Treatments offered:

Abhyangam. –It´s one of the main tools of Ayurveda medicine and the matrix of all massages. It is a mode in which full body massage with herbal oils is made, tailored to the specific constitution of each person. It has the ability to detoxify, nourish, regenerate and revitalize tissues and organs. Abhyangam has much deeper and far-reaching effects than ordinary massage in which mineral oils and lotions are used. Abhyangam gets deep harmonization for its ability to tune the body, mind and energy. This massage typically is given by one or two therapists for about an hour, and is followed by a bath of herbs or steam. It is one of the rejuvenating treatments of Ayurveda.

Benefits: increases and strengthens the body tissues, improves blood circulation, has rejuvenating action, removes cellulite and beautifies the skin, reduces wrinkles, helps to sleep, promotes vitality, reduces stress and generally all imbalances caused by Vata and facilitates the removal, among other capabilities.

Shirodhara. – This treatment is based on pouring in the front a warm fluid such as medicated oil, butter milk, milk and even water for a time ranging from 30 to 45 minutes depending on the characteristics of the person. This procedure induces complete relaxation and rejuvenate mentally and physically. Produces a deep rejuvenation of the central nervous system.

Benefits: it is useful for disorders such as anxiety, depression, epilepsy, hypertension, diabetic neuropathy, imbalance in the central nervous system, hemiplegia, paraplegia, favors the sensory organs and all the nerve centers, facial paralysis, hair loss and premature graying, disorders of the eyes, ears and nose, excess of heat.

Netra Tarpana. – It´s a treatment in which the eyes are bathed with medicated ghee (clarified butter) for about 15 minutes.

Benefits: relieves tension caused by the continued use of the computer or television, refractive errors of the eye, conjunctivitis, chronic ulcer of cornea, dry eye, ocular disorders caused by the aggravation of vata or pitta, glaucoma, prevents cataract formation, reduces pain and burning, etc.

Swedana. – The treatment is performed by applying medicinal steam, helping to release toxins and doshas attached to the tissue. It is very effective when performed after Abhyangam massage.

Benefits: reduces body pain, eliminates toxins, reduces stiffness, promotes lightness, beautifies the skin and helps dissolve cellulite.

Navarakizhi or Pinda swedana. – Two therapists massage the whole body with sachets containing rice cooked in milk and herbs.

Benefits: it is very effective as anti-wrinkle and anti-aging treatment, revitalizes and strengthens the tissues, reduces body pain, acts against osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, rejuvenates, slims.

Kayasekan. – Warm oil is poured continuously all over the body, while several therapists massage synchronously for about 40 minutes.

Benefits: it helps to eliminate toxins, promoting better oxygenation of cells and therefore, rejuvenation and revitalization of organs and tissues. It is used as stand-alone therapy, or in addition to detoxification techniques called Panchakarma.

Udvartana. – Reducing massage in which herbal powders and spices are used. It is a deep and intense massage that allows the dissolution of accumulations of dead tissue, drainage of liquids and toxins accumulated in the body channels.

Benefits: it helps to eliminate cellulite and toxins from kapha nature, acts as a reducing weight and volume, promotes blood circulation and thus oxygenation of tissues toning the skin and muscles, and improves complexion or appearance.

Panchakarma. – When the patients are prepared through massages, internal oleation and sauna, specifically dedicated to the evacuation outside the body of the doshas and accumulated toxins in the digestive tract, the next treatments are given:
Virechana. Purging the residues responsible for Pitta (bile) disorders and Kapha type (mucus), accumulated in the small intestine and stomach.

Basti. Evacuation of clusters, responsible for ailments Vata type, located in the colon.

Nasya. Cleaning sinuses and application of oils for the treatment of doshas accumulated in the cranial cavity.

Introduction to Panchakarma

Ayurveda emphasizes preventative through various methods of purification and rejuvenation therapies. Ayurveda is more than just a means of healing; is a science and an art of living, which helps to maintain the well-being over time. You can help the individual to make appropriate in everything related to dietary choices, lifestyle and exercise needed to maintain mental and physical balance, awareness, preventing disease and maintaining body health.

According to Ayurveda each individual is a unique phenomenon of cosmic wisdom, manifested through the five basic elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth. Vata a combination of ether and air, pitta a combination of water and fire, and Kapha a combination of earth and water, are the doshas. They are the three humors or the three basic types of organization to the constitution of the body; at the same time are derived from the wisdom of being. Each individual psychosomatic constitution or temperament is determined by the proportion involved in each of these three humors in the moment of conception. Therefore, it is in the time of embryo formation when the individual constitution is defined. According to Ayurveda, there are seven basic constitutions, defined by the predominance of one or more doshas. These are: vata, pitta, kapha, vata-pitta, Pitta-Kapha, Vata-Kapha, and Vata-Pitta-Kapha (rarer). Every individual constitution has a Vata, Pitta, Kapha balance by nature. When this balance is altered by various interferences, changes occur. The balance, the order and the health are replaced by alteration, disorder and disease. Inside the body there is a constant interaction between order and disorder, and you need to know the nature and structure of disorder to achieve to find a way to restore order. According to Ayurveda, the order is received within the disorder.

The equilibrium coincides with the condition of health. This state exists when the digestive fire (agni) is at equilibrium when the three bodily humors (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) are balanced, the three waste products (sweat, urine and feces) are produced and eliminated so regular, seven bodily tissues (rasa, rakta, mansa, meda, asthi, majja and shukra) fulfill their functions in a normal way, and mind, senses and consciousness work together in a harmonious way. When the internal balance of these systems is altered, comes the process of disease (disorder).

The internal environment of the body is governed by the joint action of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which constantly react to stimuli coming from the outside. Improper diet, bad habits and lifestyle, incompatible food combinations (yogurt and meat, milk and fish, cooked honey), change of seasons, repressed emotions and stress may act individually or jointly and alter the balance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Depending on the nature of the cause acting from the outside, the dosha may experience an alteration or mutation affecting Agni (digestive fire) determinant in the formation of toxins (ama). These toxins enter the bloodstream spreading throughout the body occluding body channels. Retention of toxins in the blood causes poisoning. This accumulated toxicity once established, slowly nick Prana (vital energy), Tejas (cellular metabolic energy) and Ojas (immune strength), determining the onset of the disease. Ama is the internal cause in which they arise most diseases, and is due to alteration of the doshas.

This is the key to disease prevention: helping the body to eliminate toxins. To retain the production of aama, Ayurveda advised to follow a proper diet, a righteous way of life, exercise and purification by practices such as Panchakarma, consisting of a series of techniques that generically are called Shodana, which are distinguished from other softer treatments called shamana.

Purvakarma: pre-purification steps.

Before starting the purification process itself, for been truly effective it is necessary to prepare the body for cleaning the toxins. For that snehana and swedana are practiced. The first is oil massage applied on the whole body as a particular technique that stimulates the movement of toxins and corrupt doshas into the digestive tract. The oil massage makes the body tissues become soft and elastic, thereby reducing stress and invigorating the nervous system. Swedana is a technique that promotes perspiration, and that must be practiced after snehana. It favors the movement of toxins to the gastrointestinal tract and subsequent elimination. At this point in the process, the doshas are “mature”, and it proceed to start the practice of Panchakarma, whose form varies depending on the individual constitution (Prakruti) or state of disequilibrium (vikruti).

Five shodana or purification methods

The five purification methods practiced during Panchakarma are: Vamana (emesis or therapeutic vomiting), Virechana (purge), basti (enemas), Nasya (elimination of toxins nasally) and Raktamoksha (blood purification).

Lifestyle and diet: the keys welfare.

During each phase of Panchakarma, Ayurveda recommends a regimen of life and some directives in the dietary field.

During treatment it is often advised to rest and avoid intense physical activity, refrain from sexual practice, go to bed early, avoid hearing loud music or watching television, avoiding any experience that stimulates the senses. You are advised to stay dressed as a way to maintain body heat, and stay protected from drafts. Also, focus on the own thoughts and feelings over the course of the different practices of purification.

It is recommended a diet of kitchari (mixture of rice and lentils) and ghee, and a minimization of meals and cold drinks, cheese, caffeine, sugar, avoiding the use of drugs, snuff and alcohol. All these substances should be avoided in the days following the end of Panchakarma. The reason for these restrictions is that during the purifications digestive fire remains weak and these substances could extinguish further. In other way, when the doshas are accumulated in the gastrointestinal tract a reduction of digestive enzymes occurs. Kitchari provides adequate nutrition, is easily digested, supports all body tissues, is excellent for cells and helps in the detoxification and purification. Basmati rice and lentils (dal) are sweet and refreshing and have the effect of balancing tridosha.

The Panchakarma is a practice that produces extraordinary results, but requires the guidance of a specialist well prepared in the field of Ayurveda. The practice of Panchakarma should be regulated according to the unique physical and mental constitution of each person, so that the therapist should proceed proactively through a complete observation of the subject.