Panchakarma – “Pancha” means five and “karma” means treatment is done to detoxify the body according to Ayurveda The five procedures are claimed to eliminate the vitiated Doshas from the body. They are Vamana(Emesis) Virechana(Purgation), Niroohavasti (Decoction enema), Nasya (Instillation of medicine through nostrils), andAnuvasanavasti (Oil enema) Nirooha, Anuvasana and Uttaravasthi form the basic types of Vasti. The term Panchasodhana includes Vamana, Virechana, Nasya, Nirooha, and Rakthamoksha(Blood letting)
Pre Panchakarma procedures
It is important to prepare the body before carrying out these Pancahkarmas. The following process is followed before carrying out the Panchakarma procedure
Snehana: Snehana means Oleation or to make smooth. (मार्दव)
Swedana: This procedure is very important to liquefy the vitiated Doshas inside the body (which are already made soft by oleation / स्नेहन procedure), later to be brought to Koshtha (कोष्ठ), which will be eliminated by inducing either Vamana / Virechana.