Panchakarma simplied for you- Part 1- Virechana- An Ayurvedic Detox

Human body needs care and maintenance for sustenance. Panchakarma chikitsa , a systematic detox or cleansing, mentioned in Ayurveda includes

• Vamana- therapeutic emesis
• Virechana- therapeutic purgation
• Vasti- instillation of medication through anal route
• Nasya- transnasal drug administration
• Raktamokshana- varieties of blood letting

Virechana: 

It is a therapeutic procedure where certain medication is administered orally to induce a controlled purgation (loose stools), as a part of cleansing or detoxification of our body.

The medicine and its dosage is always decided by the Ayurvedic Physician according to a person's Body Constitution (Prakriti), the diseases(Roga), the season (Kala), age (Vaya).

 Virechana is usually not advisable for kids (below 8) and elderly (above 70)- Though at physician's discretion certain exceptions can be made

Contraindications (General):

• Kids and infants
• Elderly
• Pregnancy
• Heart Diseas
• Any chronic debilitating disease
• Unwilling/ Unsure people
• Ano-rectal disease like Fistulae, hemorrhoids (piles)
• Insomnia
• Fever

These are some of the main contraindications. 

Pre- requisite for Virechana

1. Snehana:

Before Virechana, sufficient Internal and External Oleation is mandatory.

 The expert doctor decides, which form of Oleation is needed for a cartain individual owing to many factors like the type of disease, patient tolerance, digestive capacity, age, season.

This procedure helps in bringing out the endotoxins or metabolic wastes from a cellular/tissue/organ level, which, if collected inside our body,  can later lead to many illnesses.

It can be inform of 

• Internal snehana - intake of medicated ghee or oils- orally or ano-rectal
• External snehana- abhyanga or a systematic therapeutic massage

2. Swedana: On the previous day of Virechana if your physician deems necessary Abhyanga (oil application or massage) and sauna bath (or atleast hot water bath) is necessary. 

After the expert Physician deems appropriate, the virechana process is conducted.

Don'ts on Virechana day

• Don't sleep after taking Virechana medication
• No regular breakfast or tea/coffee in the morning
• Don't consume any other food product not instructed by the doctor on that day
• Don't take bath after consuming Virechana medication

There are many protocols for performing Virechana. The below described is the Virechana Protocol followed by me (12 years) and our hospital (30+ years). 

Virechana Protocol -  Step by step Procedure.

(***It is to be done under strict evaluation of your Expert Physician)

1. The dinner prior to the day of Virechana must be light food like- Rice gruel or Khichdi or soup with minimum spices.
2. On the day of Virechana, at the predetermined time (usually between 5.30 am to 6.30 am) the appropriate dosage of Virechana medicine should be consumed.
3. After 1.5 - 2 hours the bouts of loose stools (Vegas) will commence.
4. After the semi solid stools are passed, for every bout have 3/4 th to 1 cup (150-200ml) of unboiled warm water in intermidiate sips
5. Make sure to walk around and to not fall asleep to have an unhindered Virechana.
6. After the bouts are less frequent and only when you have intense hunger have 1 glass (200ml) plain warm rice soup without salt. This will help to clean out any reminant bout of purgation.
7. When the next time you feel hungry , have a glass of rice gruel (with more thin water and less rice) with salt. Usually this helps stops the purgation.
8. Refrain from having tea or coffee or any other food substance that day. Rice gruel or Khichdi without spice is the ideal evening meal or dinner.
9. From the next day resume the regular diet prescribed by your doctor.

Restriction on the day of virechana.

* No bath after the purgation

* No travelling 

* No exposure to wind or rain 

* Ideal temperature if using an AC will be 25-27°C

* No other food or beverages

* Sleep early at night

* Take only warm water

General things to note:

It is absolutely normal to have some loose bouts even at evening or even after dinner

It is absolutely normal to not pass bowel on the next day.

If there is any residual headachehave warm sip of water intermittently to avoid dehydration even after the virechana is over. Small sips only.

Simple and effective Ayurvedic remedy for Seasonal/ Allergic Conjunctivitis- itching, redness and watering of eyes

     

   Itching redness and watering from eyes are one of the most common eye problem. It is resilient and often recurres.

There are many remedies prescribed in Ayurveda for these eye issues.
I am sharing one of the most simple yet effective Ayurvedic single drug remedy.





This recipe is effective in:

1. Itching sensation
2. Watering from eyes
3. Redness
4. Pus discharge
5. Pain and burning sensation in eyes

 Dhanyaka phanta

The drug used is Cilantro or corriander seeds - 1 teaspoon

Crush it into half

Tie it in a cotton cloth (pottali) or use an empty tea bag.

Pottali

Use empty tea bag

Boil 150ml water and set aside. Dip the tea bag or pottali into it for 1 hour or till it is cold.

Dip the bag for 1-2 hours

Use this tea/phanta as

1. Eye drops for itching, redness and watering from eye every 2 hourly for 4 to 5 days or  till the symptoms are relieved.

Use sterile bottle

2.  Eye wash with a filler/eye cup if there is pus discharge, every 1 hour till symptoms are relieved.

For eye wash a cup or filler can be used.

* Make sure to use different cups for each eye

** Donot know refrigerate. Prepare fresh tea/phanta daily

*** Make sure the seeds are not chemically treated

Ayurvedic remedies for Recurrent Sneezing And Allergic Rhinitis

Recurrent Sneezing is a common problem faced by many of us. The commonest attack comes at night during sleep, early morning, soon after bath without any prompting. At times it starts with even subtle trigger of smoke, dust or even a certain smell.

Though comparitively it is a less serious health issue when compared to many diseases, it can disturb one's daily life.

Here are some common tips that can help you tackle the problem.

1. Don't take head bath after sunset.

2. Take regular steam with hot water added with Tulsi leaf/ dry Tulsi powder.

3. Use mild warm water for washing face.

4. Don't sleep directly under fan or AC airflow.

5. Dry your hair well before sitting under fan or AC

6. If you sweat, towel dry your head and hair well immediately.

Common remedies that can be easily followed are:

√Apply paste of Tulsi leaf or dry Tulsi powder in warm water on your external nose for 15 minutes daily during the winter or rainy season

Rasnadi choornam ; commonly available as Ayurvedic Medicine and as OTC product can be used in various forms

√ Rasnadi choornam can be used for steam inhalation. Add 2 pinches of the powder into the water before inhalation.

√ 1 teaspoon Rasnadi powder and juice of  half lemon is to be heated in minimum flame for 1 minute and to be applied over external nose in moderate warm form. Wipe it with warm water after 20 minutes.

√ I teaspoon of turmeric powder to be added with 1 glass of warm milk  and is to be taken at bed time.