Pancha Karma is a Sanskrit word that means “five actions” or “five treatments.”
“Pancha” means “five”; “Karma” means “actions, which cleanse the body of toxic materials left by disease and poor nutrition. Pancha Karma involves cleansing, regenerating, and rejuvenating the five levels of the physical body. It is best used as a seasonal cleanser to prepare the body for the seasons ahead. This cleansing and rebuilding process provides vitality, mental clarity, physical strength, flexibility, and strengthens the emotional body. This treatment is especially effective for Vata and Kapha.
The body accumulates toxins from season to season due to lifestyle stress and a poor diet. This is very similar to the way a home collects dust. In our modern society we are exposed to many pollutants and chemical foods. The refrigerator is a convenience in our world, allowing us to eat foods that are out of season and out of the local area. Mother Nature provides us with different foods each season to accommodate the conditions.
Pancha Karma rebuilds our Agni (digestive fire), which then supports assimilation of food. When we take time to receive Pancha Karma, our physical vehicle becomes radiant, efficient, and flexible. Similar to when we tune our car or get an oil change. Pancha Karma is a time away from the daily routine and stress of life to remove the toxins of excessive eating, drinking, and thinking.