Panchakarma || The Ayurvedic Treatment You May Need
If you are feeling tired for no obvious reason even after you have given yourself a good amount of rest as your doctor suggested, you are not alone.
In such cases, alternative medicine is always a good idea, as if they didn’t give you the relief you’re seeking, they won’t hurt. One of the most popular treatments to try is the Ayurvedic treatment: Panchakarma.
Before we delve deep into this routine and its benefits it is worth mentioning that it is one of the favorite treatments for the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Kourtney Kardashian. So what is it, how is it done and how does it help?
What Is Panchakarma?
Described as ‘the mother of all detoxes’, Ayurvedic Panchakarma is a five-step detox routine for the body, mind, and consciousness. These procedures are designed to balance and harmony to the body and mind and remove toxins from the body, taking place over anywhere from three to 30 days.
How Is It Done?
Panchakarma is not the easiest experience, that said it is important that the treatment is done under the direction and guidance of a highly trained expert.
The five therapies of Panchakarma are Nasya, which involves pouring ghee and smoke into your nostrils to clear the sinuses and chest. Vamana is the second step, where you drink medicated milk and then vomit it out to cleanse the stomach. The third step is Virechana, where you take laxative medicine to clear the liver and intestines. Basti, the fourth step, involves medicated enemas to clear the colon, and the fifth and final step is Raktamokshana, which uses leeches to remove toxic blood.
Things You Need To Know Before Undergoing Panchakarma
As mentioned above, the experience isn’t easy and therefore you need to be prepared for it. Here is what you need to do:
1 || Take clothes you’ll never wear again: During the Panchakarma journey (which takes three weeks on average), you’ll get at least one oil massage per day, and you are not advised to wash this oil off as it is considered medicine. This leaves you with a strange Ayurvedic odor that will cling to your clothes forever. So it is better to choose certain pieces for this reason, and maybe keep them in case you liked the experience and want to redo it.
2 || Free up your schedule: You’ll be sleepy and out of energy almost all the time. So it is better if you clear your schedule to fully live the experience.
3 || Digital detox: You can’t call it a detox experience if you are still attached to your phone. Replace the time you spend on your phone with energy-clearing activities like reading a book, walking in nature, or meditating.
4 || Try silence: Skip long conversations for now and reap the benefits of silence for some time. Believe us it is so enlightening.
5 || Rest before you get back on track: Rest for at least 3-4 days before jumping in again into your regular life. Your body will need it. Drink a lot of water and fuel your body with nourishing foods. Also, you’ll need to skip exercise for at least two weeks unless it is a very light routine.
What To Expect?
Your energy levels, skin, hair, and mental and emotional health will be at their peak. You’ll want to enjoy this experience every year as you’ll feel reborn and restored like never before.
