Abstract

ROLE OF DEEPANA PACHANA IN PANCHKARMA

Swati Tiwari*, Rishu Sharma and Sanjay Gupta

ABSTRACT

“Ayurveda” is a Sanskrit word, derived from two roots: Ayur, which means „Life‟ and Veda meaning „Knowledge‟. Knowledge when arranged systematically with logic becomes a Science. During the due course of time, Ayurveda became the science of life. The Sanskrit word „Agni‟ represents the fire element responsible for generating heat and chemical energy in the body.According to Ayurveda agni is the indicator of the functional aspect of life that monitors body temperature, metabolic enzymes, digestive process and the entire body physiology. Agni manifests all over the body however, the primary seat of agni is the gastrointestinal tract where food is converted into nutrient and serves as the very source of energy. Ayurveda speaks the main cause of disease is rooted in the impairment of the body‟s main fire called agni. Altered digestive fire can lead to production of Ama, a toxic material that initiates and promotes disease processes throughout the body. In the same way, free radicals are also found to be the root cause of many diseases. The majority of the free radicals that damage biological systems are oxygen-free radicals. These are the main byproducts formed in the cells of aerobic organisms. Panchkarma therapy is a special therapeutic procedure done for biopurification of the body. Deepana and Pachana karmas plays important role in bringing the Sama dosha (doshas associated with ama) to Nirama(doshas without ama) state, as they mobilize the doshas from Shakha to koshtha and thus helps in easy expelling of doshas from body.

Keywords: Agni, Ama, Free radical, Deepana, Pachana.