Virechana or Virechana Karma is a purification therapy to detox the body and mind and is one of the five sacred, healing therapies of the Panchakarma. The Panchakarma encompasses five treatments that can prevent and heal a number of physical, mental, and emotional disorders and illnesses. Virechana is a Sanskrit word that means “laxative” or “purging” and may refer to any substance used to induce purging. Virechana is a controlled process that gathers ama (toxins) from many Pitta locations in the body, concentrates it in the small intestine, and then discharges it.

Virechana customarily leads to a state where the toxic and disease-causing Pitta dosha is removed from the body while there is a formation of “new” Pitta and this leads to all the benefits that healthy Pitta has including the promotion of digestion and metabolism. This dosha is believed to control metabolism, digestion, and the body's energy.

Herbs used for Virechana aim at cleansing the sweat glands, small intestine, colon, stomach, liver, and spleen. Several herbs are used for the therapy process, which serve as decongestants, laxatives, and purgatives. Like in the other Ayurvedic treatments and therapies, the Virechana is given after properly judging the type of disease and the patient's tolerance. Purgation is given with care in specific amounts according to aggravated doshas. Virechana therapy is good for all types of Pitta-related disorders such as hyperacidity, colitis, acid peptic disease, hemorrhoids, chronic headaches, migraine, malabsorption, some types of diabetes, allergies, and skin diseases (acne, dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, leprosy, and leucoderma).

The benefits:

Flushes out of the toxins and excess mucus from the GI tract and thus improves digestion.
Clears congestion from the liver and thus improves metabolism and fat digestion.
Relieves many gastrointestinal disorders.
Improves the condition of skin disorders, rashes & allergies.
helps manage Paraplegia, Hemiplegia Joint disorders, etc.

Advantages:

Achieve improved immunity and thus resistant to many diseases
Achieve a better circulatory system
Management of weight
Activate the lymphatic system
Nourish the skin
Strengthen the muscles
Improve digestive system

Can Panchakarma Be Done At Home?

Though Panchakarma is effectively done at the Ayurvedic center by an expert and trained Ayurvedic doctor, it can also be conducted at home when constraints such as time and logistics come into play. Panchakarma is done at home by following few simple home remedies, consuming an ayurvedic diet along and with the ayurvedic supplements recommended by Shilpika Devaiah after your initial consultation.

It is advisable to follow Panchakarma only after discussing with your doctor to ensure your eligibility. Moreover, an expert Ayurvedic doctor can only evaluate your Ayurvedic composition of three Doshas and offer suggestions to follow an appropriate regimen. Generally, pregnant ladies, weak and anemic people, are restricted from undergoing panchakarma treatment.

All the procedures of panchakarma should be performed under the proper guidance of an expert Ayurveda practitioner.

Virechana Package @ Ayur-Shilpi Ayurveda & Wellness

Ayur-Shilpi Ayurveda Virechana Package includes the following services:

Initial Consultation with Shilpika Devaiah to determine your dosha (mind/body constitution) and whether or not panchakarma is right for you. Ideally, this program should coincide with a mini-vacation. Try to take off work or school for three to 3-4 days if possible.
You will receive a comprehensive Virechana guide with all the details on the steps to do this detox successfully ay home along with the recipes for the meals that need to be consumed during the duration of the therapy.
Preparatory Stage: First 3 days will be the preparatory stage where the participant will consume clean, organic, whole foods along with digestive and carminative supplements recommended by the Ayurveda Physician to enhance the digestive system for the next steps.
Internal Oleation: The next three days will be the oleation period (Snehana), which is the most crucial step as it lubricates your insides and kicks off the detoxification process. This internal oleation process includes consuming ghee or oil. The dosage is determined by the Ayurveda physician after evaluating the participant's digestive fire. This stage will require you to take time off from school or work, and complete rest is advised.
External Oleation: An Abhyanga (medicated oil massage) is included in this package. The massage will be scheduled at the end of the internal Oleation period. This is a 45-minute rejuvenation massage with 15 minutes of steam therapy.
Purgation Therapy: Administered towards the end of your panchakarma, after the doshas have had a chance to soften, the toxins loosened by copious amounts of ingested ghee, and prodigious amounts of oil rubbed into every crevice of your body, the final push so to speak, is virechana (therapeutic laxatives) day. The laxative, which induces bowel movements, cleanses the body of excess pitta accumulation, purifies blood and clears toxins. The laxative targets the toxins accumulated in the liver and gallbladder, thus completely cleansing the gastrointestinal tract.
Post-Panchakarma: Don’t rush into your old diet. Keep having the kitchari and start having it with steamed veggies. Slowly get back to your dosha-specific diet over the next few days.
Meditation is the perfect vehicle for rejuvenating the body, mind, and spirit. By its very nature, meditation takes you to a quiet place inside yourself and works gently to stem the fight-or-flight stress response.

During Panchakarma, many of your old and unresolved emotions will show up (coz they’re buried deep within your body). Instead of getting worried or feeling bad, just be mindfully aware of these feelings and thoughts. If your Panchakarma at home is done well, you’ll feel rested and revitalized. You’ll come out of it feeling way more self-aware, confident, and blissful, and that’s when you feel the magic of Ayurveda.