about panchakarma

Panchakarma literally means 'Five Actions' and traditionally includes five different treatments used to remove excess dosha and toxins from the body’s tissues and mind, and restore energy flow through the whole body. This ancient Ayurvedic ritual is deeply rejuvenating. It maintains and promotes wellbeing and restores balance in a state of dis-ease. Pain, and discomfort are greatly reduced and might disappear. Panchakarma is recommended during the change of seasons, especially spring and fall, to support life changes, and simply when detoxification is asked for, in chronic and degenerative disease. For health maintenance it is recommended once a year. If you suffer from bad body odor, have a thick tongue coating, have low energy, crave unhealthy foods, have lots of digestive disturbances, too much mucus production, suffer from allergies and sensitivities, your body produces tumors, have trouble gaining or loosing weight, then you are suffering from toxicity in your body and might consider doing panchakarma.

Before these treatments are administered, the body needs to be prepared. This will happen at home, where you will enjoy a quiet time, a simple and wholesome diet, take digestive herbs, and give yourself a daily oil massage. Then you will continue with therapies at Marin Ayurveda, where you will receive a warm herbal oil massage and steam treatment daily to mobilize toxins from your body's tissues. We might complement the protocol with other therapies, depending on your unique needs. The cleansing treatments will be administered as the body shows it is ready. You will receive “virechana” or purgation therapy, “basti” or enema therapy, and “nasya”, nasal therapy. The program might include yoga and meditation, and you will always receive simple, nutritious meals. After all the treatments you will move into a rejuvenation phase, at home, to slowly reintegrate into regular life. This means slowly reintroducing foods you won’t have eaten for a while and activities you haven’t engaged in. You will also be taking some herbal preparations and/or specific foods to build a healthy and strong body and immune system.

You are highly recommended to engage in life as little as you can and rest as much as you can. Panchakarma is a great opportunity to eliminate mental and emotional toxins alongside the physical ones, and this can only be achieved if you allow little stimulation and a lot of time for reflection.

Every day of panchakarma you will receive the following treatments by two therapists:

* Abhyanga - massage with plentiful warm herbal oil.

* Nasya - cleansing and nourishing the nasal and sinus passages through the application of herbal oils to the nostrils.

* Karna purana - soothing and nourishing the ears with herbal oils.

And one of the following:

* Shirodhara: brain and third eye balancing through pouring warm oil on forehead.

* Kati basti: warm herbal oil therapy for spinal problems

* Heart basti: heart strengthening therapy.

* Netra basti: Eye and optic nerve nourishment with ghee.

* Ubvartan: invigorating skin rejuvenating treatment.

Benefits of panchakarma

Reverses aging

Improves digestion and elimination

Strengthens immunity

Reduces stress

Brings clarity and vitality

Heals the nervous system

Improves chronic and degenerative health problems

Eases into a healthier lifestyle

- For information on the cost of panchakarma, please look under 'services - retreats, panchakarma and cleansing'. -

I much enjoyed working with Simone over my 5 day panchakarma. I found that her directions for the self-directed portions were clear and easy to follow. The office visits in the middle of the program were the highlight for me and I appreciated all of the information and personal attention she provided to me. In general it was a wonderful and relaxing time out from my usual routine and Simone provided me with a fresh perspective on how I can better manage my lifestyle moving forward. The fact that Simone has made a point of touching base with me in the ensuing months since my cleanse is a testament to her interest in her clients and her belief in the benefits of Ayurveda. I look forward to working with her again. - Dave, Sonoma CA

When my doctor at UC San Francisco recommended I approach my medical issues from the Ayurvedic perspective, including panchakarma, I was very fortunate to find Simone and be under her care. Her knowledge and skills in Ayurveda continue to be very beneficial to me. The panchakarma was a great experience, and I plan to do another one soon. - Phyllis, Novato CA

Cleansing will remove toxins from your body's tissues, so that your body can heal itself. Toxins (Ayurveda calls them "ama") can take on many forms, and typically are sticky and erosive in quality, obstructing healthy tissue formation.

The main form we recognize is the ama in the digestive system, that comes from poor dietary habits and weak digestion.It blocks the absorption of nutrients, leading to all kinds of deficiencies. It will create imbalance in the bacterial household in the intestines, leading to conditions like candida.

If ama is mixed with a certain dosha, it will take on a certain quality. For example if it is mixed with pitta dosha it will cause irritation and inflammation, often leading to allergic reactions.

Since toxins get reabsorbed through the walls of the colon into the bloodstream, they get distributed all over the body. Typically they land in the "weak spots", where there is a lot of "wear and tear" or where there is genetic predisposition, like joints, where they will cause arthritis, or in the arteries, as plaque, causing atherosclerosis.

Nowadays we also are subject to many environmental toxins, that affect our hormones, our immune system, nervous system, and much more.

Panchakarma is unique in its use of fats (ghee or oils) during the cleansing process, which will bind to fat soluble toxins. In this way it is very effective in removing environmental toxins and heavy metals that hide in the lipid (fat) tissue of the body.