Ayurveda Panchakarma.

To remove aggravated doshas and ama (toxins), Ayurveda suggests panchakarma. Pancha means five, and karma means action. The five actions associated with panchakarma are therapeutic vomiting, purgatives or laxatives, medicated enemas, nasal administration of medication, and purification of the blood. Panchakarma is indicated as a therapy only in cases in which the patient has sufficient strength and health to tolerate the removal of excess doshas and toxins. Even then, it should only be administered by trained personnel under the supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic physician.

Before the actual operation of purification begins, the body must be prepared to release the toxins. The two preparatory procedures are snehana (oil massage) and swedana (sweat therapy). With snehana, oil is applied to the entire body with a particular type of massage. This procedure helps the toxins to move from the deep tissues to the gastrointestinal tract.

Oil massage also makes the superficial and deep tissues soft and supple, thus helping to remove stress and to nourish the nervous system. Snehana is given daily for three to seven days. Swedana, sweating, is given every day immediately following the snehana. An herbal concoction may be added to the steam to further loosen the toxins. After three to seven days of snehana and swedana, the doshas become well ripened. A particular panchakarma method is then given according to the individual's constitution and disorder.