Panchakarma

Panchakarma, five detoxification procedures.

Pancha in Sanskrit means five and karma means action, so Panchakarma means the five actions to deeply detoxify the body, it is the largest and perhaps the best known treatment of purification of Ayurveda.
The entire process takes place in three phases:

pre-treatment, Purva karma
treatment itself, Pradhan karma
post-treatment, paschat karma

The five primary activities are the core of the entire process.
The complete treatment detoxifies deeply the body by removing the buildup of toxins, restores the normal state of energy and health, balances and strengthens the functioning of the body, especially the nervous system, endocrine, metabolic, and immune.
Panchakarma will reverse the movement of toxins that accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract and then spread to other areas of the body, the action of the procedures of purification fluidifies deposits and toxins from the site of accumulation in body tissues, back to the gastrointestinal tract where they can be easily expelled through the elimination mechanisms of the body.
The Panchakarma treatment is a unique feature of Ayurveda that removes disorders from their site through the elimination of the toxins accumulated in the body tissues. Apparently simple and natural but with very refined arrangements for implementation, Panchakarma is used in Ayurvedic hospitals and clinics in India to treat successfully disorders considered incurable or hardly curable by modern medicine.
The five detoxification procedures
1. Vamana, vomiting.
Vamana consists in eliminating toxins accumulated in the stomach by the administration of emetic substances that induce vomiting. Before treatment are carried out for about a week the preliminary oiling and Fomento (Snehana and Swedana).
This is the best treatment for disorders due to the imbalance of Kapha dosha, one of the bodily humors considered in Ayurveda. The Kapha dosha is related to the water present in the body and is responsible for the cohesion and the lubrication of the body, for fluid balance and functioning of the immune system.
A very beneficial treatment for disorders such as chronic rhinitis, asthma, cough, psoriasis and skin diseases, etc..
2. Virechana, purgation.
With this treatment the toxins accumulated in the small intestine are eliminated with the administration of laxatives and purgatives.
Virechana specific treatment is to balance Pitta dosha, the humor of the body linked to the fire element responsible for all the digestive and metabolic processes occurring inside the body.
The treatment is very effective for disorders such as dermatitis, chronic fever, inflammation, jaundice, etc..
3. Basti, enema.
A purifying treatment in which medicated decoctions mixed with honey, salt, oil, pasta, herbs, medicated oils are introduced into the colon through an enema. Kashaya basti when using a mixture, with a prevalence of decoctions, Sneha basti when using medicated oil.
Basti is the best treatment for abnormalities of Vata dosha whose headquarters is located predominantly in the colon. Vata, correlates with the air element, is responsible for all the movements that occur in the body. Nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, motor activity and any other movement takes place thanks to the presence of Vata.
Basti is used to treat constipation, flatulence, emaciation, neurological problems, disorders of the nervous system, paralysis, back pain, pain in various parts of the body, rheumatism, etc..
4. Nasya, purification through the nose.
After massaging with oil and fomenting the face, neck and shoulders to induce perspiration, are introduced through the nose medicinal substances in liquid or powder.
This treatment is used to eliminate the excesses of dosha in the region of the head.
The Nasya cleans, purifies and strengthens the sinuses relieving nasal congestion, allergies, sinusitis, rhinitis, headache, disorders of the sense organs, etc..
5. Rakta Mokshana, bloodletting.
This method is used to remove the excess of toxins from the blood, is a practice described in the Treaty of Sushruta, considered the father of surgery, it is used by affecting the blood vessels with sharp instruments, with the application of leeches or the suction of blood by means of various instruments.
In the Treaty of Charaka not the bloodletting, the two types of basti are considered as two separate actions of Panchakarma.
Rakta mokshana or Shira Vedana is used in cases of acute infections and skin diseases, abscesses, fever, poor circulation, and so on.
The purpose of Panchakarma.
Soften the excess dosha and toxins accumulated in the body, they return to their places of origin (Kapha stomach, intestine Pitta, Vata colon) in order to eliminate them.
To do this requires the preliminary procedures that are provided:
Light and balanced diet to promote good digestion.
Snehana, internal oiling by unctuous substances used  with food and oiling through external massage with oil.
Swedana, induce perspiration.
Rest.
When toxins are returning to their site of origin are ready to be eliminated from the body with the five purificatory actions: vomiting, purgation, enema of 2 types, cleaning paranasal cavity.
The program of Panchakarma treatment can last from 7 to 42 days, with varying degrees of intensity, depending on the availability and the health of the person.