Ayurveda has been practiced in the U.S. for only about 30 years, yet it is a 5,000 year old Indian system of medicine and yoga’s sister science. Readers are invited to submit questions for “Ayurveda Q & A” to ayurveda@layogamagazine.com
Q: I’ve seen recommendations for panchakarma. How do I know if I should go somewhere for panachakarma? How do I choose a practitioner or a place to go? Are there some things I should be concerned about when considering panchakarma?
A: Strictly speaking, panchakarma in Ayurveda refers to the five modes of detoxification that reduce excess doshas (energetic qualities of vata: air and ether/space; pitta: fire and water; and kapha: water and earth). In Sanskrit, pancha means five and karma are actions. Panchakarma is useful in both promotion of health and longevity, as well as management of diseases.
According to the Charaka Samhita, one of the ancient written texts of Ayurveda, the five purification processes refer to: nasya (nasal therapy for prevention and management of head and neck diseases), vamana (emesis for prevention and management of kapha: water and earth diseases), virechana (purging for prevention and management of pitta: fire and water diseases) and two kinds of basti (therapeutic enema for prevention and management of vata diseases).
Proper preparation for and rejuvenation after a personalized regimen of these cleansing practices are important. In a broad sense, panchakarma includes all the rejuvenation therapies indicated in Ayurveda. There are about 26 different varieties of these. Abhyanga (herbal oil massage), sweda (sweating or sudation therapy) and shirodhara (flow of warm oil on the third eye) are the most popular.
The more serious five detoxification procedures need to be set up by a fully trained Ayurvedic Vaidya (physician), whereas the rejuvenation therapies should be administered by a skilled certified practitioner.
Rejuvenation panchakarmas have profound impact on body, mind and spirit. Whenever you experience discomfort in your whole body or in a specific area, then your practitioner can indicate one specific therapy for you. For example, if you are acutely experiencing low back stiffness, kati basti (lower back therapy) can be taken in order to prevent further advancement of the imbalance and restore balance. On the other hand, the same therapy can also be used for management of sciatica; the difference would be in the herbal oil selected and the technique used.
To find a practitioner who can administer panchakarma, you need to do a little research, find the nearest Ayurvedic practitioner to you and ask about the amount of training that he/she underwent and the level of experience. A referral from a friend can be useful.
There are indications and contraindications for every type of panchakarma in the classics of Ayurveda. If you have any health condition, it is better to get your physician’s opinion.
Q: I am a 32-year-old woman and I’ve had several abnormal pap smears. I have been told that I have HPV. I have had surgery to remove abnormal cells from my cervix. What can I do to prevent abnormal pap smears and to stay healthy?
A: There are about 100 strains of human papilloma virus, commonly known as HPV, 30 of which are sexually transmitted. It is essential to know from your physician what type of HPV you have, as treating the high-risk strains of HPV requires a more rigorous approach.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, it is morbidity and imbalance of vata and kapha doshas along with lack of ojas (the factor responsible for the body’s resistance to disease) that can lead to the manifestation of HPV.
Safe sexual practice is one of the essential components in prevention. Diet and lifestyle can also play an essential role.
Diet
Include vegetables daily: onions, garlic, scallions, radish, daikon, asparagus, beets and kohlrabi. Prepare or choose vegetables cook-ed, steamed or sautéed with ghee and flavored with spices including: ginger, cumin, fennel, turmeric, coriander and black pepper.
Avoid cold and old drinks and food as cold quality increases both the vata and kapha doshas. Stay away from yogurt or cheese at night. Drinking water cooked with cumin seeds, fresh grated ginger, and/or cardamom throughout the day can be beneficial.
Lifestyle
Avoid napping during the day.
Asana (posture) and pranayama (breathing techniques)
Daily surya namaskar (sun salutations) followed by:
- Gomukasana: Cow face pose
- Padmasana: Lotus
- Vajrasana: Thunder bolt pose
- Bhujangasana: Cobra pose
- Shalabhasana: Locust pose
Bastrika pranayama: (bellows breath) done for three to five minutes in the morning on an empty stomach can improve the health of all the organs in the pelvis. There are contraindications for bastrika, and it is a heating breath, so be sure to learn it from a qualified teacher or practitioner.
Mula bandha (the process of drawing up of the muscles of the perineum or pelvic floor) along with ashwini mudra (drawing up the muscles of the pelvic floor around the anus) increases the flow of prana (life-force) to the lower chakras (energy centers). Learn these practices from a qualified teacher and practice according to their recommendations.
Helpful Herbs:
- Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata)
- Guggulu (Commiphora mukul)
- Devadaru (Cedrus deodara)
- Ashoka (Saraca indica)
- Lodra (Symplocus racemosa)
Please see a qualified practitioner for personalized herbal recommendations.
Q: My gums are often bleeding and swollen. Is there anything I can do in an Ayurvedic daily routine to help keep my gums and teeth healthy?
A: It looks like you have severe inflammation of the gums. Pacification of pitta dosha (the fire element) and increasing oral hygiene can substantially reduce swelling and bleeding.
Oral Care
Mouth Rinse
Prepare a hot infusion with one cup of water and:
- Licorice: 1/2 teaspoon
- Triphala: 1/2 teaspoon
- Cinnamon: 1/4 teaspoon
- Turmeric: 1/4 teaspoon
- Clove: 1 pinch
- Cardamom: 1 pinch
Brew and then cool to body temperature.
Hold in your mouth for one minute twice a day.
Another hot infusion for gargling can be made with: Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) powder and licorice powder as a hot tea (infusion) and used for gargling twice a day.
Holding noni juice (Morinda citrifolia) in your mouth as a rinse can be beneficial for oral care and reducing inflammation.
Herbal Gum Paste
Make a paste with:
- Neem powder: 1/2 teaspoon
- Triphala powder: 1/2 teaspoon
- Tulsi or holy basil (Ocimum sanctum): 1/2 teaspoon
Mix with raw honey
Apply on the gums and rinse after five minutes. This has anti-inflammatory and tissue healing properties.
Tongue Scraping
Daily tongue scraping can improve oral health.
Diet
Eating a diet that is predominantly: astringent, bitter and slightly sweet can help reduce the pitta (fire element) imbalance.
Before using any of the above Ayurvedic remedies, consult with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or healthcare provider. The information given here represents the opinions and recommendations of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of LA YOGA Ayurveda and Health magazine.
Dr. Parla Jayagopal has an M.D. degree in Ayurveda from India and works as an associate professor at American University of Complementary Medicine; he teaches in the clinical doctorate courses and schedules consultations at the university clinic in Beverly Hills. (310) 550 – 7445. http://www.aucm.org
By Dr. Parla Jayagopal
