1. WHAT IS PANCHKARMA?
Panchkarma means five therapies, the inhouse treatment for healthy and unhealthy as well. The Panchkarma is a curative line of management plan for all diseases, which are not amenable to palliative management.

The pathogenesis of almost all diseases follow a general pattern either from Amashaya(stomach) or Pakwashya(large intestines) abode or site of digestion and digestive food respectively. The one two or all of three doshas get vitiated & spread to one or more specific immuno- compromised site and develop the disease entity.

Here it explains the need of Panchkarma, because by these five therapies in a series or one or two therapies as selected management plan by qualified panchkarma specialist these vitiated doshas are expelled out from the body and thus body gets purified and free from circulating toxins. By vitiated doshas we mean the morbid matter. The five therapies or procedures for elimination of vitiated doshas from the body are the modes of purification of doshas and channels.

*1st therapy VAMANA The Emesis - Expels Kapha through stomach, chest and mouth and relieves from congestion & mucus plugs. *2nd therapy VIRECHANA The purgation or laxation expels Pitta through bowels and intestines and the elimination of blood toxins *3rd therapy BASTI The enemas - expel Vata through lower bowels *4th therapy NASYA The errhines -expel kapha through nose and sinuses of head *5th therapy RAKTA MOKSHAN The venesection expels vitiated blood and Pitta through blood veins and skin

These five therapies/ Panchkarma are always preceded by pre procedure, eliminative measure such as SNEHANA (oleation) & SWEDANA (sudation) by different classical means. The purpose of pre-procedures to prepare the person for main five therapies.and by these we achieve in principle the traction of peripheral doshas to central part of the body that is gastro intestinal tract.

After panchkarma therapies the SANSARJANA Karma , the post operative procedure must be followed to get a complete cure by achieving the well stimulated agni that is digestive fire and enhanced resistance of the person

2. WHY PANCHKARMA?
-to eliminate the toxic matter from the body. -to enhance the power of digestion and metabolism. -to get rid of diseases from the very root out of the systems. -to restore normal health . -to gain the strength, increase the virility and improve the progeny. -to have more clearer complexion. -to increase the power of sense organs and motor organs.

3. THE DISEASES TREATED BY PANCHKARMA
Rheumatic disorders osteo, rheumatic, gouty, psoriatic arthritis Paralysis mono, hemi, para, quadri plegia Parkinsonism and Epilepsy nervine disorders Gynaecological disorders cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, dub, dysmenorrhoea Allergies and Hay fevers bronchial asthma Cancer benign and malignant Skin Afflictions eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo E.N.T. Diseases tinnitus, hard of hearing, speech disorders, sinusitis Insomnia & Psychosis sleep disorders Kidney diseases nephrotic syndrome,urolithiasis chronic renal failures Digestive diseases reflux oesophagitis, peptic ulcer Migraine headaches

4. CAN PANCHKARMA BE EFFECTIVE IN CRITICAL DISEASES ?
Yes, Panchkarma is beneficial and effective in cancer and HIV infections.

The treatment of any above mentioned disease is there in Panchkarma management plan in any day of the calendar . Yet by ayurveda way of diagnosis a detailed history is required as regards to history & chronicity of illness, time , country of origin, the constitutional status and the factors should be known to Panchkarma consultant as first hand information to plan treatment according to disease preferably by correct analysis of prevalence and pathogenic stage of one or the three doshas prevalent in the disease and the season as well. The physical environment is mainly based on time and space. The time includes diurnal variation & season variations. The space includes the geographical considerations which is equally important for the person to be treated and one's food habits and life style and at the same time the vegetation and herbs used during the treatment.

5. SEASONAL PURIFICATION BY AYURVEDA & YOGA
The base for health maintenance and disease prevention in Ayurveda is purification. some of the guidelines are given for routine seasonal cleansing practices of Ayurveda and yoga.

Winter to spring : During the juncture of seasons between to spring (APRIL) KAPHA, the bioforce of growth, structure and mucus is aggravated. Ayurveda recommends the method of 'Vamana' (use4 of emetics to induce vomiting other practices include heat elimination therapies, nasya (nasal medication), Exercise, Fasting, less sleeping and Dry Massage.

In yoga, the main purificatory methods are 'Vamana Dhauti (purification by vomiting),and vastra Dhauti (purification by means of a cloth) other practices used include Neti (Nasal Cleansing) and Kapal-bhati (skull shinning)

Spring To Summer : During the juncture of seasons from spring to summer (june) PITTA, the bioforces of heat , is naturally aggravated. In Ayurveda, the main purificatory practice used is Virechana (purgation and Rakta mokshana (Blood Letting). Massage is also recommended. In Yoga, varisara dhauti or shankha- prakshalana (intestinal washing with saline water) is used. Also nauli (Intestinal churning) and Kapal-bhati are practiced.

Summer To Autumn : During the juncture of season from summer to Autumn ( october) VATA, the bioforce of movement and dryness is naturally aggravated. In ayurveda Basti (medicated herbal enema) is main purificatory practice recommended. Other practices include oil massage, svedana (sweating) and snehan (oiling ). In yoga, basti (enema ) is also recommended with certain breathing practices and postures to help maintain the balance of the air and movement producing bioforce.

Autumn to winter : During the juncture of season from Autumn to winter (december ) KAPHA, the bioforce of growth and mucus begins to accumulate and vata , should naturally be pacified. None of the bioforces are inherently aggravated. None of the bioforces are inherently aggravated. often, however when an individual's Agni is not balanced it will increase erratically during this time to meet the demands of the cold and diminishing light of winter. This will cause dryness (A vata derangement as well as some pitta disturbance due to the erratically inflaming agni. When dryness become a prominent symptom then Snehan (oiling) in the form of oil massages, oil enemas, nasal medication and increasing essential fatty acids in ones diet can be very helpful.