A Critical Appraisal of Pancakarma Therapy in Buddhist Literature with Special Reference in Tripitaka

Abstract

Pancakarma therapy is one of the important branches of Ayurveda which deals mainly with purification of the provoked dosa (physiological or pathological ) from the body. These vitiated dosa (toxins and waste material) should be purified from "natural as well as nearest root of the body". There are five types ; vamana, virecana, nasya, vasti and raktamoksna. In the management of disease the fundamental principles of Ayurveda is Samsodhana (Purification) Samsamana (Pacific) and Nidana Parivarjana (avoiding causative factors). To eradicate the disease completely and to enhance non specific immunity against all diseases the purification procedures plays an imporatnt role.