Vamana (Panchakarma)
Vamana (Panchakarma)
Vamana (pronunciation: vaa-ma-na) is a therapeutic procedure in Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine from India. It is one of the five procedures of Panchakarma, which are aimed at detoxification and rejuvenation of the body.
Etymology
The term 'Vamana' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Vam', which means 'to vomit'. This is indicative of the procedure's main action, which is therapeutic vomiting.
Procedure
Vamana therapy begins with the consumption of a specific medicated ghee or oil for a few days, followed by a full body massage and steam bath. This is known as Snehana and Swedana. On the day of the procedure, the patient is given a drink made from specific herbs to induce vomiting. This process helps to eliminate excess doshas (bio-energies) from the body, particularly the Kapha dosha.
Indications
Vamana therapy is primarily indicated for conditions related to an excess of Kapha dosha, such as asthma, chronic colds, sinusitis, diabetes, indigestion, and obesity. It is also used in the treatment of certain skin diseases and psychological disorders.
Contraindications
Vamana therapy is not recommended for children, elderly people, pregnant women, and those suffering from heart diseases, hypertension, and severe anemia.
Related Terms
- Panchakarma: The five therapeutic procedures in Ayurveda, which include Vamana, Virechana, Basti, Nasya, and Raktamokshana.
- Dosha: The three bio-energies (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) in Ayurvedic medicine.
- Snehana: The process of oleation or applying oil to the body.
- Swedana: The process of inducing sweat with steam.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vamana (Panchakarma)
- Wikipedia's article - Vamana (Panchakarma)
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski