What is Pancha Karma?

According to Ayurveda, all disease is linked to the accumulation of ama or toxicity in the body.  Pancha Karma, an ancient practice of purification and rejuvenation, reverses the disease mechanisms which carry toxic waste products from the digestive system into the other tissues of the body.  The name Pancha Karma comes from two Sanskrit words: panch, meaning “five” and karma, meaning “action”.  The core treatment of Pancha Karma therefore incorporates the five primary actions which Ayurveda uses to purify the body of everything foreign to it, including toxins and an excess of the five elements – air, ether, fire, water and earth.

The process can be broken down into three main parts:

1) Purvakarma: the preparatory phase that involves internal oleation and supporting the body and mind through body therapies that are designed to loosen toxins.

2) Panchakarma: the cleansing stage that is customized according to each individual.  This typically involves some combination of purgation of toxins and purification of the senses.

3) Rasayana: the nourishing rejuvenative stage that brings vitality back to the person as they slowly and gradually restore the digestive fire and build quality tissues free of excess dosha and ama (toxins).

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