‘Panch’ means ‘Five’

‘Karma’  means ‘Action’

Hence ‘Panchkarma is five-fold purificatory procedure that aims at reestablishing the balance of three doshas in the body by removing the exaggregated.

1. Vamana  –  Here medicated vamana vomiting is induced to remove the toxins from the body.  It is done mainly for kapha related illness.
2. Virechana  –  Removing the toxins from the body by stimulating the bowel movements . It is done specially for pitta related illness.
3. Nasyam  –  Nostrils are considered as the door way to the brains. Hence the medicines administered through nose have the ability to reach up to the brain and remove the toxins present in and around the organs of the skull.
4. Anuvasana Basti  –  It is medicated oil enema given through the anus to restore the equilibrium of the three doshas in the body. It is mainly done for vata related illness.
5. Niruha Basti – It is herbal decoction enema given through the anus to restore the equilibrium of the three doshas in the body.