Panchakarma and special Kerala treatments.

Panchakarma and special Kerala treatments.

Panchakarma comes under sodhana therapy. The five process which are used for body cleansing in ayurveda. Proper preparatory measures are to be taken prior the treatment to make the body ready for cleaning. The five karmas are

• Vamanam- medically induced vomiting.
• Virechanam- medically induced purgation.
• Nasyam- administration of medicine through nose in the form of drops or powders.
• Sneha vasti- medicated oil mixed with herbal paste and salt is adminstered through the anus. The quantity of material will be decided according to the strength of the patient and the disease.( one with the lowest dose of medicine is called matra vasti.)
• Kashaya vasti- enema done with a mixture of honey, salt, herbal paste , herbal decoction and medicated oil. This will be preceeded by one or two sneha vastis according to the condition of the patient .

All these five processes will not be necessary for a single person at a time. The doctor will select the karmas according to the health condition and dosha state.

Ennakkathara Aryavaidyasala Chottanikara has a well equipped panchakarma chikitsalayam. Here we do classical keraleeya treatment. Given below are some of the classical treatment protocol.

• Uzhichil - special kerala massage using medicated oil for body and head.
• Udvartanam- massage done by dry warm herbal powder from down to upward the body parts.
• Elakizhi- ( patra potala svedam) -massage done using cloth bag filled with herbal leaves like ricinus, calotropis, tamarind and others.
• Njavara kizhi- (shashtika pinda svedam) A massage done by using cloth bag filled with cooked njavara rice frequently warmed with medicated milk.
• Podi kizhi- massage done with cloth bag filled with warm herbal powder.
• Dhanyamla dhara- Pouring of warm medicated liquid called dhanyamlam all over the body for a specific period of time.
• Pizhichil- pouring of warm medicated oil all over the body with cloth piece dipped in oil for a specific period of time.
• Sirodhara- pouring of medicated liquid on the fore head in a continuous stream for a specific period of time. According to the liquid used , sirodhara can be of different types
  Tailadhara - sirodhara with medicated oil
  Takradhara- sirodhara with buttermilk
  Ksheera dhara- sirodhara with medicated milk.
• Sirovasti- warm medicated oil kept over the head for a specific period of time inside a leather cap.
• Thalapothichil- the head is packed with a herbal paste and covered with banana leaves for a specific period of time. Ingredients are dried gooseberry paste and buttermilk.
• Sneha panam- internal administration of medicated oil or ghee in increasing doses each day with strict restrictions on diet and daily activities.
• Katee vasti- medicated oil kept inside a boundary made of black gram paste over the painful area on the lower back.
• Thalam- medicated oil or paste kept on the middle of head for a specific period of time.
• Lepanam- herbal paste applied on the affected part kept for a specific period of time
• Pichu- cotton piece soaked in warm medicated oil kept over the affected part for a specific period of time. Warm oil is applied there frequently.
• Avagaham- sitting in a tub filled with warm medicated liquids after proper oil application on the body .
• Upanaham- Herbal poultice using herbal paste and other suitable liquids to keep on the affected parts for atleast twelve hours.This will be covered with herbal leaves like ricinus calotropis etc.
• Netra tarpanam - Medicated ghee kept inside a boundary made of black gram paste around the eyes for a specific period of time.
• Putapakam- Herbal juice mixed with goat's milk kept over the eyes.
• Netra dhara- Eye wash with special herbal decoction.
• Ashchyothanam- Application of special eye drops.
• Mukhalepam- Herbal face pack using special herbal pastes.
• Ksheera dhoomam- Application of medicated milk steam on the affected body parts.
• Herbal steam bath- A steam bath in a chamber with medicated steam.
• Sarvangadhara- Pouring of warm medicated oil or decoction all over the body.