Abstract

APPLICATION OF PANCHKARMA IN AYURVEDIC PEDIATRICS

Dr. Kritika Joshi* and Dr. Nand Kishor Bhatt

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Abstract

Panchkarma is the integral part of Ayurveda which promotes primary purification, detoxification (cleanising of aam) and rejuvenation. It helps in achieving a balanced state of body, mind and consciousness. Panchkarma includes five basic therapies namely vaman (emisis therapy), virechan (purgation therapy), niruh basti (decoction enema), anuvasan (medicated ghee or oil enema) and nasya or shirovirechan (errhine therapy). Acharya shushrut has added raktamokshan (blood letting therapy) in panchkarma therapy considering vitiation of blood as a cause of disease. Classics especially KaśyapaSamhita explains Panchakarma in a child with the detailed explanation of Snehana, eight types of Swedana, Vamana, Virechana, Basti and Nasya. Basti is considered as nectar (amrit) for the child. In the present era where moden medical science has reached to the great advancement, still there are many diseases which are considered as incurable like hypoxic ischemic encephalopathies or cerebralpalsy, muscular dystrophies, juvenile RA etc. In these diseases ayurveda and panchkarma therapies can play a great role in improving quality of life of patients. Life style disorders in children, neurobehaviour and neuro developmental disorders can be managed successfully with Ayurveda.

Keywords: Bal panchkarma, panchkarma in children, ayurveda.