Ayurvedic Therapies/ Panchkarma

Ayurveda literally translates into knowledge or science of life as “Ayu” in Ayurveda means “life” and “veda” means knowledge or science. Ayurvedic system of medicine introduced about 5000 years back by Indian rishis is still dependable due to the power it holds in providing a healthy happy and wholesome life.

According to Ayurveda, three bodily energies (called as doshas) Vata, Pitta and Kapha keep the human body in balance. Whenever the delicate balance between these doshas is disturbed, a disease may be manifested. The main objective of the Ayurvedic system of treatment is to restore the original state of equilibrium between the doshas.

What Is Panchakarma?

Panchakarma is a set of procedures that balances three doshas when imbalanced. It is an effective detoxification program that eliminates accumulated impurities from the body. Pancha in Sanskrit means “five,” and karma means “action” and refers to five different purifying and rejuvenating procedures. This sophisticated detox program is of great help in today’s life when improper diet, stress, and environmental pollutants have become part of it

Panchakarma therapy restore your body’s innate healing ability. Your body cleanse itself quite efficiently and is well-equipped to remove waste through various channels. Panchakarma helps to gently clear the channels of removal in the body so that everything runs smoothly and efficiently, like a well-oiled machine.

In addition to five Principal procedures (Pradhan karma) of panchkarma; there are some other activities also known as Poorva karma (Preparation phase) & Paschat karma (Post-therapy procedures)

The effect of these therapeutic processes is powerful and long-lasting. Using your body’s channels of detoxification these processes help to release deep-rooted stress and toxins that has stored for years and result into a powerful healing experience.

Here are some powerful therapies that we offer at Ayubhumi Ayurveda & Panchkarma; the best panchkarma center in Amritsar amidst a beautiful natural ambience-

Shirodhara:

Shirodhara is an Ayurvedic healing technique that involves pouring herbal ayurvedic oil onto your forehead from a specific height, for a specific time period in a continuous stream, allowing the oil to run through the scalp and down into the hairs. It’s often combined with a body, scalp, or head massage.

Shirodhara has relaxing, soothing, and calming effects on the body and mind. It enhances functions of central nervous system. It works on multiple layers of the being. It helps to-

• Improve sleep quality
• Manage insomnia
• Lessen anxiety
• Reduce stress
• Relaxes mental fatigue
• removes muscular tension
• Eliminates toxins

It also exfoliates dead skin cells & enhances transporting lymphatic fluids and bestows a whole new experience to the mind and body.

Abhyanga:

Abhyanga is a massage that’s done with warm oil that is applied on the entire body, from the scalp to the soles of your feet. The type of oil along with the herbs used to prepare the oil is decided by the doctor and is based on the need of the individual. It’s the most popular massage in Ayurveda. It promotes overall health and wellness. Massage serves as a way to provide oil to the tissues, loosen impurities, and encourage those impurities to start making their way out through your channels of elimination. Benefits of Abhyanga are-

• Improves skin health as it- increases skin blood flow, reduces appearance of wrinkles, cellulite, and scars, improve skin smoothness and softness and decrease hyperpigmentation
• Reduces muscle stiffness
• Reduces stress
• Helps in reducing blood pressure
• Improves lymphatic drainage
• Improves vision
• Increases energy and alertness
• Increases physical strength
• Provides resistance against injuries and gives power to recover quickly
• Increases immunity
• Delay age-related changes

Swedana

The word Sweda is derived from Sanskrit swid, meaning ‘to sweat or to perspire’. So swedana is the process of inducing sweat with the help of steam, generated from medicated herbal decoctions. This opens up your pores and begin to rid the body of impurities through your sweat glands. It helps to dilate circulation and speeds up the elimination of impurities that have been loosened by oleation. It also encourages a general state of relaxation.

Swedana is indicated in diseases like- Hemiplegia, Arthritis, Parkinsonism, Motor Neuron Disorders, Low back ache, Sciatica, Asthma and cough, Sinusitis, Chronic constipation

Swedana provides following benefits:

• Balances Vata and Kapha humors in the body
• Detaches toxins; expels them through the tiny pores of the skin along with sweat
• Increases blood circulation
• Reduces inflammation
• Revitalizes and rejuvenates the skin
• Improves digestion
• Removes apathy/ lethargy
• Dissolves fat tissues
• Relieves stress
• Eases sore muscles
• Reduces numbness, stiffness, rigidity, heaviness; improves mobility

Nasya:

It is application of medicinal oils through the nasal passages. It clears the nose, throat, sinuses and drains the excess mucus. This step can feel soothing and calms your mind.  Following are the benefits of Nasyam Treatment

• Enhances the activity of sense organs and protects from diseases pertaining to head
• Lubricates the nasal passage
• Keeps the eyes, nose and ear healthy
• Prevents the early greying of hair
• Prevents early aging process
• Relieves from headache, earache and clears the throat
• Releases stress and tension from shoulder and neck area
• Helps in curing sinus
• Relieves from migraine

Katibasti:

Kativasti is a special type of low back therapy or lumbar therapy. The word Kati stands for low back or waist and Vasti, for containing or retaining something inside. Katibasthi is an Ayurvedic lumbo-sacral rejuvenation therapy using hot oil or herbal decoctions. Medicated oil or herbs for decoction are selected depending on the bodily constitution and the state of the humors (Doshas) of the person. This oil is poured in a ring of dough kept on the lumbosacral area of the spine of the patient while he/ she is lying face down. The treatment lasts for about 30 minutes & the oil is changed when it gets cooled. After that the affected area is gently massaged. This Katibasti is beneficial as it-

• Pacifies Vata Dosha
• Reduces pain and inflammation
• Deeply purifies and improves blood circulation around lumbosacral area
• Removes rigidity and spasm of muscles around lumbosacral region
• Nourishes and strengthens the bones, connective tissues, ligaments, nerves, muscles of the lumbo – sacral region
• Lubricates the joints

And is highly useful in conditions of-

• Chronic Backache
• Degenerative spine changes
• Compressed discs and spinal nerves
• Disc prolapse
• Osteoporosis
• Osteoarthritis of the hip
• Rheumatic arthritis
• Sciatica

Greeva basti:

Greeva Basti is an Ayurvedic neck care and basically a hot oil therapy. Greeva Basti is bathing the neck region with medicated oil or freshly prepared herbal decoction. The procedure does oleation and sudation around the neck region simultaneously. Due to present day lifestyle which involves continued and glued sitting position and lack of body movements the problems of the spine, muscles and skeletal tissues of neck and shoulder arise. Greeva Basti addresses these issues effectively.

Medicated oil or herbs for decoction are selected depending on the bodily constitution and the state of the humors (Doshas) of the person. This oil is poured in a ring of dough placed over the neck to cover all the vertebrae of the neck and 2-3 vertebrae of the thoracic region when patient is lying face down. The treatment lasts for about 30 minutes & the oil is changed when it gets cooled. This Greevabasti is beneficial as it-

• Relieves the burden of stress and congestion in nerves, bones and muscles of neck and shoulders and thus relaxing and rejuvenating them
• Improves the flexibility and brings smooth movement
• Improves circulation around the neck and shoulder region.

Greeva Basti gives relief from the following conditions:

• Cervical spondylosis, cervical spondylitis, cervical disc lesion
• Vertigo
• Tingling, numbness of the hands
• Compression fractures
• Chronic pain in neck region
• Frozen shoulder

Jannu Basti

Janu Basti name is given to the procedure done on knee joints. In this the knee joint is bathed with warm medicated oil or freshly prepared herbal decoction. Knee joints are  considered as sandhi Marma in Ayurveda (joint type of vital areas) so the janu vasti is specialized knee therapy or massage which rejuvenate the janu marma.

In this treatment the lukewarm medicated oil or herbal decoction is slowly poured into a ring of dough placed over the knee joint. The treatment lasts for about 30 minutes & the oil is changed when it gets cooled. After that the affected area is gently massaged. This Jaanubasti is beneficial as it-

• Pacifies aggravated Vata dosha in the knee region
• Restores the lubricating fluid in the joint and maintain integrity of the structures involved in the joint.
• Removes stiffness and pain in Knee joint
• Protects knee joints from age related changes
• Increases blood circulation; thus strengthens and nourishes the knee joints
• Improves the mobility of the knee joints (knee flexion and knee extension)

It is indicated in the following conditions:

• Osteoarthritis of knee joints
• Osteoporosis
• Arthrosis of knee joints
• Chronic pain of the knee joint