Pentads of Panchakarma

Pentads are the five mandatory Ayurvedic therapies performed during Panchakarma.

A variety of rejuvenation therapies have been prescribed by different Ayurvedic schools of research. They are classified into a set of five methods called the Panchakarma.

The five major therapies outlined by the Charaka school of Ayurveda are:

Vamana (Emesis Therapy)
Virechana (Purgation Therapy)
Nasya (Nasal Therapy)
Anuvasana Vasti (Therapeutic Enema with Medicated Oil)
Niruha Vasti (Enema with Herbal Decoction)

Later, Sushruta, the legendary surgeon, and his school of Ayurveda combined the last two Vasti (Enema) techniques into one, and added Raktamokshana (blood-letting) to the Pentads of Panchakarma. He believed that since impurities in blood are a major cause of illness in their own right, including a technique to purify blood in the Panchakarma is important.

Pentads of Panchakarma

Basic Theory of Panchakarma

Pentads of Panchakarma

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