Panchakarma: Detoxing the body, mind, emotions and Soul

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The Ayurvedic tradition is a wide, rich and deep river of knowledge on the human condition and our relationship with nature. It is a healing science over 5000 years old, and is still considered the traditional medical system in India. Students at Ayurvedic universities with a Bachelors degree curriculum take the same human biology courses as traditional doctors, but also study plant biology, along with psychology, spirituality and an esoteric understanding of the subtle energies of the universe. Graduates are recognized as medical (Ayurvedic) doctors in India, although in the west Ayurvedic is considered as a Complementary or Integrated practice that promotes a healthy lifestyle which includes an individual food plan, positive lifestyle changes, and detoxification, along with yoga and meditation.

The term “Ayurveda” literally means “science of life,” according to Dr. Lina Thakar. Although not considered a medical doctor in America, she manages the Ayurveda Institute of Pittsburgh, offering Ayurvedic consultations, treatments, and a complementary wellness and prevention program in her Oakdale office and at Allegheny General Hospital as part of the Integrated Medicine Program. “In Ayurveda, with every step you want to think about the mind-body connection, because for Ayurveda, ‘health’ does not only mean physical health. Ayurveda says imbalance of three dosha and accumulation of toxins called ama toxins result into disease process.”

She explains that in the Ayurvedic system “health” is defined as a balance of mind and body. “Body” includes the three major energies of the human system (or doshas; vata, pitta and kapha), a balanced state of the tissue organs, and a balanced state of the digestive fire. To have a healthy mind, she explains that “Your Soul, mind and sensory organs have to be in a happy, positive status. When all these aspects are in balance, this is what we call perfect health.”

When toxins of any kind become stuck in our system—everything from pesticides and diesel exhaust to unprocessed anger or accumulated exhaustion—imbalance is the result. This weakens the immune system and initiates the disease process. The main goal of Ayurveda is to protect health and prevent imbalance which triggers the disease process. Unique in Ayurveda, a gentle and deep detoxification process called PANCHAKARMA is administered to remove the deep seated toxins from mind and body that help restore the balance.

Each treatment is precisely adjusted to one’s unique condition. The level of each of your dosha energies is measurable (at least to an Ayurvedic doctor). While the fundamentals of Ayurveda may be difficult for the western mind to grasp, a treatment such as Panchakarma allows the mind to experience them on a fundamental level. Mental clarity is restored, tension is released from muscles, and pounds—literally pounds—of toxins are removed at the cellular level. Words simply cannot convey the depth of the changes, but Dr. Lina graciously allowed me to try. That’s why I found myself recently in her office for three days of panchakarma.

Excerpts from my Journal: Day One: Dr. Lina is remarkably solid: a solid smile, an unflappingly pleasant personality, a solid knowledge of the science of Ayurveda, and a solid practice around her—the office even decorated in healing colors.

She starts by asking questions not normally heard from a family practitioner. “What was your childhood like?” “Do you dig deep into new ideas, or do you leap from idea to idea?” “What do you typically eat for breakfast?” or “How often do you meditate?”

By putting three fingers on the pulse of my wrist, she could tell I was under stress, anxious. I assured her it wasn’t fear of the upcoming three hours.

With my doshas properly identified, she ushered me into the healing room, and onto a massage table, where an Abyanga (Ayurvedic massage) therapist applied rose-oil-scented eye pads. Dr. Lina then did something that VERY few western doctors do. She sang a chant in her native tongue, followed by a prayer in English and soft chimes to set the Sacred space for healing.

I was prepared for oil, but not quite for how much. For 90 minutes, Wonderfully fragrant oils were rubbed onto my body and into my hair. A different oil for my hair, feet, hands and belly, per my dosha diagnosis. By the time my back received a thick coating, I was absolute putty.

Then a steam tent was lowered over my limp slick body. The heat was deeply relaxing. My entire world was wet, slick, hot and dark. (The rose oil swabs were reapplied to my eyes every time they fell off.) Womb-like, I thought. When the tent was removed, a blanket was applied. I was soaking wet and toasty warm and very oily.

Then a warm spot appeared on my forehead, and settled on my third-eye. It was somehow enormously nurturing and loving. During shirodhara, warm oil is poured in a slow drizzle, but I had no sensation of oil moving. It was simply luxurious.

Afterward, my eyes didn’t seem to want to focus until I discovered my glasses were covered with my oily fingerprints. I work my hair into something that resembles Squigy from the old Laverne and Shirley TV show. I’m feeling pretty squigy too, being so oiled up.

Dr. Lina had a warm bowl of khichari ready (rice dahl spiced with turmeric and cumin), and some tea (for my dosha, naturally). Something else you don’t get from most family practitioners. Not just the food advice, but actual food, lovingly prepared, including a take-home dinner to help keep me in balance.

Day 2. This morning I feel... Solid. My body is less flabby (or so it seems, although the scale doesn’t reflect any great loss. Dr. Lina said a 5-7 pound loss is usual for a 5 day panchakarma.) And mentally more focused. Solid. She had said that some toxins come out through the skin, but most will be expelled through the GI tract. If this morning’s olfactory assault is any indication, that part is working just fine.

Before today’s session, Dr. Lina explained more about the doshas. Stress creates an excess of vata, which is cool and dry, no matter your personal doshas levels. To soothe and balance an abundance of vata, you can do yoga, exercise, and meditate. And you can create the opposite state: hot and wet.

I remembered the womb-like embrace of the last session with the umbilical cord of light attached to my third-eye. Warm and wet to offset the cool dry vata energy. It made perfect sense the day after, feeling so vata-balanced.

Today some new elements were added. Drops of warm oil were slowly dripped into my ears and covered with cotton pads. This trip to the womb would include auditory deprivation. Second, after being fully slathered again in oil, an herbal paste was rubbed on to my back and legs. Dr. Lina explained that this was a combination of ground herbs she mixed for my dosha—an exfoliant that assists in weight loss. The rub was deeply relaxing in a scratch-that-itch kind of way. Like getting a massage at the beach—an exotically fragrant beach.

Squigy looked back at me from the mirror as I got dressed afterward. He and I are really loving this.

Day 3: During shirodhara today a luminescent blue orb formed in my inner vision. In the Hindu tradition, the Blue Pearl comes from sustained focus on the third-eye. It is evidence of an increasing connection to one’s Soul. In physical terms, it produced waves of bliss that coursed up and down my spine. Mentally and emotionally, I felt only a loving embrace, and a bone-deep knowing this was the doorway to hOMe.

The morning after Day 3: A particularly intrusive olfactory assault this morning, but apparently the worse the smell, the better you feel as more of those naughty vata energies flee. I can feel the proof for myself that toxins actually do take up less physical space. My torso is more solid and four pounds are missing.

The sense of solidness has increased each day, with increased mental focus and a deep sense of calm. Dr. Lina told me about a Navy pilot back from Iraq. She had trouble sleeping and many other symptoms of PTSD. After her panchakarma, she was absolutely giddy to find the stress completely removed.

I’ve not been through a war—mostly I herd cats, which produces a different kind of stress. But I’m glad of the calm just the same.

To learn more about Dr. Thakar about Ayurveda, visit ayurvedainpittsburgh.com.