Ayurvedic concept explains that an year is divided into six seasons Sisira, Vasanta, Grishma, Varsha, Sarat, Hemanta by the influence of Vayu, Surya and Soma (Wind, Sun and Moon)which indeed maintain the biological clock of universe. Hemanta Ritu, the ayurvedic winter season commence from mid November and extend up to mid January. Climatic variations will impart certain changes in our body that may trigger the doshic balance and optimacy. Mandatory improvisation should be incorporated in our life style, diet and routine to maintain doshic normalcy. The specific Ayurvedic winter care life style modifications and dietary regimens come under Hemanta Ritucharya.
Dusty environment, Humidity in temperature, chills and cold winds may lead to imbalance among Vata, Pitta and Kapha dosha, the three pillars of human body. Accumulations of kapha dosha, pacification of pitta dosha are the basic causes for vata dosha aggravation in winter. Pitta dosha which has been vitiated in sarat ritu, if properly not cured will lead to ailments in Hemanta Ritu. Due to increase in respiratory tract infection in winter, people have a misconception that immune system will be week during winter season.However Ayurveda believes Hemanta Ritu as best in strengthening immunity due to strong digestive fire ,which fluctuates in seasons and planetary cycles.
Panchakarma, the purification therapies plays vital role in the preservation, maintenance and conservation of health and longevity. These are also a part of preventive medicine (Swasthvrita). Comparing with that of samana chikitsa (Internal medicines), Sodhana chikitsa (panchakarma) has specific role, because the doshas get expelled and purified by sodhana chikitsa never create any problems. In present era the diseases are mainly caused due to indigestion, which leads to Ama formation, ie disturbed homeostasis, resulting in decreased nutrition and immunity, impaired excretion of waste. All these leads to the formation of free radicals, causing tissue damage and final outcome will be metabolic disorder. In such conditions only a way is to cleanse of channels (Sroto Sodhana) through Panchakarma.
Upcoming century’s people may be prone to pandemic diseases due to low immunity. Ayurvedic Acharyas have explained Dinacharya (Daily Regimen), Ritucharya (seasonal Regimen) for boosting our immune system to keep away unknown diseases.
Preventive aspects of Panchakarma
External Oil application (Abhyanga)
• Nourishes the dhatu and increases strength of the body
• Corrects and prevents neurological and joint disorder caused by vata dosha
• Provides the ultimate effect of exercise in a passive mode
1. Head massage (Siro abhyanga)
• Resolves hair related headaches
• Improves blood circulation and enhances sleep
2. Foot massage (Pada abhyanga)
• Provides quick relief from roughness, stiffness, dryness, cracks, fatigue and numbness of legs
• Promotes healthy eye sight.
3. Full body massage (Sharira abhyanga)
• Promotes complexion, flexible and blood circulation
• Prevent skin dryness and enhance complexion
Internal administrat ion of fats (Snehapana)
Stabilizer for your digestive fire
1. Sodhana Snehapana
For purificatory purpose, sneha should administer as increasing dose day by day from 3-9 days
2. Samana Snehapana
• A fixed dose of Sneha (10-20ml) for a fixed period or up to relief of disease
• Best in curing skin dryness, cracks etc.
• Balance digestive fire
Fomentation (Swedana)
• Prime treatment modality for vata and kapha disorders
• Protect the body from stiffness, heaviness and coldness.
(i) Sankarasweda: Pottali should be prepared with herbal drugs by making it hot potali and sudation done
– It’s of 2 types 1. Snigdha. 2. Rooksha.
• Snigdha: means by adding oil and doing sudation.
– Eg: Shastikapindasweda, Annalepa, patrapinda, jambeerapinda.
• Rooksha: means in dry form
– Eg: Valuka, Choornapinda sweda.
ii) Nadisweda: Steam from herbal decoction performed with rubber tube connected to pressure cooker.
(iii) Parisekam : Pouring of medicated liquid like kashaya,taila, ghrita, milk, takra, Kanji, Dhanyamala, Gomootra etc over the body from specific height.
(iv) Avagaha: Sitting in a tub containing medicated warm Kashaya, oil, gomootra, Dhanyamla, etc.
(v) Upanaha: Application of warm paste of roots of vatahara drugs macerated with a sour liquid, salt fats etc. and tied on described part of the body.
(vi) Annalepam /Shashtikalepam
Process by which the whole body or any particular part is made to perspire by means of application of pudding specially prepared with shashtika rice.
(vii) Vaasana sweda (cloth fomentation)
Dip the thick cloth in medicated hot water or make cloth hot by placing over heat plane and fomenting specific parts of body.
(viii) Ushnodaka snana
Hot water shower with medicated water below neck.
Vamana (Vomiting therapy)
Foremost therapy among panchakarma and considered as the best line of treatment for removing vitiated kapha. According to disorders performed with lavanodak (Salt water), kashaya, milk etc.
Virechana (Purgation)
Seasonal purification for example Charakacharya mentioned season wise virechana drugs, like In hemanta ritu, Trivrit, Chitraka, pata, etc to be used to eliminate deposited pitta dosha.
Vasti (Enema)
• Eliminating the impurities by administering medicated decotion and oils.
• Potency from pakwashaya (Intestine) to restore normal function of vata dosha.
Nasya (Nasal Purgation)
Draining out of accumulated kapha from sinuses located in head through nasal passages with instillation of medicated oils, ghee, decotion,powders etc.Marsa (2 drops daily) and Pratimarsa nasya (increasing dosha) are the common types done.
Raktamoksha (Blood letting)
Ultimate treatment modality for Twakroga and other Rakta janya vikaras by using needles leech etc.
Dhoomapana (Medicated Smoking)
Dhoomapana indicated in hemantha rithu with agraru etc alleviates kapha which remains after nasya procedure, performed through nostrils and oral cavity.
Udwaratna (Powder Massage )
Powder massage provide srothoshodhanam (Kapha haram).Enhances weight reduction and muscle building and also good for boosting the glow of skin.
Gandusa (Mouth Filling)
Filling the mouth with hot medicated oil, lavanoda, kashaya etc.
It is helpful in protecting disease of neck, head, ear, oral cavity.
Kavala (Gargling)
Gargling with hot medicated oil, lavanoda, kashaya. It is indicated in the diseases where there is bahu kapha sancaya in mouth.
Moordhni taila (Head Protectors)
Abhyanga (Head massage), Sekam (Shirodhara), Pichu (Head bandage), Vasthi (Head cap)
Indicated in hair fall, dryness, brittleness of hair, cracking of the skin, diseases of head, Insomnia, eyes etc…
Conclusion
Panchkarma plays a vital role in Hemanta Ritu (WINTER) by restoration of health and mental status through balancing digestive system and thereby enhancing immunity. Panchkarma procedure performed during winter helps to control vata dosha who is the main driver of other doshas and thereby rejuvenate, revitalize and rehabilitate body cells.
