| The first step of any Ayurvedic treatment is | | | | health habits, and other causes, digestion |
| a thorough examination and diagnosis by an | | | | can be impaired, causing a toxic substance |
| Ayurvedic practitioner, who determines the | | | | called ama to accumulate in the body. Ama |
| type and extent of panchakarma treatment | | | | interferes with normal functioning and the |
| required. According to Ayurvedic theory, | | | | flow of energy, creating imbalances and |
| physical and emotional traits are classified | | | | disease. One goal of panchakarma is to |
| as three doshas vata, kapha, and pitta. Each | | | | cleanse the body of excess ama, and to |
| individual has all three doshas with one | | | | restore the body's digestive power (agni). |
| predominating. If an imbalance occurs, | | | | |
| diseases/conditions appear. Panchakarma | | | | Â In panchakarma, there are two main |
| rebalances the doshas, bringing them back to | | | | types of therapy. Shamana is the supportive |
| equilibrium and the individual back to good | | | | therapies that include the preparation and |
| health. The physician may prescribe herbal | | | | post-therapy measures. The main treatment is |
| remedies and recommend dietary and lifestyle | | | | called shodhana and refers to pancakarma's |
| changes that may be enacted before, during | | | | five main cleansing and elimination |
| and after panchakarma. | | | | procedures. During preparation for |
| | | | panchakarma, oil therapy (termed snehana in |
| Â panchakarma Ayurvedic doctors believe | | | | Ayurveda) is the first treatment. Patients |
| that disease generally starts in the | | | | are given oil massages-abhyanga is full body |
| digestive tract. Due to poor diets, bad | | | | massage and shirodhaya is forehead massage. |