Panchakarma: The Amazing Results of two weeks at an Ayurveda Retreat
A frequent discussion that I have with my mother concerns whether our bodies have the power to heal themselves of any illness. When we speak on the subject, she remarks that the most important factor is a healthy immune system. Improper diet, according to my physician mother, and a lack of exercise, can lead us into an unhealthy state.
Inside your body is a wonderful pharmacy. You name it the human body can make it-tranquilizers, sleeping pills, anticancer drugs, the right dosage at the right time for the right organ with no side effects. And all the instructions you need come with packaging which is your innate intelligence.
Deepak Chopra, Quantum Healing
What is Panchakarma?
Panchakarma is an Ayurvedic treatment method which specialises in intensive waste elimination from the body at a cellular level. The stages of Panchakarma are similar to cleaning a vessel. For cleaning to be effective, toxins/sticky waste must be dissolved and removed from the body. Accumulated metabolic waste, called “Aama,” is the root cause of all known diseases.
If I think about it, it was probably, Deepak Chopra’s discussions on quantum healing that convinced me to try Panchakarma at an Ayurvedic hospital. The retreat took place in my home state of Kerala, so after some research and conversations with a few friends who tried the treatment recently, I zeroed in on Sitaram.
It’s important to understand that a Panchakarma treatment is not as simple as going for a Thai massage. This is a complex process. Before I got there, I thought I would be able to keep working alongside my treatments–and I was very wrong. Treatment is intense, and it doesn’t leave you with much energy to spare.
The doctors at Sitaram are also extremely strict about diet, so your daily routines have no place here. No tea, coffee or snacking is allowed, and patients get three meals every day with controlled portion sizes. Fortunately, there’s a sumptuous breakfast to break the tedium and motivate you to begin every day refreshed. In the mornings, patients find fruit, juice and a savoury pancake, such as a dosa, and chutney. Dinner can be a little rougher, if you are a lifelong rice eater like me, since doctors prefer to feed patients millet pulao.
Detoxification Treatments
There are primarily five detoxification treatments involved in the Panchakarma process to remove accumulated toxins and mucus from the body.
Nasya: Nasal cleaning removes mucus above the shoulder level of the body
Vamanam: Therapeutic vomiting clears toxins from the chest and the upper part of the body.
Virechana: Purgation cleans the intestines.
Matra/Kashaya Vasti: A medicated enema with oil/decoction. The two types of enemas clean the large intestines.
Raktamokshana: Bloodletting removes Aama from the blood.
Benefits of Panchakarma
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Activate Inner Healing Powers
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Attain Optimal and Sustainable Natural Immunity by Leveraging Organic Resources
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Access the Secrets of Longevity by Eliminating Waste and Possibly Reducing Cell Decay
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Prevent Modern Day Decay
My Healing Journey
What strikes you first at the Sitaram Beach Retreat is definitely the beauty of the entire setting. It’s a beach-facing retreat filled with coconut trees, butterflies, flowering plants and fruit trees.
Treatments start from day one, after consultation with Ayurveda doctors. Dr Jobin and Dr Shilpa were the doctors assigned for us. Based on their conditions, most patients are advised to undergo one or two cleansing procedures.
The first few days are what they call the preparatory phase. I was given treatments like Abhyangam, to massage the entire body with oil. It relaxes the body, mind, and cures dryness of skin.
Swedhana is another treatment, this one undergone to induce sweating. It involves a steam bath and Kizhi; the latter is a process of stamping, rubbing and massaging the body with hot pitches made of medicinal powders, leaves and other ingredients.
Prior to the beginning of the main cleansing, I was also given Snehapanam (ghee therapy). Like a detergent, ghee is used for dissolving the glue in the body. There are primarily five detoxification treatments to remove accumulated toxins and mucus from the body. Medicated ghee will be given to the patient in fixed doses until the body is saturated with fat. It is a preparatory therapy for the main Panchakarma procedure, which enhances the treatments, namely Vamanam (therapeutic emesis) and Virechanam (therapeutic purgation).
According to doctors, these processes help to bring toxins from all micro-channels of the body to the gut. This helps with the easy elimination of toxins and reduces internal dryness, which is one of the root cause of many illnesses. The cleansing procedures are intense and one feels light and tired after these treatments.
Fortunately, the cleansing is followed by rejuvenation treatments. These nourish the skin and enhance blood circulation, reducing weakness and strengthening muscles. Food is also an integral part of the treatment in Ayurveda, as it is considered the primary form of medicine.
Eating appropriate food on a daily basis reduces the need for pharmaceutical medications, which is why the retreat’s restaurant serves slow-food vegetarian meals. The ingredients found in the kitchen here are sourced locally and free of refined flour, sugar, additives and preservatives. I was prescribed the Aama Rachana Aahara (APA) diet, which helps in improving digestion and reducing inflammation. The diet included fruits, vegetables, millets, soups, dosas and salads.
This is my second week after Panchakarma, and I haven’t got a migraine yet. That’s a big win! It is extremely humid in Mumbai this monsoon season, and I did develop sinusitis during the first few days after coming back from Kerala…but not a migraine. I still have medicine for one more month, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I won’t suffer from any more migraines in the future.
Ayurveda treatment is definitely not cheap, but if you have chronic illnesses like migraine, it could be the change you need to stop popping pills every day. I think it’s that mentality that sees the retreat receiving patients from countries like Germany, Switzerland and Russia. One of the friends I made at the hospital was a lawyer called Yutah, from Germany.
“ I really needed a break from my hectic life as a lawyer. At some point in life you need to give priority to health. And this is literally paradise on earth,” she told me. Probably, that’s what Panchakarma means: taking time out from our busy schedule to take care of the body. All too often, one realises the significance of personal care only when it’s too late.
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