AYURVEDA TREATMENT
Ayurveda treatment is branched into two wings – Sodhana Chikitsa (Purification treatment) and Shamana Chikilsa (Alleviating treatment).
Sodhana Chikilsa
All ayurveda treatments begin with Sodhana Chikilsa. This is to discard the internal cause factors of the disease. The continuous metabolic process causes quantified formation of toxic bi-products in the body. Though most of the toxins get emitted naturally by body’s excretory system, some will remain in various tissues of the body. The retained toxins cause vitiation of Doshas and Dhatus resulting in the impairment of systems.
In Sodhana Chikilsa five therapeutic methods are employed as under:
1. Vamana (emesis therapy). Oral medicines are given to induce vomiting.
2. Virechana (purgation therapy). Oral medicines are given to induce purgation.
3. Nasyam (nasal medication). Medicated oil or powder is administered through the nostrils.
4. Vasthy (enema therapy). Medicated oil or decoction is administered through anus.
5 Rakthamoksham (blood letting therapy). Impure blood is drained out through various means such as as needle-pricking, venesection, leaching etc.
The above five procedures are called Pancha Karma.
Before undertaking Pancha Karma there is a preparatory course consisting of Snehana Karma (oleation therapy) and Swedana Karma (sudation therapy). This course is meant for making the body fit for elimination of toxins. In this procedure the toxin deposits get loosened from the cells and tissues and bring into outer channel for easy elimination.
Snehana Karma : Medicated oil and medicated ghee are administered internally and externally in various methods such as Sneha Panam, Abhyangam, Massage, Sirodhara, Sirovasthi, Pizhichil etc.
Swedana Karma : The methods adopted are Njavarakizhi, Elakizhi, Choorna sweda, Steam bath, hot herbal bath etc.
Shamana Chikilsa
The alleviating therapy (Shamana Chikilsa) is done after Sodhana Chikilsa. In this herbal medicines are administered orally and externally so as to correct the functions of Doshas, Dhatus, Malas and Agni and discard the ailments and immunize the body.
