Ayurveda Bhawan

Pancha in Sanskrit stands for Five and Karma are the therapeutic measures, there fore Panchakarma means five types of therapeutic measures. These are undertaken for the purification of the body and Ayurveda considers it necessary before the start of any other therapy. The logic being that as a cloth needs to be purified or cleaned of impurities and dust before it can be permeated with a new colour, similarly the body needs to be purified before it can be permeated with new colours of youthfulness, health and vigour etc. Actually, most of the time, Panchakarma is an end in itself rather than a prelude to other therapeutic measures.

The Panchakarma therapy of Ayurveda is comprised of five basic types of advanced treatment for the evacuation of vitiated Dosha (toxic materials) from the body. One can consider this as a body detox program. There are many subtypes of this therapy, including different types of herbal massages, fomentations for example with steam, external oil treatments, Basti (medicated enemas), Virechana (purgation through herbs), Vamana (emesis through herbs), Nasya (nasal administration of oils) etc. These practices are extremely helpful in relieving deep seated diseases as well as being beneficial for maintaining and improving physical and mental health.

Vaidyas (Traditional Medicine’s Doctors) at Ayurveda Bhavan: Any serious application of Ayurveda must start with a proper diagnosis of the state of the three doshas. Our experienced Vaidyas use the unique tool of Nādī-Vigyān - the science of Ayurvedic Pulse Reading. By taking the pulse they are able to detect imbalances in the physiology even before they develop into a disease. On the basis of the pulse diagnosis and other diagnostic measures, the Vaidyas will prescribe the most suitable and effective treatment plan.

We at Ayurveda Bhavan offer personal attention to each and every guests hence individual counselling sessions enable the guests and Vaidyas’ to understand each other and provide them with proper counselling about their health, guiding the guests about following a healthy routine which starts from day one at Ayurveda Bhavan. The Vaidyas recommend the daily routine which comprises yoga & exercises, proper dietary intake, medicines if required in addition to panchkarma.

The perfect combination of diet according to the doshas, Yoga & exercises, medicines, meditation and proper sleep leads to a healthy body and healthy mind which transforms the whole being into a more positive and energetic person.

Our Indian doctors (Vaidyas) are well-educated and experienced physicians. They have received their education at the best universities of India. Additionally, they have been specially trained in Ayurvedic Panchakarma treatments in the best institutions of Kerala. And most importantly, they have long experience of working in the field of Maharishi Ayurveda. They have travelled around the world and are experienced in working with people from different countries.

Our Panchakarma technicians are well-trained in Ayurveda and devoted to their practice. They have treated thousands of patients from all over the world.

Our management and guest relation team is under the leadership and training by experts from India and other countries. We will ensure that you gain most from your stay in India. If you wish, and your treatment schedule allows, you will get also the opportunity to discover the serene beauty of the Himalayas, and dive into the spiritual atmosphere of the unique world of Rishikesh in India–the Land of the Ved.

Purvakarma: Pre-purification measures for Panchakarma: Before the actual operation of purification begins, there is a need to prepare the body in prescribed methods to encourage the release of toxins. The two procedures are Snehana and Swedana.

Snehana, saturates the body with Herbal and Medicated oils. The saturation takes two forms: BahyaSnehana or External Oleation, where medicated oils are vigorously massaged into the body; and AbhyantarSnehana or Internal Oleation, where medicated oils are ingested. Snehana uses four types of oleaginous substances: vegetable oils (taila) and clarified butter (ghee).

Swedana is sweating and is given every day immediately following the Snehana. An herbal concoction may be added to the steam to further loosen the toxins from the individual. Swedana liquefies the toxins and increases the movement of toxins into the gastro-intestinal tract.

Abhyanga: Synchronized soft full-body massage in the direction of body hair by two ayurveda technicians

Vishesh: Special massage technique with herbal oil applied with more pressure by two technicians

Udvarthana: Special massage against the direction of body hair, with herbaloil, paste, or powder, for enlivening metabolism

Nasya: Nasal administration of herbalized oil; bene-ficial for problems with sinusitis and nasal cavities, etc.

NetraTarpana: Eyes treatment with herbal Ghee for relaxation and improvement of vision

Shirodhara: Pouringherbalised oil on the forehead for deep relaxation

Shirobasti: Keepingherbal oil on the head, improving the quality of hair, sleep, and eyes

Svedana: Heat treatment (fomentation) to open the body channels for the elimination of Ama

MatraBasti: Soft enema with calming and nourishing effect. It dilutes Ama

ShodhanaBasti: Soft enema with purifying effect, eliminating Ama

Pizzhichilli: Royal treatment with pouring herbaloil on the whole body for relaxation and removal of VataDosha

PindaSveda: Heat treatment with special rice (Sathi) for energizing of body and pacifying Vata

Patrapotali: Heat treatment with herbal leafs for pacifying Vata

HridBasti: Treatment with herbal oil on the area of the heart. Suitable to pacify Pitta andVata, and for heart protection

Kati Basti: Treatment with herbal oil on the lower back (Sacrum area) for pacifying Vata

Samsanjankram (dietetic measures to restore Agni, the digestive fire)

Shaman kram (measures for calming body and mind)

Rasayanakram (promotion of vitality and immunity with special ayurvedic preparations)

	Vata   AKASHA (Space) + VAYU (Air) Pitta   TEJAS (Fire) + JALA (Water) Kapha   JALA (Water) + PRITHVI (Earth)

Vata, composed of air and space,governs all movement in the mind and body and must be kept in good balance. Too much Vata leads to worries, insomnia, cramps and constipation. It controls blood flow, elimination of wastes, breathing and the movement of thoughts across the mind. It is also responsible for the activation of the nervous system, hearing and speech; and expresses as enthusiasm and creativity. Vata also controls the other two principles, Pitta and Kapha, and is usually the first cause of disease. Another word for Vata is Vayu - it is the more traditional Sanskrit word for air.

Vata is divided into five types depending upon the site and specificity of its action.These are:

• 1.  Prana - the main location in the head and controls the five senses
• 2.  Udana - it is located in the chest region and controls speech and intellect
• 3.  Vyana – it is situated in heart and controls all the voluntary body movements
• 4.  it is located in the digestive tract and controls digestion
• 5.  Apana - it is located in the anal region and controls the expulsion of semen, menstrual blood, excreta and foetus.

At metaphysical level, it promotes the mental balance and comprehension.

Pitta is said to be composed of fire and water; it governs all heat, metabolism and transformation in the mind and body. It controls how we digest food, how we metabolize our sensory perceptions, and how we discriminate between right and wrong. Pitta must be kept in balance, too. Too much it can lead to anger, criticism, ulcers, rashes and thinning hair. A balanced Pitta mind makes one a good leader with a warm personality.

It is divided in five types:

• 1.  Pachak – it is located in the duodenum with the major function being the digestion of food
• 2.  Ranjak – it is located in the stomach and forms blood or Rakta
• 3.  Sadhak – it is located in the heart and controls the proficiencies of the mind such as intellect,
• 4.  Aalochak – it is situated in the eyes that provides vision
• 5.  Bhrajak – it is located in the skin that imparts pigment to skin.

Metaphysically, it rules our ability to perceive ideas and impressions and supposedly stimulates the intellect.

Kapha is composed of water and earth elements. It cements the elements in the body, providing the material for physical structure and maintains the body resistance by lubricating the joints; providing moisture to the skin, helping to heal the wounds, filling the spaces in the body; giving the biological strength, vigor and stability, supporting memory retention and giving the energy to the heart and lungs. It maintains immunity.

Kapha is also responsible for emotions of attachment, greed and long-standing envy; it is also expressed in tendencies toward calmness, forgiveness and love. Too much Kapha leads to lethargy and weight gain, as well as congestion and allergies.

The five types are:

• 1.   Avalambak – it is located in the chest and serves as lubricant for throat and heart
• 2.   Kledak - it is located in the stomach and assimilates food
• 3.   Tarpak – it is located in the head and controls intelligence
• 4.   Shleshak – it is present in all the joints and serves as lubricator
• 5.   Bodhak - it is located in the tongue and perceives taste.

At a metaphysical level, it governs emotions including love, compassion, forgiveness, loyalty and patience.

In all, the three doshas govern all the strategic activities of our lives:

•   Catabolism(Vata)
•   Metabolism (Pitta)
•   Anabolism (Kapha)

With excess of Vatadosha, we have a breakdown of the body’s natural defences. Improper increase in Kaphadosha results in abnormal growth, weight gain and unnatural ability to repair tissues and organs while excess Pitta dosha may result in abnormal heat production and disturbing metabolism.

The doshas pervade the entire being encompassing the body, emotions and mind and determine according to their relative proportions, the constitutional type of the individual. Interestingly enough, individuals from each ‘type’ differ from one another in their capacity for immunity from disease, their emotional responses to a given environment, and even their mental characteristics.