Your Panchakarma fee also includes a preparatory consultation. Below is a brief overview of the 3 phases of Panchakarma and how to properly prepare for your treatments. The process outlined below will tailored to your individualized needs during your preparatory consultation with Vishnu Dass.
The Three Phases of Panchakarma
There are different phases in your Panchakarma treatment that you need to be aware of. These stages are known in Ayurveda as Purvakarma (preparation procedures), Panchakarma (5 main therapeutic procedures and supportive therapies) and Paschatkarma (post Panchakarma procedures).
In a nutshell, Purvakarma prepares your body to cleanse, Panchakarma removes the toxins through the natural means of elimination, and Paschatkarma supports the rejuvenation process. The closer you follow the guidelines below, the more you will benefit from your Panchakarma treatment and the deeper and longer lasting its effects will be for overall rejuvenation and health.
Panchakarma Preparation: Purvakarma
Ideally, when prepare for Panchakarma, it is encouraged to gradually slow down and shift away from any worries and concerns of day-to-day life on the week leading up to your therapies. During the preparation phase following a vegetarian diet, free from refined, process and artificially flavored foods, is strongly encouraged for at least prior 1-2 weeks prior to treatment. Special dietary considerations can be made for individuals who have difficulty digesting beans as a primary source of protein, during the Panchakarma process.
In most cases, you will start the preparation phase with internal oleation (consumption of herbal-medicated ghee/clarified butter) for several days before arriving to the clinic for therapies. You will receive detailed preparation instructions during your preparatory consultation.
Purvakarma continues as you receive Ayurvedic therapies every day, specifically: Abhyanga (Ayurvedic massage), Bashpa Swedana (full body herbal steam), Udvartana (herbal dusting/scrubing) or Lepa (herbal plaster), depending on your situation, and Shirodhara (bliss therapy for mental rejuvenation).
Panchakarma Therapies for Purification
Purvakarma brings the toxins into the GI tract and Panchakarma therapies gently expel them from your body. Both Purvakarma and Panchakarma therapies help you move the toxins quickly through your body, so that even though you are detoxing heavily you feel light and clear. Other adjunct therapies can be added to your treatment as well, depending on your individual health needs. During this time you follow a light, healthy and delicious Ayurvedic diet that we provide for you.
For a detailed description of each Purvakama and Panchakarma therapies, refer to our services page.
Lifestyle Adjustments During your Panchakarma
To get the most from your Panchakarma, it is encouraged to unplug from the external demands of our day-to-day life. Allow yourself to rest and relax, both physically and mentally, to allow the healing process to unfold. Conserving energy is of the utmost importance during this time. It is helpful to create a pleasant, retreat-like atmosphere for yourself, and to reduce sensory input and socialization. This is your time to heal, so embrace every minute of it.
During your stay, we encourage gentle forms of exercise, resting, reading, journaling, relaxing walks, yoga, and meditation. We also advise patients to avoid driving long distances to go sight-seeing, in order to support the cleansing process. If you wish to take a walk outdoors and enjoy the fresh mountain air, there are several nice natures spots very close to the clinic including Beaver Lake, French Broad River Greenway, and the UNCA Botanical Gardens.
Guidelines for Paschatkarma: the Post-Panchakarma Period
The diet prescribed before, during and after your program is a key element in Panchakarma. Heavy food interferes with the purification process, as well as with rejuvenation. After you are done receiving all your therapies and are headed back home, you should maintain the same type of diet as followed before and during your Panchakarma for another 5-7 days, since the detoxification process continues and will slow down as you go back to your normal routine and diet. This period is vital to rekindle your digestive fire and expel toxins that are still in the process of being eliminated from the body.
A graduated lifestyle is also crucial after receiving Panchakarma. You should integrate back into normal activity gradually to avoid depleting your energy and to allow the rejuvenation process to take place. We will give you personalized lifestyle guidelines and recommendations before you head back home. Also, taking specialized rejuvenative herbal preparations (rasayanas) is very important during this phase in order to increase the effectiveness of the Panchakarma treatment, tonify all your tissues and increase your overall vigor and vitality.