Om Namah Shivaya
I arrived here on the evening of the 28th and began my Ayurvedic treatments on the morning of the 29th. Let me mention again the purpose of Pancha Karma(PK) It is to remove the toxins blocking the body’s natural healing powers and to rejuvenate the body/mind’s innate vital essence. The nutritional cleanses of the Western brand work only on the physical level whereas Ayurveda PK focuses on all three bodies – physical, emotional/mental and the spiritual.
The treatments vary as to individual needs and constitutional make-up. It is not one program for all. My needs center around my muscular skeletal system primarily sciatica and a bulging disc which is pressing on the nerves causing numbness in both legs and lumbar area. I also have some weak kidney energy and Vata imbalance due to Vata stage of life and traveling all over the world and US.
Since AMA, the Ayurvedic word for toxins in the channels, tissues and organs of the body/mind, possesses qualities of cold, dry, hard, heavy, dense and thick, we introduce hot, oily, light, subtle, soft and penetrating procedures. The first 4 days I received warm herbal oil massage with herbs for my constitutional imbalance, steam, Shirodhara and Kati Basti. The purpose of the oil massage is to loosen the toxins residing in the body’s channels. The oil has the opposite qualities of AMA so it penetrates and begins to soften them up so they can easily be removed from their lodging places. The massage is conducted with a variety of vigorous strokes all over the body and ample application of oil. The stimulating effect of the massage excites the toxins to leave their resting place. They have become very lazy and complacent in their hiding places all over the physical terrain but when agitated they start to look for another place to inhabit. The steam heat, of course, creates more stimulation and liquifies the hard, cold qualities of AMA. The toxins and poisons rush from the extremeties to the inner core, the gastrointestinal tract, to seek refuge. But alas, they will not find a home there either.
The Pancha (5) Karmas (Actions) are specifically designed to remove the toxins from the nearest orifice. On the 4th day, I was given the first PK treatment called Virechana which means purgative. In other words, substances are ingested that will remove the toxins from the small and large intestines. Since I am a Pitta predominant constitution, the primary site of my imbalances tend to be the small intestine. The large intestine/colon is the site of Vata. I am at Vata stage of life, 55-60 years of age until the end of life, so some of my discomfort is due to toxins lodged in the colon. The oil massage and steam are merely preparatory measures to loosen and dislodge AMA but cannot remove them out of the body. This is the job of PK.
The Purgation technique eliminates old toxins hiding in these places and news ones who have recently sought refuge there. Once the Purgative substance is ingested, after about three hours or so, the toxins literally RUSH out of the body for about the next 8 hours screaming “Let my people GO”. What a relief to be rid of these vagabonds that are the cause of ill health.
There is more to be done, however, as the AMA takes on various attributes and leave in stages according to their individual qualities. Some are more difficult to deal with than others especially if they have been there for 66 years. Another daily treatment has been Shirodhara. This application involves a steady stream of warm oil on the third eye and all across the forehead. The technique is designed to remove the subtle toxins residing in the nervous system and brain. The nerve endings located on the forehead lead to the pituitary and pineal areas of the brain. The nervous system relaxes and lets go of unwanted baggage. Stress that builds up in our life seeks refuge as emotional AMA. Anytime we suppress and do not resolve emotions, they hang out in the cells until we consciously remove them. One of the more effective ways to do this is through Shirodhara. These pent up mental blockages to healing impede our efforts to heal and to remove the undesirable AMA. Keep in mind that from a holistic perspective physical/emotional/mental AMA are all combined together.
Another treatment that I will receive for the entire period that I am here is Kati Basti This means to infuse oil to the back or spine. It is done by the construction of a Yantra made of dough that is shaped like a donut and is placed on the spine area of impaction of AMA. In my case it is the low back area. The Yantra is filled with hot herbal concoction designed to eliminate blockages and obstructions of energy along the spinal column. This is an especially good treatment for sciatica, herniated discs, spondilosis and other spinal abnormalities.
On the 6th day of treatment i received Pizhichill/Sarwangdhara or warm herbal oil poured all over the body for half an hour. Keep in mind that in India they are not as modest about the body as we are especially during a massage done by same the sex. Men only work on men and women on women. You wear only a small g-string covering the genitals. Since Vata is one of the most difficult aspects or Doshas to return to balance, we need to introduce oil all over the body to reduce the dry, light, cold qualities of Vata. The oil, of course, is oily, hot and heavy. It is penetrating to remove the blockages of energy and toxins in the body/mind.
In addition, I received the second PK treatment which was Rakta Moksha. Rakta means red blood cells and Moksha is liberation, in other words, blood letting. Only a small amount, less than a pint, is needed to be released. Since i am Pitta predominant the heat in the blood causes stagnation. The excess fire in the body causes it to move faster throughout the blood seeking an outlet for the pent up energy. Since it has nowhere to go, unless there is internal or external bleeding disorders which are a result of an excessive derangement of Pitta, it eventually stagnates in certain channels. The Ayurvedic doctor released some of this stagnation with a needle by removing the blood from just above my ankle bone where a lot of my energy is blocked and the lowest point in the body where veins are accessible. The blood stagnates by rushing around all the time too busy to find time to relax and let go. This type of life style will stagnate our energy resulting in dis-ease. Ayurveda has many ways, just like Rakta Moksha process of PK, to relax the body/mind and to let go of toxicity in our life.
Today is a day of rest from treatments even though we originally planned to continue because the Dalai Lama came to stay in the ashram where I am doing PK. The tight security around his visit would not allow us in the building where he was staying. It just happened to be in the same place where the Ayurvedic center is located. Yes, I did get to see the Dalai Lama last night at a ceremony for the Special Preview and Blessings of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Even though he is Buddhist, he embraces all religions. He along with many saints and sages in India and from all over the world will be here to participate in this literary achievement.
Why you might be wondering would the publishing of an Encyclopedia on Hinduism be celebrated in such an elaborate and expensive manner? In Hinduism there is not a main central controlling headquarters advising everyone what to think and do. This concept in the Indian culture extends to many other aspects of life as well. Finally, many have joined minds and energies to develop one set of ideas that might represent the entire understanding of Hindu thought and history. NOTE: As my friend Dr. Dilip Sarkar says “Hinduism is not a religion but a philosophy of life”.
More to come next week.
Jai Ma
Vijaya
