A Practical Handbook of Panchakarma Procedures

Foreword Panchkarma is an integral part and the most promising detoxification measure of Ayurveda for eliminating toxins from the body. It is advocated even in a healthy person to combat seasonal imbalance of dosha. Ayurveda quotes that the disorders treated with this mode of therapy do not recur while those treated with palliative methods do have ample chances of recurrence. It is the most effective healing modality in Ayurvedic Medicine which includes Vamana, Virachana, Asthapana Vasti, Anuvasana Vasti and Nasyakarma. The series of these five therapies help alleviating deep rooted stress and illness-causing toxins from the body. Various scientific studies and clinical experiences have validated the efficacy and acceptability of these procedures.

The present book "Practical Handbook of Panchkarma Procedure" has the brief description of these Panchkarma procedures minutely in simplified form for the benefit of students and Ayurvedic practitioners. This book is in high demand among the students, practitioners, academicians, research scholars and even among those persons who wants to establish a good panchkarma center to provide better health care services. During the last seven years approximate 10,000 copies of this book have been exhausted. Keeping in view of its high demand, the Council has decided to once again reprint this book so as to make it available in public domain.

I express my sincere thanks with gratitude to Shri Ajit M. Sharan, Secretary to Govt. of India, Ministry of AYUSH for his encouragement and vision to make available all such type of important publication in public domain through printing as well as uploading them on the Council's website.

The efforts put in by the contributors and other officials of the publication section to bring this concise, comprehensive and informative document on Panchkarma in lucid language are appreciable. This book will certainly serve as reference book for practitioners, academicians, researchers and students in the field of Ayurveda.

Preface Practical handbook of Panchakarma Procedures is a brief knowledge of various Panchakarma procedures followed in different parts of the country. It also includes some of the common therapeutic procedures popular in Kerala. Panchakarma therapy is an integral part of Ayurvedic treatment. All the learned scholars of Ayurveda since beginning to the present era have highly appreciated the importance and therapeutic efficacy of Panchakarma therapy. The description of Panchakarma is found to be popular in Ayurvedic classics viz Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridayam, Ashtanga Samgraha, Sharngadhara and Vanga Sena etc.Classical Panchakarma includes Vamana, Virachana, Anuvasana Basti, Niruha Basti and Nasya, which require more attention and care from the physician. The procedures are also time taking. Due to these facts some of the physicians developed easier techniques with better therapeutic effects. These procedures were popular in India sometime ago but now they are becoming popular all over the world.

This book deals with the commonly practiced, popular Panchakarma procedures minutely in simplified form for the benefit of students and Ayurvedic practitioners. It has been tried to give the material requirements, names and doses of commonly used medicines with administration time, indications and contraindications with necessary photographs. The assessment of minimum required manpower in various procedures has also been done. This book also recommends space and staff requirements for a model Panchakarma unit. Textual references are also given wherever possible.

I appreciate Dr. M.M. Sharma, Dr. B.S. Sharma, Mr. Upendra Singh & Mr. Narender Singh from publication section for their tireless efforts in bringing out this publication.

I hope that this handbook will serve as a ready reckon document for students, practitioners, academicians, research scholars, scientists and certainly help to establish a good Panchakarma center for better health care services.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages