Pancakarma in DeutschlandGrundlagen, Praxis, Perspektiven

Abstract: Pancakarma (literally: "five actions" or "five therapies") is the name of a special mode of therapy which is of great importance in Ayurveda since earliest times. In the course of a Pancakarma-therapy there are three phases: I. "Preparatory phase" (Purvakarma) comprising specific applications of oily and fatty substances internally and externally as well as sudation therapy with the aim of mobilising vitiated energies and preparing the organism for the "main procedures" following. II. "Main procedures" (Pradhanakarma) here five very effective procedures are gouped together (and have given Pancakarma its name): 1. Vamana (Emesis) 2. Virecana (Purgation) 3. Basti (Specific Enema) 4. Nasya (Nasal instillation) 5. Raktamoksana (Blood letting). III. "Post-therapy regimen" (Pascatkarma) this comprises a specific dietary regimen and - if necessary - specific therapies. A Pacakarma-therapy must be planned individually according to constitution, disease and strength of the patient, this is to say that the physician has to select the necessary therapies out of the range of Pancakarma-therapy. lf the assessment is correct, Pancakarma forms a very efficient therapeutic method for healthy (to regenerate and prevent disease) and diseased individuals. The term Pancakarma gained such a prestige that other therapymethods (e. g. Keraliya Pancakarma is the title of specific external applications which were evolved into a very effective therapy in Kerala, a region in the southwest of India) were also summarised under this title. Pancakarma has proven to be an effective therapy-method also in the western world where patients have to be treated over comparatively short periods of time (14 to 21 days) effectively. Clinical research on Pancakarma in Germany is still in its initial stage. In this article fundaments and current practice of Pancakarma in Germany are presented and illustrated by two individual case-studies from our hospital.

Keyword(s): Ayurvedische Therapie

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