Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ayurveda and Panchakarma The Science of Healing and Rejuvenation
Ayurveda and Panchakarma The Science of Healing and Rejuvenation
Ayurveda and Panchakarma The Science of Healing and Rejuvenation
• Emesis (VAMANA)
• Purgation (VIRECHANA),
• Medicated enemas (BASTI)
• Medicated nasal oils (NASYA)
• Toxic bloodletting (RAKTAMOKSHAN)
VIRECHANA -Also known as the purgation process, the Virechana treatment focuses on the torso
region of our body. Virechana helps our body eliminate toxic doshas with laxative oils and drugs.
Virechana is used to treat diseases arising out of pitta doshas, like diabetes, chronic skin disease,
migraine, and colitis.
BASTI -Basti is one of the five procedures of panchakarma in Ayurveda. Classically, it is advocated in
the diseases of vata. It is mainly of two types viz. asthapana and anuvasana.
Kati Basti is a lower back pain treatment in Ayurveda. It is a soothing and gentle solution for when the
pain in your lower back is too tender to benefit from massage.
NASYA -When we administrated ghee through the nostrils, it may prevent inhalation of those unwanted
particle which enters through nasal passage with polluted air. Nasya also increases our immune power
and prevent other diseases also like hair fall, premature graying of hairs, chronic headache, coryza,
eye diseases.
Nasya is one of the most effective form of treatment to clear the ear, nose, throat, and head regions
from toxins.
Raktamokshana –
Raktamokshana is an effective blood purification therapy, in which carefully controlled removal of small
quantities of impure blood is conducted to neutralise accumulated toxins.
when excess toxicity of rakta and pitta has occurred so much so that it cannot be cured by herbs or
any other procedure, raktamokshan comes to rescue.
Although Raktamokshana is the most limited of the five major procedures, it provides a rapid and
sometimes dramatic reduction of symptoms in certain acute disorders where there is no time for the
various phases of Panchakarma like Purvakarma (Preparation for Panchakarma), etc. Raktamokshana
can be helpful.
Diseases occurring due to vitiation of blood and pitta shall be dealt with bloodletting.
Raktamokshana is effective in conditions like allergies, tonsillitis, sciatica, gout, acne, migraine,
eczema, psoriasis, Lyme disease, filariasis, glaucoma, liver & spleen disorders, osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis, frozen shoulder, rheumatic disease, diabetic wounds, non-healing ulcers, varicose
veins, elephantiasis, abscesses, tumours, erysipelas, sexually transmitted diseases, breast
diseases, hypertension, thrombosis (blood clot), and alopecia, psychological
problems, vishamjwar (fever), epilepsy etc.
• Puncturing (pracchana)
• Venesection (siravyadha)
Bloodletting without surgical instruments is of four types
• If the patient is weak, old person, children, pregnant lady, coward, debilitated due to
diseases or due to excessive physical strain like excessive walking, sex etc.
• Immediately after purificatory procedures like therapeutic emesis, purgation, enema etc.
• In too cold and hot climatic conditions.
• In the diseases in which bloodletting is contraindicated as mentioned above.
The procedure of siravyadha is described in three steps:
• The blood flows out in a stream and it ceases by itself (without any treatment)
• Feeling of lightness
• Reduction in features of disease
• Feeling of wellbeing [Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana.14/32-33][3]
• If it is properly punctured, the blood flow may occur maximum for a period of 48 minutes (1
muhurta). [Su.Sa.Sharira Sthana 8/12][3]
Clinical features of inadequate flow during bloodletting
If the blood flow is inadequate, it will lead to the formation of swelling, burning sensation, redness,
ulceration and pain. [Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana 24/29][3]
Current researches
Removal of blood in a controlled manner is effective in treating many diseases. Bloodletting influences
the body physiology at multiple levels. Bloodletting results in leucocytosis and decreases the activity of
heart and other body functions for a short duration. After that, the blood is formed by hyperleucocytosis;
acceleration of tissue changes takes place and the nervous system also gets stimulated. Increased
levels of ferritin and body iron affect insulin resistance and may result in metabolic syndrome. This can
be prevented by reducing its levels in the blood through bloodletting and thus can improve health.
Therapeutic phlebotomy
A study conducted on 64 hypertensive patients reported that the therapeutic phlebotomy results in
reduction of body iron store, reduction in blood pressure and improvement in markers of cardiovascular
risks and glycemic control. Phlebotomy leads to the reduction of viscosity of blood which results in the
reduction of risk for thrombotic events like cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, arterial or
venous thromboembolism etc. Since phlebotomy reduces the excess iron load in the body and reduces
the blood viscosity, it is also proved to be effective in treating conditions like hemochromatosis,
Porphyria cutanea tarda, Sickle cell disease and hyper-ferritinemia.
Leech therapy
Medical leech therapy is widely used in the field of reconstructive and plastic surgery. Leech saliva
contains more than twenty bioactive substances including several analgesics and anti-inflammatory
substances. Leech bite may have an antinociceptive action. Leech therapy may result in muscle
relaxation as a result of decongestion due to blood and lymph loss and improvement of micro circulation.
Placebo effect also may play a role in the overall effect of leech therapy.Bdellins and Eglins present in
leech saliva have anti-inflammatory actions. Broad spectrum anti-bacterial action against both Gram
positive(S.aureus) and Gram-negative (Sal. Typhi and E. coli) bacterial strains is found in leech salivary
secretions. Hirudin, calin and destabilase present in the leech saliva increase the micro circulation by
reducing the viscosity of blood. Histamine and carboxypeptidase A inhibitor present in the leech saliva
act as vasodilators and thus increase the blood flow at the site of bite. Leech saliva promotes the local
immunity also. n a study, it is reported that pain, stiffness, swelling and tenderness associated with
osteoarthritis significantly reduced by the leech therapy. In a study conducted on 14 patients, leech
therapy is found effective in reducing the symptoms of eczema like itching, burning sensation, redness
etc. n a patient with nevus pigmentation, 5 session of leech therapy reported to reduce the
pigmentation. Pitta is the responsible dosha for skin color. Leech therapy is the best treatment in case
of vitiated pitta dosha. Leech application is also reported to reduce the tenderness, pain and edema in
thrombosed piles, in a study conducted on 12 patients. The antimicrobial and mucolytic properties of
leech help to subside the pus and mucous discharge in thrombosed piles. Moreover, leech application
has thrombolytic action. Leech therapy in a patient having nasal furunculosis is reported to be effective
in reducing the throbbing pain, erythema and inflammation.
Cupping therapy
Through the cupping therapy, sub-atmospheric pressure suction is applied over a particular area which
promotes peripheral blood circulation. It may also improve immunity. Altering the microenvironment
through skin stimulation could transform into biological signals and may activate the neuroendocrine
immune system. Some of the reported effects of cupping therapy are increasing pain threshold,
improving local anaerobic metabolism, reducing inflammation, modulation of cellular immune system,
promotion of skin’s blood flow and changing of biomechanical properties of skin. The physiological and
mechanical signals produced as a result of mechanical stress on skin and local anaerobic metabolism
during cupping therapy may activate or inhibit gene expression. During wet cupping, the superficial
scarifications also may activate the wound healing mechanism and gene expression.
Obesity - Obesity is a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn't just a
cosmetic concern. It's a medical problem that increases the risk of other diseases and health problems,
such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. Obesity is generally caused
by eating too much and moving too little. If you consume high amounts of energy, particularly fat and
sugars, but don't burn off the energy through exercise and physical activity, much of the surplus energy
will be stored by the body as fat. Overview. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or
excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. Day-to-day problems related to obesity
include:
• breathlessness.
• increased sweating.
• snoring.
• difficulty doing physical activity.
• often feeling very tired.
• joint and back pain.
• low confidence and self-esteem.
• feeling isolated.
Class 1 (low-risk) obesity, if BMI is 30.0 to 34.9. Class 2 (moderate-risk) obesity, if BMI is 35.0 to
39.9. Class 3 (high-risk) obesity, if BMI is equal to or greater than 40.0. Choosing healthier foods (whole
grains, fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and protein sources) and beverages. Limiting unhealthy foods
(refined grains and sweets, potatoes, red meat, processed meat) and beverages (sugary drinks)
Increasing physical activity. Limiting television time, screen time, and other “sit time”
Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity –
Arthritis-
Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint
pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis
and rheumatoid arthritis.
Most forms of arthritis are thought to be caused by a fault in the immune system that causes the body
to attack its own tissues in the joints. This may be inherited genetically. Other forms of arthritis can be
caused by problems with the immune system or by a metabolic condition, such as gout.
Inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age.
Different types of arthritis exist, each with different causes including wear and tear, infections and
underlying diseases.
Symptoms include pain, swelling, reduced range of motion and stiffness.
Medication, physiotherapy or sometimes surgery helps reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
In general, the first sign of arthritis is pain, also called arthralgia. This can feel like a dull ache or a
burning sensation. Often, pain starts after you've used the joint a lot, for example, if you've been
gardening or if you just walked up a flight of stairs. Some people feel soreness first thing in the morning.
There is no cure for arthritis. The treatment goal is to limit pain and inflammation and preserve joint
function. Treatment options include medicines, weight reduction, exercise, and surgery.
A person cannot die from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, RA can increase the risk of developing
complications, such as heart disease. Some of these can be life threatening. RA is a chronic medical
condition that involves increased levels of inflammation in tissues throughout the body.
Parkinson’s Disease –
Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as
shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and
worsen over time. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking.
Parkinson's disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra.
Nerve cells in this part of the brain are responsible for producing a chemical called dopamine.
• Tremor. A tremor, or rhythmic shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. ...
• Slowed movement (bradykinesia). ...
• Rigid muscles. ...
• Impaired posture and balance. ...
• Loss of automatic movements. ...
• Speech changes. ...
• Writing changes.
Tremors, muscle stiffness and slowness of movement are all common early symptoms of Parkinson's
– but there are also other signs to be aware of. Sleep and night-time problems are common in
Parkinson's. People with Parkinson's are more likely to experience insomnia due to certain symptoms
which can disrupt sleep.
Parkinson's disease does not directly cause people to die, but the condition can place great strain on
the body, and can make some people more vulnerable to serious and life-threatening infections. But
with advances in treatment, most people with Parkinson's disease now have a normal or near-normal
life expectancy. There's currently no cure for Parkinson's disease, but treatments are available to help
relieve the symptoms and maintain your quality of life. These treatments include: supportive therapies,
such as physiotherapy. medication.
Parkinson's patients suffer from the same pain other people have, often amplified by the motor
dysfunction, but they also have additional pain problems unique to PD. Lower back pain and back of he
neck pain are most common. Strengthening exercises or stretching may be helpful.
One clear risk is age: Although most people with Parkinson's first develop the disease after age 60,
about 5% to 10% experience onset before the age of 50. Early-onset forms of Parkinson's are often,
but not always, inherited, and some forms have been linked to specific alterations in genes.
Bronchial Asthma-
A condition in which a person's airways become inflamed, narrow and swell and produce extra mucus,
which makes it difficult to breathe.
Asthma can be minor or it can interfere with daily activities. In some cases, it may lead to a life-
threatening attack.
Asthma may cause difficulty breathing, chest pain, cough and wheezing. The symptoms may
sometimes flare up.
Asthma can usually be managed with rescue inhalers to treat symptoms (salbutamol) and controller
inhalers that prevent symptoms (steroids). Severe cases may require longer-acting inhalers that keep
the airways open (formoterol, salmeterol, tiotropium), as well as inhalant steroids.
Long-term control medications such as inhaled corticosteroids are the most important medications used
to keep asthma under control. These preventive medications treat the airway inflammation that leads
to asthma symptoms. Used on a daily basis, these medications can reduce or eliminate asthma flare-
ups.