Panchakarma is the word for the five different procedures used in Ayurveda which are believed to purify the body. It is a purifying therapy to enhance the metabolic process through food and herbal medicines.

This is done in two ways:
1) Pacifying the aggravated doshas by using appropriate diet, natural herbs and minerals - Shamana therapy
2) Eliminating the increased Doshas from the body - Shodhana therapy

Panchakarma is a purifying therapy to enhance the metabolic process through food and herbal medicines. It is used in deep rooted chronic disease as well as seasonal imbalance of tri-Doshas. As the wastes are eliminated from the body the person becomes healthy. So Panchakarma means five types of actions or techniques or treatment. These types of therapeutics are based on elimination therapy.

In order to stay healthy and fit one should carry out Panchakarma methods as a way of cleansing and servicing the body. The greatest benefit of this system is preventing possible serious illness due to 'Srothas Avarodha' obstruction of channels or ducts.

1) Shamana therapy- This therapy is used as a palliative therapy. 'Shamana' means 'to suppress' the symptoms. Depending on the patient and the stage and the nature of the disease, the particular type of therapy is recommended.

2) Shodhana therapy- This therapy is used to eliminate the cause of the disease. "Shodhana" means to "throw away" the toxins, which are responsible for the diseases, instead of suppressing them. By eliminating the toxins, it restores balance to the biological humors of the body.

Panchkarma constitutes the foremost Shodhana Chikitsa, Panchakarma is ayurvedic rejuvenatory treatment since it not only eliminates the toxins causing diseases but also replenish the tissue with nourishment therefore rejuvenating therapy

The name Panchkarma is derived from Two Sanskrit words. "Panch" means "five" and "Karma" means "Action". The name denotes five primary procedures of cleansing, which Ayurveda uses to purify the body of everything abnormal. The five-purifactory procedures according to Charak school of thought.

1) Vaman (Induced Emesis)
2) Virechan (Induced Purgation)
3) Niruha Basti (Decoction Enemas)
4) Anuvasna Basti (Oil Enema) and
5) Nasya (Nasal Insufflation)

Panchakarma or the shodhana the therapy is always performed in three stages - Purva Karma (pre-treatment), Pradhana Karma(primary treatment) and Paschat Karma (post treatment).

Purva karma
There are two preparatory procedures before the actual procedures. These therapies are used to dislodge the toxins from the inner sites and help them eliminate by the actual prifactory procedures.
These are
1) Snehan (Oleation)
2) Swedan (Fomentation)

1) Snehana (Oleation) - This therapy employs administration of medicated oils either internally or externally. There are various types of external application of the medicated oils, depending on the parts of the body involved and type of the massage performed.

2) Swedan (Fomentation) - The second major form of the preparatory procedures is termed as Swedan. This therapy dilates the body's channels so that the aim of eliminating toxins would be facilitated. In addition to this it reduces the body's stiffness. There are various types of Swedan but the two primary forms used during Panchkarma's preparatory procedures are "Nadi Sweda" and "Bashpa Sweda"

Pradhan karma
After the aama (toxins) comes in to the kostha it is eliminated byPanchkarma i.e vamana, virechana, basti, nasya etc this is pradhankarma.

Paschat karma
Diet regimens, restricted bodily exertion and the intake of health promoting drugs etc come under the Paschatkarma (post treatment).