PANCHA KARMA
Pancha Karma is the purification techniques of Ayurveda (Yogic Medicine). These techniques have been used for thousands of years and have been perfected to treat the root cause of disease.
ACCUMULATING AMA (TOXINS)
The body’s inherent ability to heal and rejuvenate itself can become impaired. This happens when the doshas become imbalanced and the digestive capacity is weakened.
Several things happen when digestion is weakened, first ama (toxic impurities) forms. Ama is describes as undigested food, it is a sticky residue that remains when food is not completely metabolized. If ama is not quickly burned up in the G.I tract it will accumulate and when it becomes too plentiful the ama gets lodged into the deeper tissues.
Over time these toxins begin to weaken the immune system making us more susceptible to infection or degenerative disease.
Secondly when digestion is impaired, nutritional products are not available to nourish the deeper tissues (Dhatus) and they become weaker. Third the natural processes of elimination gets disturbed and metabolic wastes accumulate further weakening the tissue. Lastly the ama and waste products block the body’s ability to assimilate food and medicine and it becomes difficult to regain your health. Ama can remain in the body for years.
In addition to food we also digest or assimilate our life experiences as we are constantly taking in information through all our senses. In our modern life style our senses can become overwhelmed with stimulus that causes turbulence or dullness in the mind or we can have a life experience that is difficult to accept. Many of us have been affected by a divorce, a death, abuse, addiction, mental illness, disappointments etc. and have difficulty putting it into perspective. Just as proper digestion is taking in the useful nutrients of food and eliminating the waste so proper mental digestion is the ability to learn from our life experiences and let go of the hurt and pain they so often bring. These unresolved emotions or the dullness and turbulence are what ayurveda considers mental ama.
Pancha Karma is the process of eliminating the accumulated ama. This often takes a month or more to prepare the body and go through the purification procedures and is best done by a specialist in a Pancha Karma center. A more mild purification is traditionally done at the spring and the fall to eliminate ama that has built up in the body and mind. There are three phases to pancha karma: preparation, purification and rejuvenation.
PURVA KARMA (PREPARATION PROCEDURES)
The purpose of Purva Karma is to soften the ama and move it back into the gastrointestinal tract so it could be eliminated by the purification procedures. This is done by light diet, oleation and heat. By eating a light diet the more space is made for the ama and this also allows for digestion to stay strong. Oleation is done both internally by taking a medicated ghee (clarified butter) and externally by an herbal oil massage. There are many types of ayurvedic massage that have specific functions but for the seasonal cleansing this can be simulated a self-massage (abhyanga). Heat is traditionally done by herbalized steam immediately after the oil massage but can be simulated by a hot shower or bath after the self-massage.
This process softens the ama and lubricates the channels of elimination so the ama can move into the GI tract for elimination. Life-style during this process is important and should emphasize relaxation and minimizing stress. Rest is essential so that the body does not become weak. It is important to minimize mental stimulus (TV, radio, computer, excess travel, etc.) this helps us to process the mental ama or the unprocessed feelings, emotions, and experiences. Sexual intercourse or orgasm should also be avoided as it can deplete the body’s energy.
PANCH KARMA (FIVE MAIN PROCEDURES)
Once the body has been prepared and the ama is in the GI tract the person is ready to have the main actions or procedures of elimination. Techniques are use to removing toxins from the body. Many methods are used to purify and purge the deeper tissues the main five are Vamana (induced vomiting) to cleanse the stomach and lungs. Nasya a sinus cleanse. Virechana purging herbs are used to induce several loose stools to cleanse the liver, gallbladder and small intestines. Rakta Mokshana blood is drawn to remove blood born toxins. Basti enemas are given to cleanse the colon. For the seasonal PK a milder cleansing can be done. Herbs can be used orally to purge the gallbladder, liver and small intestine and by enema to cleanse the colon. Yoga techniques can be used to release past experiences and stuck emotions.
PASCHAT KARMA (REJUVINATION THERAPIES)
Once the ama and waste products are eliminated from the GI tract both the digestive agni (fire) and the Dhatus (tissues) must have the opportunity to rebuild themselves. This set of procedures assures the re-establishment of healthy metabolic function and immunity. If these procedures are neglected, digestion does not normalize and weak digestion generates new ama and the tissues continue to receive toxic material instead of nutritive, strengthening substances.
After purification processes like this a person can feel a little depleted and needs to slowly work back into their regular routines. A specific diet is prescribed until your appetite returns and herbs are given to reignite the digestive process and to rejuvenate and replenish the person.
As you regain your appetite and get back into your normal routines you will feel light, energized with a great sense of clarity and contentment, reminding you what it is like to really feel healthy and balanced.
DIET DURING PANCHA KARMA
Generally the diet should be pure, fresh, and organic when possible and easy to digest. The focus should be on cooked vegetables, grains and seeds.
Things to avoid: Meat, dairy, fried foods, sweets, fermented food (cheese, yogurt, tofu & bread), alcohol and caffeine. Cold foods and drinks.
Things to reduce: Salty foods, spicy foods (chilies, onions, garlic) and sour foods (pickles, vinegar, citrus). Also canned food, leftovers, frozen food, microwaved food and raw foods. In general fruit should be minimized.
RECIPES
Kichari is the best meal to insure you get good nourishment. It is easily digested, helps to liquefy the ama (toxins) and calms the mind.
KICHARI
1 cup split mung dal (yellow)
2 cups white basmati rice
1-inch fresh ginger root
1 small handful of cilantro leaves
2 tsp. ghee (clarified butter)
½ tsp. turmeric
½ tsp. coriander powder
½ tsp. cumin powder
½ tsp. whole cumin seeds
½ tsp mustard seeds
¼ tsp mineral salt
1 pinch asafetida (hing) if you have it.
8 cups of water
Vegetables: fennel bulb, carrots, celery, ginger, beets, bell peppers.
Wash the rice and dal together until the water runs clear. Add the eight cups of water and cook the covered rice and dal until it becomes soft. (about 15 mins.) Sauté the mustard seeds, whole cumin seeds, hing, cumin powder, coriander powder and turmeric, together with the ghee, in a separate saucepan and cook for a few minutes. You can add vegetables at this point and cook until they soften. Stir the sautéed spices and vegetables into the mostly cooked rice and dal and cook until done. Add the salt and cilantro before serving.
Both these teas are good for keeping the Agni (digestive fire) strong. (Any herbal teas are O.K. but those with a little spice are good at keeping the agni up. Cinnamon, clove & ginger are particularly good)
GINGER TEA
2 tsp Fresh ginger graded
6 Cloves
1 cinnamon stick broken up
5 pepper corns
2 cups water
Boil for 5 minutes and strain. Add raw honey to taste.
CUMIN, CORIANDER & FENNEL TEA
1 tsp Cumin seeds
1 tsp Coriander seeds
1 tsp Fennel seeds
Boil in 2 cups water for 5 minutes and strain.
OTHER SUGESTIONS: The basic staple should consist of basmati rice; lentils and vegetables, which mean you’ll need to be creative. Also it is very important not to over eat as this will put out your agni and inhibit the cleansing process.
Breakfast: Oatmeal with ghee or honey, other hot grain cereals (rice, wheat, multigrain). Avoid eggs, bread or dry cereals.
Lunch: Cooked vegetables and rice (best to use ghee for cooking oil), lentil soup, vegetable soups, (broth type not creamy), dal and rice (the’ Taste of the Himalayas’ has dal & rice). Avoid sandwiches, Mexican food, and fried foods. Lunch should be your biggest meal of the day.
Dinner: A good time for kichari or soup. Any of the lunch suggestions. Eating light at night is a good overall habit because the digestion is weaker. Try to eat 3 hours before going to sleep.
Snacking: It is best not to eat between meals and allow your food to fully digest. If you become weak it is good to take takra (yogurt and water in equal proportions), ½ cup of plain yogur mixed with a little honey or if you get really hungry raw pumpkin or sunflower seeds. If weakness continues you should take a little meat soup.
Drinks: Plenty of water, the above teas are great, other herbal teas (peppermint, chamomile, cinnamon cardamom, ginger, etc.) No cold drinks, sweet drinks, alcohol or caffeinate.
NOTE: IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE DIGESTION TO BE WORKING WELL DURING THIS TIME SO PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE ONSET OF ANY SYMPTOMS OF WEAKNESS, DIZZINESS, EXCESS THIRST OR ANY GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS (ABDOMINAL PAIN, CONSTIPATION, NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIARRHEA)
