Panchakarma is very much important part of Chikitsa Padhati, and as enlighten as it is a separate Chikitsa then need to know where it was begins or originate.
Whole treatment of Ayurved is mainly divided into two type of Upakrama. The word upakrama means the procedures which are used for chikitsa purpose. Different types of upakrama are mentioned as basic principles of Panchakarma by many Acharyay.
Acharya Vagbhatta has mentioned the Dwividhopkrama. There are two types of upakrama one is Santarpana and another is Apatarpana, also called Brihana and Langhana respectively. These two Upakrama includes the Shadvidhopkrama of Acharya Caharak.
APATARPANA:- Langhana, Swedana, Rookshana, Shodhana, Pachana, Deepana, Kshudha & Kshara
SANTARPANA:- Brihana, Snehana, Stambhana, Shamana, Trishna, Vyayama, Aatap, Marut, Agni, Pralepa etc.
1. Langhana:- Whatever drug, food or activity is capable to produce laghuta in the body is called Langhana. According to Acharya charaka Langhana includes ten Upakrama viz- Vamana, Virechana, Nasya, Niruha, Pipasa, Maruta, Aatapa, Pachana, Upawasa and Vyayama.
Conditions (Awastha Vishesha) for Laghana
(a) Balwana Roga- Shodhana, eg. in Sthoola Pramehi with Bahudosha Awastha Samshodhana is
indicated.
(b) Madhyabala Roga- Pachana, eg in Navajwara, Chhardi, Visuchika Pachana is indicated.
(c) Alpabala Roga- Upawasa and Pipasa Nigrahana is indicated.
2. Brinhana:- The drug diet or activity which nourishes and increases the bulk of the body is called Brinhana. The person who are suffering from muscle wasting, emaciation, old age, weakness, exertion from long toures, habitual indulgence in sexual act and wine needs this therapy. We can see some examples like-
(a)Brihana Nasya(Snehana)- given in the treatment of Swarbheda in Rajyakshma and Ksheer Bala Taila Nasya in Ardita is examples of Brihana Nasya.
(a)Brihana Snehapana in Krusha patients.
(c)Pinda Sweda eg. Ksheer or Manasarasa Siddha Pinda can be used in Shosh Pradhan Vyadhi like Pakshaghata.
(d)Samvahana Karma, Anuvasana Basti and Yapana Basti are some of the Brihana procedures.
3. Snehana:- The drug, diet or an activity which causes unctuousness, fluidity, softness and moistness in the body is called Snehana. This therapy can be used as-
(a)Shodhana Purvakarma
(b)Pradhanakarma like Awapida Sneha and brihana Sneha Matra.
(c)Abhyanga, Mardana, Samvahana, Anuvasana Basti, Matra Basti, Snehana Nasya, Shirobasti, Shirodhara etc. are included in this.
4. Rukshana:- The drug or an activity which causes dryness, roughness and non sliminess is called Rookshana. Some examples can be coated as-
(a)Lekhana Basti in Santapanottha Vyadhi is Aptarpana and Rooksha in nature.
(b)Likewise Udwartana, Valukapottali Swedana, Choorna Pinda Swedana, Dhmpana Nasya and Vairechanika Dhoomapana in it.
(c)Eg. Rooksha Sweda is indicated in Amavata, Udwartana is indicated in Sthoola patients etc.
5. Swedana:- The drug or activities which cures stiffness, heaviness and coldness of body is called Swedana. They are mainly indicated in Kapha-Vata Pradhana Vyadhi. This is used as-
(a)Purvakarma of Panchakarma
(b)Pradhana karma in some Vyadhi Awastha
(c)It is of two types, Rooksha Sweda of Valika Pottali is used in Amavata
(d)Snigdha Pinda Sweda is used in Pakshwadha, Patrapinda in Kasa when there is Kapha and
Aama dominance, Choorna Pind can be used in when there is Vataja Shotha and Shoola in
nerves.
6. Stambhana:- The therapy that surely prevents mobility and flow of bodily substances is known as Stambhana. The drugs which are rooksha, sheeta, kashaya rasatmaka, laghuvipaki and vatakara in nature are Stambhana. This is Shamana in nature.
(a)PicchaBasti of Shalmali in Pravahika
(b)Shamana Nasya of Sheetajala in Urdhwag Raktapitta is Stambhana in nature.
So, we can see that, Panchakarma procedures are tool for doing Shadavdhopkrama treatments which includes every type of karma like Shodhana, Snehana, Brihana, Rookshana, Stambhana, Langhana, Lekhana, Chikitsa depending on the need of individual. It is person specific treatment and can be designed differently for the desired action like Swasthavritta, Vajikarana, Rasayana, Chakshushya, Indriya Prasadana, Doshahara, Vyadhihara, and so many other conditions.
Applied Aspect:- According to Gunas of drug respect to Rasas is very important aspect in application of Chikitsa like Shadvidhopakrama because these are the Gunas that attend the state of Virya. We are doing Chikitsa (Shadvidhopakramas) like Brihana, Langhana, Swedana, Stambhana, Rukshana and Snehana. So, Guna we may form six groups each containing three Rasas in order of predominance 1) Madhur, Kashay & Lavana. 2) Tikta, Katu & Amla. 3) Lavana, Amla & Katu. 4) Kashaya, Madhura & Tikta. 5) Kashaya, Katu & Tikta. 6) Madhura, Amla & Lavana act in the Shadvidhopakrama as Guru, Laghu, Ushna, Sheeta, Ruksha and Snigdha respectively.
