Preventive healthcare, or broadly preventive medicine refers to all the measures a human body can take against the onset of diseases, thereby preventing them. Starting with regular health check-ups, even when one is healthy, preventive healthcare has come to be the strongest line of defense against chronic diseases and death from these diseases. Ayurveda prescribes Panchakarma Therapy as the best measure that ensures a healthy body and a healthy mind. It primarily purifies the body from toxic waste that have settled in the body due to wrong life styles prevailing in the modern world. Panchkarma comprises five distinct therapeutic procedures. Each procedure has an importance in our body. That is why utmost care is exercised at Itoozhi Nursing Home while performing Panchakarma on patients, be it for preventive healthcare as an objective or part of a prescribed treatment regimen for a health condition. Patients leave our nursing home after Panchakarma with an improved vigour and resume their normal activities with total confidence.
The five different procedures in Panchakarma treatment are:
Snehavasthi – Medicated oil is used for enema,very effective for back pain due to variety of reasons.
Panchakarma being a complex process in itself, to get best out of this treatment, Ayurveda prescribes few preparatory treatments. Snehapanam and Swedana m are two such preparatory treatments. While Snehapanam is an internal treatment by taking medicated oils and ghee. Swedam is the external massage of the body by hot cloth bundles, medicated warm oil bath, steam bath, medicated hot water bath etc. this also treats peptic duodenal ulcers, skin problems and degenerative diseases. Abhyangam is another effective method which involves a combination of specially prepared Ayurvedic herbal oils and applied all over the body. This prevents early aging and relieves muscular aches and pain.
The Concept of Kizhi in Panchakarma
In this treatment the whole body is made to perspire by the external application of medicated packs in the form of boluses tied in cloth bags. The packs are made up of rice ( Njavarakizhi ) or herbal powder ( Choorna Kizhi ) or herbal leaves ( Elakizhi ) the treatment is useful in musculo-skeletal disorders, degenerative conditions and neurological problems.
Dhara in Panchakarma
The two principal methods are Shirodhara and Thakaradhara. In Shirodhara treatment, medicated fluids-oils, milk or buttermilk are poured on the forehead in a special way. The most common method is used with medicated oils. The treatments start with oil application on head and body. In Thakradhara, medicated buttermilk is poured on the forehead. The treatments start with oil application on head and body. Then a cloth piece is tied around the patients’ forehead to protect oil from dripping to the eyes.
Snehapaana in Panchakrama
Snehapaana means drinking the sneha or the unctuous material like ghee (clarified butter), sesame oil or marrow. However ghee (clarified butter) is most commonly used. This is the first step in the preparation of the person for an intensive cleansing of the system by vamana (inducing vomiting) or virechana (inducing purgation) procedures an dhelps in destabilizing the doshas (causative factors for diseases) pathologically accumulated.
The concept of Pichu in Panchakarma
Pichu is an external oil application, superior to abhyanga in potency. Pichu is done only to the affected parts, like head, low back etc. It is done as a major treatment and a simplified version of it is done along with other oil treatments like abhyanga.
Pizhichil (Kayasekam) in Panchakarma
During this treatment, the patient is laid in a tub specially made form the wood of trees known for its medicinal values. Slow stream of warm medicated oil is applied all over the body along with ayurvedic massages. Pizhichil is known to be one of the best treatments for rheumatic and neurological ailments.
Sirovasti in Panchakarma
The treatment consists of keeping the prescribed medicated oil at a bearable temperature in a leather cap fitted around the head of the patient. The oil is filled in the cap up to a level of one finger above the crown of the head.
