Panchakarma

Pancha Karma is the Sanskrit word for Five Cleansing Therapies (Pancha means five and Karma actions). Ayurveda uses two main modalities for bringing people into balance: the first is the management of symptoms and the other is to remove the root cause of the disease. Pancha Karma is used to remove the years of built up toxins and past imbalances that are manifesting as physical ailments. It is essential to do this in order to start with a clean slate; otherwise the new treatments are just being poured into a dirty vessel.

Although Pancha karma means five treatment modalities, we have included a pre-treatment plan to get the body ready.

1. Oleation (snehana): Sesame seeds or herbal ghee (clarified butter) are taken for several mornings in a row to soften up the doshas and minimize digestive action.
2. Purgation (virechana): A gentle laxative, such as senna is taken to flush out the intestinal tract which lowers pitta.
3. Oil massage (abhyanga): Therapists administer a full body massage using herbalized oil that is specific for body type. This loosens excess doshas and directs them toward the organs of elimination.
4. Sweat treatments (swedana): Herbalized steam opens up the pores and begins to rid the body of impurities through the sweat glands.
5. Enema therapy (basti): Medicated enemas are used for specific reasons only for vata imbalances to flush the loosened doshas out through the intestinal tract.
6. Nasal administrations (nasya): Medicinal oils or herbal mixtures are dripped into the nasal passages which will drain excess mucus and decrease kapha.
7. Shirodhara: Herbalized warmed sesame oil is dripped in a stream onto the forehead to profoundly relax the nervous system and balance vata.

Pancha Karma is accompanied by instruction in meditation, sound therapy, relaxation techniques, yoga postures, music therapy, and an individualized dietary plan. A normal course of detoxification lasts from five to fourteen days, depending on the level of toxin buildup in each person.

At the of Pancha Karma you will feel clean inside and out and ready to start a whole new routine of wellness and balance in your life! This level of cleansing should occur at the change of each season and can be considered your “quality of life insurance plan”.