Panchakarma For Weight Loss And Obesity Management
You must have heard about Panchakarma. As the world embraces concepts such as holistic and wellness, you will hear these more often in terms of various sectors and services. The term wellness, has surpassed all basic definitions, and has also connected with corporates. Now, going back, at least 5,000 years, you will be able to delve deep into the texts of Ayurveda. Ayurveda, Panchakarma actually go hand in hand. Ayurveda is the ‘science of life’, whereas, Panchakarma are the kriyas, which you perform on the basis of the former.
The term ‘Panchakarma’ has come down from the Ayurvedic texts that go beyond the Vedic times. It mainly defines several cleansing, purification, and therapeutic techniques which can cure as well as protect the body. The five procedures, as evident from the name itself can produce results that are best termed as therapeutic. You can engage in the same at the Ayurveda Retreat Rishikesh.
What Is Panchakarma All About?
‘Pancha’ means ‘five’, and ‘Karma’ means ‘activity or action’. So, the realm is about the five practices. No matter what your recurrent health issues are, whether you suffer from headaches, indigestion, excretory issues, obesity, or respiratory issues, Panchakarma can help you. It can also cure your day-to-day body aches and pains. You can undergo Panchakarma to restore the natural balance of the body and mind.
There are five basic procedures, that make up this system of treatment. They are-
- Vamana
- Virechan
- Nasya
- Rakta mokshana
- Basti
These five procedures are performed on the individual, in a specific order. Now, it may so happen, that any individual may not require all together, but just two or three of them in a given timeline.
Panchakarma is included under Shodhana karma, in the ancient Vedic texts. It leads to the cleansing of the body’s channels, that facilitate movement of resources in and out. Moreover, the practice also facilitates the movement of ‘Prana’, when the channels are cleared of all the excretory matter. If you undergo this procedure, the body’s immunity will also likely improve. It is one of the fundamental disease management principles under Ayurveda. Understanding how Panchakarma works, is extremely crucial, before you find out more about Panchakarma for weight loss alone.
If you happen to join the Ayurveda Yoga Teacher Training Rishikesh, you will learn that there are two kinds of toxins in the human body. Some are water soluble, whereas the others are fat-soluble. The water-soluble toxins can be flushed out of the body through the sweat and urine. On the other hand, the Panchakarma treatments use ghee medicated oils to combine with the fat-soluble toxins, and direct them towards the gut. From there these toxins are excreted through the anus or sometimes, by purging. So, Panchakarma helps in cleansing the internal parts of the body, and also prevents and cures several diseases. It can treat obesity and weight gain, extremely well.
Panchakarma For Weight Loss
Weight gain and obesity go hand-in-hand today, as lifestyles have changed. Most people rely on processed foods and fattening drinks. Additionally, living in the fast lane, these have become unavoidable. Excess body fat causes several problems in the human body. There are two kinds of fat, visceral fat and subcutaneous fat, that gathers inside the human body. The former is the fat that surrounds the organs, and the latter is located beneath the skin. If you are overweight, you are inviting a host of other diseases. They include cardiac issues, cholesterol, diabetes, and so on. The excess weight can also cause issues with your bones and joints, with constant pressure.
- Oleation is one of the therapies, which can make life easy for you. It is also called as Snehana. It can be internal oleation and external oleation, as well. The oils and medicated concoctions, which will be used are ascertained by a trained Ayurvedic practitioner. Snehpana is internal oleation, wherein you will be required to ingest medicated ghee early in the morning. This is one of the preparatory steps, which will prepare you for the next step. When you are following the cycle, you will be advised to eat light khichdi and fresh fruits. You may also have boiled vegetables. You will also be asked to avoid the coolers, cold water, and coffee. You may also lose a certain amount of weight, at this stage.
- Massage Therapies – This is the main part of the procedure that will actually loosen up more fat cells. The oil is chosen according to your dosha and massaged on the body. The body is massaged in strokes with optimum pressure. Furthermore, the oil will be warmed for maximum benefits. This massage not only softens the tissues, but also dislodges the toxins from under the skin and organs. The fat cells are mobilized towards the gut and finally the anus. Apart from oil massages, you may also take Udwarthanam. It is a massage which is done with dry powders. These herbal powders are also selected with the dosha in mind, and massaged in a direction, opposite to that of hair growth. The excess cellulite from beneath the skin is released in the process. Additionally, the increased pressure and the action of the herbs in the powders also breakdown the visceral fat, and lead to their expulsion.
- Swedana Therapies are also quite predominant in this realm. In these therapies, you will be made to sweat in a closed chamber. This assists in the better absorption of the medical oils and ghee. It also helps in rejuvenation, apart from melting the body fat. There are several other sub-categories under this practice. Pizhichil is one of them, in which, warm medicated oil is poured along the entire body. It is thereafter followed by massage. Additionally, you can also allow the practitioners to apply potli or Kizhi. It mainly involves fomentation with pouches containing herbs, powders, and other herbal concoctions. For weight reduction, specific herbs are used in the process. These are a few of the Panchakarma therapies, which can help in reducing weight and also helps one lose inches.
