Ayurveda Global Tour 2006 & 2007 (Itinerary)

Panchakarma & allied treatments available   
(For different Panchakarma treatment packages click here)

Panch means five & karma means therapeuties. Five types of therapeuties which are mainly used for detoxification or purification or elemination of impurities /residues/toxins (oxidized lipids that accumulate over period of time from improper diet, poor digestion, stress & other factors that may obstruct the flow of body’s inner intelligence) is called Panchakarma.

Purification or elimination is a natural process of the body. It has its own wisdom for cleaning out the impurities which are produced by physiological functions. However there are some situations when this wisdom becomes impaired & doesn’t perform its function properly, so the Vaidya has to help to restablish this natural mechanism otherwise all the impurities start to accumulate in the body which damage the functions of srotas (channels) which is the first stage of disease & finally whole system becomes susceptible to serious diseases.

Preoperative therapies – (poorva karma)
a) Pachana – this is digestive & agni promoting treatment introduced before starting panchakarma.
b) Snehana – oleation therapy.
    Internal – means oral use of oily substances.
    External – means the sneha(oily substance) is used on the body externally      through the skin.
c) Swedana – fomentation therapy.It is a heat producing method which brings sweat & opens the pores of the body cell membranes.

Main operative therapeutics [ Pradhan karma]
Vaman
Virechana
Basti
Nasya
Raktamokshan

Post operative therapeuties –[ pashchat karma]
a) Samsarjan krama – The method of dietics to restore agni
b) Shaman karma [pacifying ]
c) Rasayan karma – pramotive type of treatment

The preoperative therapeutics snehana & swedana can also be used as eliminative theuraputics in certain imbalances. Many of these treatments are included along with our Panchakarma programmes under the name allied treatments.

To whom Panchkarma to be done –
a) Individual who wants to be healthy—As a preventive aspect 
b) Individual who wants to undergo Rasayana (Rejuvenetion) or Vajeekaran     (Aphrodisiac) therapies
c)Individual having excessive quantity of dosha—To eliminate excessive .
doshas.

Signs & Symptoms of excessive doshas—a) Indigestion, b) Anaroxia,  c) Bulky body, d) Anaemia,  e) Heaviness, f) Fatigue-Physical & mental, g) Boils, h) Urticaria, I) Itching, j) Stiffness,  k) Laziness,  l) Weakness,  m) Foul smell , n)Sleeplessness,  o) Excessive sleep,  p) Loss of strength, q) Discoloration of skin. 

Panchakarma & allied treatments available
1)Vamana – use of emetics
Elimination of vitiated doshas (impurities) through mouth. It is useful in kapha predominancy problems. It is useful in Asthama (shwas), Kasa (bronchitis), Peenas (sinusitis), Kushta (skin problems), Upper respiratory tract diseases, indigestion ,obesity.

2) Virechana – means elimination of vitiated doshas by increasing bowl movements. 
It is useful in pitta related problems. It is useful in Kushta (skin problems) , Arsha (piles) , krimi (worms), asthama, headache, backache, constipation (vibandha), Jaundice, Tympanitis etc.

3) Basti – means medicinal enemas.  
Administration of medicinal decoction, specially herbalised oils, medicated milk into colon through rectum.
It is useful in all Vata related problems, like joint pain (sandhivata), hemiplegia (pakshaghat), sciatica (grudhrasi), facial palsy (ardita), parkinsonism (kampavata) etc. It eliminates vitiated vata & mala.

Types -
a) Matra basti – plain sesame oil or any other medicated oil is used.
b) Shodhana / Kashaya basti – dicoction of herbs mixed with ghee, oil, honey & powders of some special herbs is used.
c) Anuvasan basti (Sneh basti) – Medicated oil in large amount is used.
It produces smoothness in intestine, increases lifespan & delays aging process, promotes agni i.e. digestive fire, beneficial for memory too.
d) Chakshushya Basti – This is used ophthalmic problems. It gives good nourishment to eyes.
e) Madhutailik Basti – This is good to relieve vata pain & constipation.
f) Kshir basti – (with milk) – useful in pitta disorder, ulcer & abdominal pain.
g) Tikta basti – This contains tikta ghreet (contains bitter herbs) + milk .
Useful in osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, lumbosacral pain, back pain, sciatica.
This is very nourishing for bones.
h) Rajyapan basti – Special type of basti useful in Myopathy, Weakness, Epilepcy, TB, Anaemia.
i) Piccha basti – Special type of basti used in colitis, Ulcerative colitis, IBS
j) Vajikar/ Vrushya basti – useful in aphrodisiacs treatments.
k) Bruhan basti – Very useful to gain weight as it’s having nourishing effect.
l) Lekhan basti – Very useful to reduce weight, Hyperlipidemia .Also useful in any enlargement specially in Prostate enlargement.

4) Nasya – Nasal administration (Gateway of brain)
Herbalised (medicinal) oil, ghe(clarified butter) etc. is administered in to nose by special method. This process is called Nasya. In Ayurveda nose is described as a gateway to brain. 
It is useful in headache, migrane, stiffness in head, neck, shoulders, lock jaw, dental pain, ear pain ,eye pain, sinusitis, facial paralysis, epilepsy, sleeplessness, loss of speech, stammering, It promotes intelligence & memory,
Useful in loss of hair& gray hair, Nutritional action for brain.

Raktamokshan- Blood letting
It is useful in all skin problems, jaundice, pitta born diseases, gout, allergies. It is also helpful for healthy person. 

1) Abhyanga -It is a type of external oleation therapy
Massage with specially herbalised oil according to imbalances& constitution of the person.
For healthy person an ayurvedic massage with special massage oil is said to strengthen & balance the whole physiology, improve circulation & vitality,& rejuvenate the skin.
2) Udvertana – Massage with specially herbalised powders mixed with or without oils, in opposite hair direction.
It is good for losing weight, reduction of excess ama (residue) & unctuousness , it increases metabolic rate.
3) Lepa – Application of different pastes made up with herbs, medicated ghee etc. on the skin.

3 types –
a) Pralepa – it is more cooling & water based paste is used. It is thin application.
b) Alepa – it is hot in potency. oil or water based paste is used medium sized application on the skin.
c) Pradeha – herb in hot /cool potency is used & the paste is kept wet all the time. (Oil based). Application is thicker in size
4) Mardana – (unmardana) Pressure massage.
5) Samvahana – Very light pressure massage with /without oil.
6) Gandusha – Gargle 
7) Shirodhara – pouring of specially herbalised oil prepared according to imbalances on the forehead . very useful in neurological disorders. Strong vata pacification, fatigue, pain, dryness. 

8) Takradhara – pouring of specially herbalised medicated butter milk on the fore head by special method.
Good for problems of  insomnia, depression, digestion, head ache etc. Excellent for heart disease & the nervous system, diabetis, cancer as well. Cleans the whole system of srotas (channels of circulation) at its source.
9) Pizichili (Sarvangdhara) –It’s a combination of snehana (oleation) & swedana (fomentation)
Pouring oil on all over the body like oil bath with light massage is called pizichili. This is useful in all vata disorders [neurological disorder), joint pain hemiplegia, prostate related problems, pain ,fatigue, dryness etc.
10) a. Kshirdhara - pouring of medicated cow’s milk on the for head by special method.
It is useful in pitta disorders .Specially useful in eye problems, acidity,skin problems .
b. Netra dhara (Aschotan)- well filtered decoction of specific herbs is used. It is used in eye problems like conjunctivitis.

11) a.Avgahsweda (sitz bath)- For this procedure specially prepared decoction with some specific herbs, milk ,aromatic water are used according to vata pitta kapha imbalances.
It is useful in prostate problems, harnia, painful or obstructed urination, haemorrhoids & sarvang vata
b. Bashpasweda – Vapour fomentation of fresh/dry medicinal leaves for whole body except head.
c. Valukasweda- dry fomentation with the use of sand.
12) Nadisweda – boiled decoction with appropriate herbs according to imbalances & let the steam out through a tube fitted to the vessel.( containing boiling decoction) on the affected/ required body part.
Useful in joint pain, low back pain, stiffness ,neck pain.
13)a. Patrapottali – It contains bundle of leaves, cooked herbs with necessary oils. put the mixture in the bolus & the closed boluses are dipped in medicated oil are used on the affected part
b. Podikhizi - This treatment is useful to reduce joint pain & other muscular skeletal problems.
Mostly used in rheumatism, arthritis, joint & back problems, stiffness.
14) Pindaswed – also known as Navarakhizi. In this procedure hot rice boluses (rice cooked in special decoction & medicated milk.) are applied over the affected area or all over the body.
It removes stiffness, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, hemiplegia & gives nourishment to the body so can be used to gain weight.
15) Annalepana – in this rice cooked in medicated milk & decoction in the paste form is applied on the body.
It removes stiffness, muscular atropy & gives nourishment to the body.
16) Shirobasti – Keeping medicated oil on head with the help of special leather cap is called shirobasti.
Very useful in mental imbalances, insomnia, tension, headaches. 

17) Katibasti- Keeping medicated oil in the round wall area prepared by special method on lower back. Specially used in low back pain.

18)Urobasti (Hridbasti) - Keeping medicated oil in the round wall area prepared by special method on chest. Specially used in heart problem. 

19) Janubasti- Keeping medicated oil in the round wall area prepared by special method on knee joint. Specially used in knee joint pain for soothing effect. 
20) Netra tarpana – keeping medicated oil / ghee on eyeballs. It has good nourishing effect on eyes & it removes imbalances as well.
21) Pitchu – Cotton dipped in warm medicated substance (ghee, oil, milk or dicoction) is placed on the affected area
types – a. Shiropitchu – used for insomnia problem.
           b. Hrud pitchu – useful in heart treatment
           C. Yoni pitchu – useful in vaginal problems