Virechana Panchakarma

Virechana is a Sanskrit word that means evacuation of waste through the bowels.

Virechana is one of the five sacred Panchakarma therapies. The other four are Nasyam, Vasti, Vaman and Raktmokshana. During Virechana, a person undergoes controlled purgation for a specific period using herbal laxative medicines. It can act as a curative, preventive, and health-promoting measure.

Virechana rids the body of harmful Pitta-related disorders. When metabolism is weak – as a result of increased Pitta – one becomes more prone to diseases such as abscess, liver disorders, gastritis, skin disorders and blisters.

What Happens During Virechana?

Virechana involves 3 stages.

This is also called Purvakarma, where the patient may be required to consume medicated ghee in order to induce vomiting. Known as internal oleation therapy, this helps to dissolve fat-soluble toxins in the body. Oil massage is done for several days after this, then steaming.

The patient lies straight on the table with face upwards - a pillow or towel rolled under the neck - and arms and legs extended. Fomentation with a warm compress is performed to trigger mild sweating. Medicine is administered into each nostril, followed by a mild massage of the neck, palms, ears, shoulders and soles.

After the main procedure, the patient is recommended a Samsarjana Karma diet - rice soup or rice water followed by semi-solids then solids. This is because after emptying the bowels for 3-4 times, the body can become dehydrated. On the same evening or the following day, the patient takes a bath of lukewarm water.

How Virechana Works

It assembles toxins in the body, concentrates them in the small intestine, then eliminates them through bowel movement.
Virechana drugs induce therapeutic purgation. As these drugs are dominated by water and earth Panchmahabhuta elements, they tend to move downwards from stomach to large intestine to rectum.
The toxins inside the body accumulate in the large intestine, from where they are eliminated from the body through bowel movements in the rectum.

Benefits & indications of Virechana

Virechana therapy can benefit the following:

Detoxification of excess Pitta dosha, which can cause gastritis, stomach and intestinal ulcers, skin diseases, liver infections. By bringing the pitta dosha back into balance, it can improve the health of the digestive tract including the small intestine, liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
It alleviates mild and chronic skin disorders like acne, eczema, skin cancer and psoriasis.
It relieves headaches and anaemia, and helps manage diabetes, asthma and heart diseases.
It reduces gynaecological disorders and infertility-related issues.
It effectively treats gout, glaucoma, enlarged liver, and intestinal worms.