PANCHKARMA IN KAUMARBHRITYA

Dr. Varsha Deshmukh* and Dr. Rahul Pawade

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda is the science of life in which treatment is branched into two namely shodhana chikitsa (detoxification therapy) and shaman chikitsa (curative therapy). Shaman therapy includes deepan (apetizer), pachana (digestive) etc. and shodhana therapy includes panchakarma. Panchakarma is a set of five therapies mainly for cleansing the body toxins to achieve balanced state of body that facilitates rejuvenation. In pediatric patients, panchakarma procedures are equally effective as they are in adult. Childhood is very crucial period where child pick up growth and development with respect to physical, mental and social aspect. In pediatric patients; dosha (bio-elements), dushya (blood,bones etc) and malas (waste product of body) which responsible for different vyadhis (diseases) are same as found in adult. Dosha, dushya and mala differed in their quantity which is small in children based on body weight, age and strength of child. Some classical texts consider balyavastha (childhood period) as anarha (contraindicated) for panchkararma therapies up to ten years of age but Kashyapa being pediatrician advises panchakarma from first year of life. Acharya Kashyap mentioned matra (dose), kala (time), vaya (age), arha (indication) and (anharh) contraindication of the patients. All these an effort will be made in this article to discuss regarding the application of specific panchakarma procedure in pediatric patients.

Keywords: Panchkarma, Shodhana, Shamana, Pediatric.