Introduction : According to
ayurvedic philosophy an individual bundle of `spirit’, desirious
of expressing itself, uses subjective consciousness or Satwa to
manifest sense organs and a mind. Spirit and mind then project themselves
into a physical body, created from the five (Pancha) great (maha)
eternal elements (bhutas) – together called the Panchamahabhutas
– which arise from Tamas. The sense organs then using Rajas
to project from the body into the external world to experience their
objects. The body becoming the mind’s vehicle, its physical
instrument for sense gratification.
The Bhutas combine into "tridoshas" or
bioenergetic forces that govern and determine our health or physical
condition. While the three gunas (Rajas or activity, Tamas or inertia
and Satwa, which balances the first two) or psychic forces determine
our mental and spiritual health. Ayurveda is thus a holistic system
of health care that teaches us to balance these energies in order
to achieve optimum health and well being.
Panchakarma
Introduction : In Ayurveda treatment
consists of four basic forms, namely - medicine or drug therapy,
pancha (five) karma (actions/ systems), dietary regime and regulation
of lifestyle. And works in two fundamental ways - cure and prevention.
The preventive aspect of treatment is further subdivided
into swastha varta (personal hygiene) - consisting of dinacharya
(daily routine), ritucharya (seasonal corrections) and sadachara
(appropriate behaviour) - rasayana & vajikarana (rejuvenation
& virlification) and yoga. The curative aspect consists of three
parts antati parimaijana (internal medicine) - consisting of samsodhana
(internal purification through panchkarma) and samsamana (curative
action) - external medicine as massage, use of pastes & powders
and finally surgical treatment.
The deep cleansing process, unique to Ayurveda,
that enables the body to release excess doshas and toxins from its
cells and expel them is called Panchakarma, which basically denotes
detoxification or elimination of toxins from the body. Although
the human body is considered as a great, intelligent, natural healing
system capable of rejuvenating itself, the formation of toxins reduces
that natural capacity. It is then that Panchakarma
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