examples of kapha disorders.
Panchakarma is body care that detoxifies excessive vatta, pitta or kapha.
What is Panchakarma?
Dr. John Douillard is an ayurvedic physician practicing in Boulder and his website http://lifespa.com describes panchakarma perfectly.
"In ancient times, legend spoke of life extension therapies whereby an elderly man or woman could engage in certain kinds of therapies that would transform and rejuvenate every cell in the body from old and toxic to youthful and vital. The result, says the legend: an 80- or 90-year-old would come out looking 30 or 40 years old with newly grown hair, teeth, and skin.
"Panchakarma treatments have been shown to create measurable brain wave coherence and to lower metabolic activity. They allow the body and mind to drop into a profound level of peaceful-ness. In this state of relaxation, it is possible to cleanse toxins from tissues as well as to release deeply held emotional tensions. You will experience a calm and clarity resembling the crystal water of a still mountain lake.
Treatments
"The descriptions that follow cover the variety of therapies that may be performed during a Panchakarma series and represent the actual treatments used in the ancient art of life extension. Many of them are performed by two Ayurvedic therapists working in synchrony. Two, three, and sometimes four of these therapies are linked together during the course of one day's treatments.
"Garshana treatments consist of a dry lymphatic skin brushing with either a wool or a silk glove. This enhances circulation and cleans the skin so that subsequent oil and herbal treatments can penetrate deeply into freshly cleansed pores of the skin.
"Abhyanga is an individually prepared herbal-oil massage designed to deeply penetrate the skin, relax the mind-body, break up impurities, and stimulate both arterial and lymphatic circulation. It enhances the ability of nutrients to reach starved cells and allows for the removal of stagnant waste. The desired result is a heightened state of awareness that will direct the internal healing system of the body.
"Swedana is an individually herbalized steam bath, during which the head and the heart are kept cool while the body is heated to remove mental, emotional and physical toxins lodged deeply within the tissues. The cool head and heart provide a sense of calm and openness while the therapeutic steam over the entire body can penetrate and cleanse deeply, without the body becoming overheated and stressed.
"Shirodhara is administered by gently and methodically pouring warm herbalized oil over the forehead, synchronizing brain waves and profoundly coordinating and calming the mind, body, and spirit.
"Pizichili is a continuous stream of warm herbalized oil soothingly poured over the body by two Ayurvedic therapists as they massage the body in perfect unison. The warmth of the oil and synchronicity of the massage combine for a deep tissue cleansing while supporting a heightened state of awareness that transcends description -- it must be experienced to be fully understood.
"Udvartana is a deeply penetrating herbal paste lymphatic massage. This powerful exfoliating treatment magically conditions the skin while pressing stagnant lymphatic toxins out of the body.
"Basti is an herbal enema specially pre-pared to pull toxins out of the colon. This is the final stage of each daily Panchakarma treatment. The freshly loosened impurities from each day of treatment are flushed out of the body via the effects of the basti. The basti also transports Ayurvedic medicines into the blood and tissues in order to trans-form the memory of damaged and toxic cells. It is considered one of the most important and most powerful aspects of the Panchakarma treatment.
"Shiro-Abhyanga-Nasya is a luxurious combination of a deep head/neck/shoulder massage and facial lymphatic massage, followed by deep inhalation of therapeutic aromatic steam, and a nasal and sinus nasya with herbalized nose drops. This popular treatment is an invaluable tool balancing most head, neck and respiratory disorders.
"Nasya consists of individually prescribed herbs and oil drops, inhaled through the nose, which clear the sinuses of excessive mucus. It is also an important therapy when medicating the central nervous system. This treatment combats the deep dryness that exists at the root of many respiratory and allergic conditions.
"Vishesh is a deep muscular Ayurvedic massage that breaks up adhesions and compromised circulation deep within the muscle spindles. When certain channels are blocked, neither awareness nor blood can access deeply seated tissues. For certain body types and imbalances, Vishesh is an essential therapeutic approach.
"Vamana, which is emesis therapy, and Rakta Mokshana, blood letting, are traditional aspects of Panchakarma, but seem rarely to be used as a part of the kya kalpa or life extension treatments.
"Pinda Swedana is a deep cleansing treatment where rice boiled in milk and herbs is massaged deeply into the tissues and joints. The treatment is deeply relaxing and rejuvenating as well as powerfully detoxifying."
Panchakarma is the ultimate body care offering a luxurious deep cleansing especially customized to your current conditions.
