What is Panchakarma?
The Royal Path to Purity and Prevention
The Ayurvedic royal path to purity and prevention is called Panchakarma or Rejuvenation Therapy. Literally five actions, Panchakarma refers to a range of cleansing and balancing therapies designed to flush out toxins from the body and nourish and balance the whole system. Panchakarma offers a time-tested natural approach to improving immunity and strengthening the body’s own self-repair mechanisms, leaving you feeling rejuvenated, renewed and revitalized.
At Lancaster your authentic Maharishi Ayurveda Panchakarma program is individually tailored to you, and is performed under the daily guidance and care our in-residence Ayurvedic physician (called a “Vaidya” “vigh – dyah”). During your initial consultation, our Vaidya will design the ideal Panchakarma program for you based on your unique constitution, your temporary state of balance and imbalance, and your personal health and wellness goals.
What is involved in a Panchakarma program?
Your Panchakarma program will include a specialized lighter cleansing diet, and several consecutive days of deeply relaxing, luxurious Ayurvedic cleansing treatments such as warm oil massages, herbal steam baths and mild herbal enemas. These profoundly balancing, stress-melting Ayurvedic cleansing procedures are performed by our expert staff of internationally trained Ayurvedic technicians, during an in-residence stay of 3, 5, 7, 14 or 21 days.
Why Panchakarma?
In ancient times, and in many cultures, Panchakarma was performed by everyone routinely – several times a year – and particularly at the change of seasons, as a natural and effective way of mobilizing and dissolving the build-up of difficult to eliminate metabolic waste products and impurities called “Ama”. If allowed to build up, Ama is viewed to be an active factor in creating the favorable conditions for disease or ill health.
What is ama? How does it affect health?
In Ayurveda, Ama is defined as a sticky plaque-like substance that is produced as the body’s way of trying to mobilize impurities from the tissues and organs and micro-channels (or “Shrotas”) of the body. When the body is not able to fully eliminate these impurities through the normal channels of elimination such as the bowel, urinary tract or skin, then Ama forms, and may first appear as congestion, phlegm, dental plaque, the white coating on the tongue, and may later accumulate in the arteries, joints and tissues.
Even though our body is expertly designed to maintain itself in perfect health and eliminate these impurities daily as they arise, there is a limit to what the body can do! Chronic mental, physical or emotional stress, wear and tear, seasonal or geographic conditions, exposure to environmental pollutants, and poor diet or lifestyle can inhibit the body’s self-repair mechanisms, allowing the Ama to accumulate.
Prevention, Rejuvenation and Relief
The regular elimination of accumulated Ama through yearly or seasonal Panchakarma is held in Ayurveda to be the key to good health and longevity. Panchakarma is the most effective thing we can do to strengthen immunity, prevent illness, and maintain optimal health. Our guests commonly report younger biological age, increased vitality, relief from symptoms of chronic disorders, as well as an increased sense of well-being, clarity and balance that lasts long after their visit to Lancaster.
How many days do I need to allow?
Panchakarma is recommended ideally to be given over a period of 7 days, according to the classical texts of Ayurveda – the ancient authority on the Ayurvedic science of health, prevention and longevity. Shorter 3-day and 5-day options are available at Lancaster in order to accommodate individual requirements and time constraints. Longer stays of up to 21 days are available for those seeking deeper detoxification, balancing, and relief from chronic disorders and conditions.
How do I choose a program?
Lancaster offers two levels of its authentic Maharishi Rejuvenation Panchakarma program – our “Standard” Rejuvenation Panchakarma program - perfect for prevention, regular health maintenance and revitalization, and our highly customized “Enhanced” Rejuvenation Panchakarma program, accessing a wider range of therapies, use of more specialized custom made oils and ingredients, and with longer sessions per day. Our Vaidya may also recommend optional treatments or ingredients not included in your package for additional customization of your program. (Please see our program descriptions and packages for pricing and details.)
Additional Optional Programs
Additional optional programs that can be combined with any of our “Standard” or “Enhanced” Panchakarma programs include two traditional Vedic vibrational healing therapies called Vedic Sound therapy and Vedic Vibration Technology, and personal instruction in the Transcendental Meditation™ technique, an effective stress-management and self-development program. (Please see our program descriptions and packages for pricing and details.)
Call now to inquire about a personalized Maharishi Rejuvenation (Panchakarma) program at Lancaster, for the ultimate in prevention, rejuvenation and relief, and for the best thing you can do for your health, happiness and youthful long life!
