Panchakarma helps to heal
Panchakarma helps to heal
This article appeared in Yoga Aktuell April/May 2009
An Ayurvedic Panchakarma cure can bring about profound healing processes on both a physical and psychological level.
The core of Ayurvedic medicine consists of effective detoxification procedures, which are carried out in so-called Panchakarma cures. In addition to the Ayurvedic massages and oil treatments, which are primarily used at the beginning and end of the cure and which are advertised in cure brochures, Panchakarma therapy includes very intensive cleansing methods such as medicinal vomiting (vamana), purging (virechana), enemas (basti), leech therapy (rakta-mokshana) and other sometimes rather unappetizing procedures. Appetite for food is not important in the cleansing phase (pradhanakarma) anyway: During and after the elimination procedures, the panchakarma diet consists of more or less substantial rice soups, the variations of which are limited to 16 times, 8 times or 4 times the amount of water, and to the question of whether salt and a little cumin may also be added.
But as soon as the major panchakarma detox procedures are over, life becomes more beautiful again: in the subsequent regeneration phase (pashchatkarma), the focus is on regeneration and healing. With an increasingly varied menu of tasty build-up menus, effective medicines and herbal formulas as well as oil infusions, synchronized massages and special treatments, body and mind gain more health, vitality and zest for life from day to day. Depending on the Ayurveda clinic and tradition, the oil treatments are carried out more or less artfully as part of a Panchakarma treatment: The more northern the country of origin, the more medicinal the focus, which means that the massages are primarily used to incorporate highly effective herbal formulas through the skin. Ayurvedic massages with a feel-good effect are mainly experienced by Panchakarma patients in Kerala, Sri Lanka and Europe.
Contrary to the widespread opinion that Panchakarma is a relaxing wellness vacation with a spa effect, "real" Panchakarma cures are an extremely effective healing method that is primarily used to treat physical and psychological complaints. The holistic treatment approach triggers deep renewal processes in the gross and subtle body (annamaya, pranamaya and manomayakosha). This not only allows toxins and metabolic waste products, some of which have accumulated over decades, to be removed, but also brings emotional wounds and traumatic experiences from the past to the surface.
Although many patients primarily seek help for their physical complaints such as arthritis, asthma, skin diseases, heart disease, migraines or stomach ulcers, in the course of treatment they are confronted with the fact that they not only have to make friends with new lifestyle and dietary habits for their long-term healing, but often also undergo deep emotional process work in which they are confronted with unprocessed childhood experiences, professional conflict situations and spiritual blockages.
I still remember well the patient who separated from his wife, to whom he had been married for 20 years, immediately after the cure: during his intensive cure treatments and discussions, he realized that his cardiac arrhythmia had nothing to do with his professional stress or occasional alcohol consumption, but was primarily caused by his unhappy marriage and inner loneliness. With the physical strength and inner clarity he gained from the cure, he was able to free himself from old ties and start a completely new, healthy life. His "still-wife" greeted this decision with relief and also began to realign her life.
Another patient, on the other hand, had sensational treatment successes in her rheumatism therapy during the cure. After just two weeks, she was virtually pain-free and was able to move better from day to day. However, as soon as she returned home, her symptoms increased again. She now realized that the complaints in her musculoskeletal system were not only caused by the wrong diet, but that she had robbed herself of all inner freedom of movement in her fully organized and very committed life. The lack of space for her own needs and personal development also caused her to freeze again physically. Fortunately, she got in touch with her Ayurveda doctor and was able to resolve both her physical and mental obstacles and complaints in a holistic way through long-term Ayurveda therapy.
With all these aspects in mind, you should carefully consider where the most suitable place is to undergo an Ayurveda treatment tailored to your personal needs. The psychological aspects of a Panchakarma treatment are often given too little or no consideration. Or there is no opportunity afterwards to get back in touch with the Ayurveda doctors and therapists and continue the treatment. It is also important to find out how often and of what quality the treatments, consultations and therapies on offer are. Unfortunately, the many special offers on the wellness market are often of such an unqualified nature that all the effort is in vain.