Proper rest, digestion, and mindset are central pillars in the holistic health system of Ayurveda.
In our daily living and learning, we may encounter overwhelming experiences, food and drinks that are not suitable for us, or fall into habits that debilitate rather than rejuvenate us. Our physiologies try to return us to our optimum state, but sometimes it needs a little help.
This is what Panchakarma is all about. Age-old practices that help restore our mental and physiological wellbeing.
In Sanskrit, Pancha means “five” and Karma means “actions that bind.” Taken together, Panchakrama is a series of treatments wherein balance is restored and health—once again—bound to us. For brevity’s sake, people often refer to Panchakarma as “PK” for short.
I remember thinking after my first PK, “I didn’t know I could feel this good in my body.” By good I mean: light, patient, and full of vitality. My attention wasn’t constantly drawn to this ache or that worry. In fact, I didn’t know how much time I spent worrying about my body until I was suddenly free from it. When all my internal systems are in happy communication with each other, I am the best version of myself. Effortlessly alert, creative, and radiating life.
Our bodies are intricately connected to our minds and our minds intricately connected to our bodies.
Each panchakarma further gives me insight into this.
Our ability to be open and engaging is, on the subtle layer, dependent on how well we feel in our bodies. For example, I carried a lot of childhood stresses in my bowels before I went to my first PK. These stresses were unconsciously held, but symptomatic as chronic digestive issues. Then, by following a regime of treatments, rest and easy to digest foods for 21-days, I noticed I spontaneously laughed more. The world wasn’t suddenly funnier than it was 21-days ago; rather, I had rested enough to become alert to layers of humor ever-present.
Contemporary science is newly enthralled to the term: the gut-brain-axis. Turns out, researchers announced a few years ago, our gut is responsible for 95% of the body’s serotonin production! Serotonin being a vital neurotransmitter and mood stabilizer—key to feeling healthy and vital. Ayurveda has known about the gut-brain-axis for 5000+ years and promotes ways of eating and being that supports, not only the gut-brain-axis, but the myriad other systems as well.
Panchakarma re-aligns the channels of communication between our body’s many system by removing blockages. We know cells regenerate themselves every few years; new cells should technically work better than older cells, but what hampers this regular renewal is ama.
Ama is the Ayurvedic term for toxins; it is the sticky, viscous substance we scrape off our tongues in the mornings; this substance can get trapped in our joints, along the lining of our intestines, in fat cells, and along nerve cells hampering communication and proper homeostasis.
Imagine a cavernous room with 1000 people. Each of these 1000 people have different skill sets that are necessary for the smooth operation of life in this room. They must talk to each other and work together; sometimes, when one sector of the room is running behind, an announcement is made so more people can help in that sector. Other times, announcements are made for rest times and meal times. Ama is like noise-canceling headphones people in the room start to wear; they stop communicating and hearing announcements. They get tunnel vision in their singular skillset and miss important cues for the smooth operation of the whole. Instead of helping to create balance, these headphone wearing people begin—without meaning to—to create havoc.
This is where Panchakarma comes in. It removes these useless “headphones” aka ama.
When resting properly, our body naturally detoxes ama and removes unsustainable blockages. One goes to a Panchakarma clinic, and under the guidance of an Ayurvedic doctor (Vaidya), receives a series of treatments wherein heat, oils, steam, and tonics are applied in a variety of ways to remove ama. Rest, herbs, and easy to digest food are also vital parts of the program.
The scheduling on Panchakarma is coordinated so we rise and rest with the sun. Eating our biggest meal at noon and beginning our wind-down after the sun sets. Many of us were not raised in Ayurvedic households; in PK, people may experience for the first time the benefits of syncing our circadian rhythm to the sun. Getting out of unsustainable lifestyle habits and learning how to eat a balanced diet is another key component of Panchakarma.
Each day on Panchakarma begins with a pulse reading with the Vaidya. Our bodies are always in flux, and this is even more true when we undergo processes of healing. Pulse reading is followed by some hours of treatments (described below), lunch, treatments or rest, dinner and evening treatments before an early bedtime.
Our bodies restore itself when resting so treatments always begin with practices designed to lower metabolic rate and increase feelings of deep relaxation. This can be any one or a combination of the following:
Abhyanga: a full-body lymphatic oil massage, usually administered by two technicians who sync their movements to create harmony in the left and right cerebral hemisphere of the brain.
Shirodhara: wherein warm, medicated oil is slowly released upon the forehead, right above the pineal gland—hormonal secretion center—of the brain. Promotes deep relaxation for the anxious mind.
Takradhara: where cool buttermilk is slowly poured upon the forehead in a moving pattern. Cools any heated mind so the rest of the body can relax.
Once the body is relaxed, the Vaidya then prescribes a series of localized treatments based on areas of disturbance.
External bastis: a moat of clay is built around an area of the body where there is pain or disease. Warm medicated oil is administered to this area repeatedly. A supremely relaxing experience that quickly decreases inflammation in any area.
Sits Bath: one sits in a medicated bath to ease issues in the reproductive area.
Swedana: Ayurvedic heat therapy. Depending on the kind of imbalance, medicated hot water or steam is administered to promote sweat and carry out toxins.
Petra Potli Sweda: two herb-filled pouches soaked in oil are warmed then pounded and pressed upon the body. Like a massage but with the intention of loosening the toxins that collect in our interstices.
Nasya: wherein a small amount of medicated ghee is administered through the nostrils to lubricate the respiratory tract.
Internal Bastis: once the toxins are loosed, a series of gentle enemas are prescribed to re-enliven our digestive health.
Please note, this is not a comprehensive list as there are hundreds of practices to suit different imbalances in different physiologies.
Ultimately, Panchakarma is a tool for reawakening the health-consciousness of our mind-body-spirit.
Click here for more information on the Rajus Ayurveda Panchakarma clinic.
Written by Cindy Wu for The Rajus Ayurveda.