Treatment
Principal objectives of Ayurveda are maintenance and promotion of health, prevention of disease and cure of sickness.
Treatment of the disease consists in avoiding causative factors responsible for disequilibrium of the body matrix or of any of its constituent parts, Panchkarma (5 types of detoxification procedures), safe natural medicines, suitable diet, activity and regimen for restoring the balance and strengthening the body mechanisms to prevent or minimize future occurrence of the disease.
Types of Treatment
The treatment of disease can broadly be classified as
- Shodhana therapy (Purification Treatment)
- Shamana therapy (Palliative Treatment)
- Rasayana therapy (rejuvenation therapy)
(1) Shodhana treatment aims at removal of the causative factors of somatic and psychosomatic diseases. The process involves internal and external purification. The usual practices involved are Panchakarma (five types of detoxification procedures) (medically induced Emesis, Purgation, Oil Enema, Decoction enema and Nasal administration of medicines).
(2) Shamana therapy is used to manage the symptoms of the disease by suppression of vitiated humours (doshas). This treatment is achieved by use of broad range of safe ayurveda medicines, dietary and life style changes.
(3) Rasayana therapy deals with promotion of strength and vitality. The integrity of body matrix, promotion of memory, intelligence, immunity against the disease, the preservation of youth, luster and complexion and maintenance of optimum strength of the body and senses are some of the positive benefits credited to this treatment.