Is Panchakarma painful? What each procedure actually feels like
In brief
For the most part, no. The oil massage, steam and Shirodhara are pleasant, and Basti is not painful. Vamanam and Virechan are uncomfortable rather than painful: nausea and vomiting on one morning, or repeated bowel motions through one day. Nasya stings for a moment, and a leech feels like a pinch. Many people find the hardest parts are drinking medicated ghee and keeping to the diet.
Procedure by procedure
| Procedure | What you feel | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Abhyangam and steam | Warm oil and firm strokes, then sweating in a steam cabinet with your head outside it | Before the main procedures, and on its own |
| Medicated ghee by mouth | A heavy, greasy taste; the appetite drops; some nausea | Several mornings before Vamanam or Virechan |
| Vamanam | Nausea, then vomiting under the doctor’s supervision, and tiredness after | One morning |
| Virechan | Repeated bowel motions through the day, some cramping, then light and a little tired | One day, then a day or two to recover |
| Basti | Unfamiliar the first time, but not painful; an urge to pass it | A few minutes, in a sitting of 1 to 1½ hours, for 8 to 30 days |
| Nasya | A brief sting, the taste of the medicine in the throat, watering eyes | A few minutes a day |
| Leech therapy | A small pinch when the leech attaches, then little; the site may ooze for some hours | One sitting or more |
| Shirodhara | Deeply relaxing; many people fall asleep | 45 minutes |
| Pindswedana | Warm herbal boluses pressed firmly over the body; warm, not scalding | Daily for several days |
| Udvartan | Firm, brisk strokes; the skin feels warm and flushed afterwards | Part of a weight programme |
The parts people find hardest
The ghee. Before Vamanam or Virechan, medicated ghee is taken in the morning on an empty stomach, in a dose that rises each day until the doctor judges it enough. It is heavy, it takes the appetite away, and for some people it is the most unpleasant part of the whole course. Sips of warm water help.
The diet. After Vamanam or Virechan, food comes back in steps: thin rice gruel, then thicker gruel and moong soup, then ordinary meals. It is plain and you will be hungry for flavour, but the graded diet is part of the treatment, and breaking it is the commonest way to undo the benefit.
The tiredness. Most people feel light and a little tired for a day or two after Virechan, and after Vamanam they need the rest of the day.
The routine. A Basti course works as a whole, so it means coming at the same time each day for 8 to 30 days, eating light and avoiding long travel while it runs.
What is not normal
Tell the doctor straight away if you have:
- Fainting, or dizziness that does not pass when you lie down
- Severe or worsening pain in the abdomen
- Blood in vomit or in the stool
- Palpitations or chest pain
- A very dry mouth and little urine, which are signs of dehydration
Making it easier
- Keep the day of Vamanam or Virechan free, and the next day light.
- Tell the doctor every medicine you take, and do not stop any on your own.
- Tell the doctor your period dates when the course is planned.
- Wear clothes you do not mind getting oil on, and keep your head covered and out of cold wind after Shirodhara or Nasya.
- Ask before you start which days need you to stay home. The doctor would rather plan around your week than have you rush back to work.
The cleansing procedures are not given during pregnancy, to young children or the very elderly, or to anyone who is weak or unwell with a fever. A healthy person does not need every procedure: the doctor advises only what is indicated.
Questions patients ask
Is Panchakarma safe?
It is safe when the person is chosen correctly, prepared properly and supervised by a doctor trained in Panchakarma. It is not suitable for everyone, which is why every course starts with a consultation.
Can Panchakarma be done during periods?
The main procedures are usually not given during a period. Tell the doctor your dates when the course is planned so the procedure days can be set around them.
How many days does Panchakarma take?
A standard rejuvenation course runs 21 to 35 days, and a course planned wholly around one person about three months. A Basti course on its own runs 8 to 30 days.
Will I need time off work?
Keep the day of Vamanam or Virechan free and take the next day lightly. Most other sittings, and the preparation, can be fitted around work.
Does Panchakarma have side effects?
Tiredness for a day or two after Vamanam or Virechan is expected, and so is loss of appetite while taking the ghee. Serious problems are uncommon when the course is supervised, but tell the doctor at once if anything on the list of warning signs happens.
At the clinic
-
Vamanam
Therapeutic emesis for kapha complaints: chronic urticaria, migraine, scalp psoriasis.
Classically in spring -
Virechan
Purgation therapy for hyperacidity, skin disease and obesity; best in October and November.
Best in October and November -
Basti
Medicated enema for the joints, back and bones, in a course of 8 to 30 days.
8 to 30 days -
Nasya
Medicine through the nose for chronic rhinitis, cervical spondylosis and weakening eyesight.
Above the neck -
Raktamokshan
Bloodletting by fine incision or leech application, for skin disease and eczema.
Incision or leeches -
Shirodhara
Warm medicated oil poured over the forehead for 45 minutes, for calm, sleep and hair.
45 minutes a day
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