Panchakarma refers to 5 therapies as listed below:

  • Vamana – (therapeutic vomiting for excess Kapha),
  • Virechana – (purgation – strong laxative for excess Pitta and Vata),
  • Basti – (medicated enemas for excess Vata),
  • Nasya – (nasal oil – Head, neck areas, lingering doshas) – improves the flow of prana, opens channels of the head, cleanses nasal tract and sinuses, helps allergic conditions
  • Raktamokshan – (bloodletting – for excess Pitta, periphery diseases) – when excess toxins are carried in the blood to peripheral areas, i.e. skin diseases

Additional therapies such as abhyanga (warm oil body treatment), shirodhara (streaming of warm oil on the forehead), and steams, fasting, exposure to wind/sun, exercise, taking herbs that destroy toxins are treatments that may be used in panchakarma