Ayurvedic Therapy Chikitsa

Type of Chikitsa therapy

Associated therapies

Effect of therapy

Shodhana – Cleansing and Detoxification

Pancha-karma

Marmani act as avenues of cleansing and detoxification of toxins and unwanted accumulations & impurities for their related doshas, tissues, organs and channels. Facilitate cleansing of vata dosha and help re-establish normal directional flows to prevent further imbalance:

Prana Vayu – flows inwards

Udana Vayu – rises upwards

Apana Vayu – pushes downwards

Samana Vayu – moves horizontally

Vyana Vayu – circulates throughout body

To be used when doshas are aggravated to a point of necessary expulsion.

Shamana – Palliation of Doshas via Marmani

Fasting

Exercise

Pranayama (breath control)

Sun/moon bathing

Oil massage

Application of herbal pastes

Pacifies aggravated doshas by stimulating marmani to enkindle agni and pacify doshas, but does not eliminate excess doshas from the body.

Milder therapy than Shodhana, recommended when the body is too weak to undergo panchakarma or when doshas are aggravated but not ripe enough to be expelled.

Rasayana- Rejuvenation via marmani

Stimulates vital sadyah pranahara marmni where ojas, tejas & prana are most abundant.

A supportive therapy that nourishes and rejuvenates the tissues at a cellular level. Used to unfold rasa and restore body’s innate intelligence to maintain optimal function, after doshas have been pacified and organs, tissues and channels cleansed.

Apunarbhava Chikitsa – preventative therapy through maramni

Dinacharya

Healthy diet

Suitable exercise Yoga

Meditation

Pranayama

Incorporates personalised daily routine according to time of the year adjusted to an individual’s unique constitution (prakruti) and present imbalance (vikruti).

Daily massage (dinacharya) is a daily self oil massage to stimulate marmani, communicating with tissues, organs and channels to promote healthy functioning. This in turn releases stagnant emotions, pacifices doshas and helps prevent illness.

Sadyah Phaladai Chikitsa – marmani as first aid therapy

Herbal regimens

Gives immediate results

Tanmatra – five element chikista

Sound therapy

Chromotherapy

Massage

Olfactory therapy

Tanmatra chikitsa uses sensory pathways as an avenue for treatment; sound therapy through sounds vibrations; touch therapy through massage and marma chikitsa; visual therapy through colours in chromotherapy; olfactory therapy through essential oils and aromatherapy.

Tanmatra

Element

Cognitive Organ

Sensory perception

Associated therapy

Effect

Shabda (sound)

Space

Ears

Hearing

Mantra chikitsa – vibrations of sacred sanskrit syllables according to associated chakra

Balances space element of cell and restore health. Marmani occupy space within the nervous tissue and on the surface of the body and as such act as doorways for sound to penetrate.

Sparsha (touch)

Air

Skin

Feeling

Marma Chikitsa – connected predominantly to vata dosha and prana vayu

Improves cellular communication

Rupa (colour)

Fire

Eyes

Seeing

Chromotherapy

Enhances agni and balances cellular metabolism

Rasa (Taste)

Water

Tongue

Tasting

Dietary therapy

Improves cellular nutrition

Ganha (odour)

Earth

Nose

Smelling

Aromatherapy – Essential oils, attars and incense triggers the olfactory pathways and influence mind, body and spirit.

Creates mineral balance at cellular level

Taste

Doshic influence

Positive effect

Detrimental effect

Sweet (earth + water)

V- P – K+

Love

Attachment

Sour (water + fire)

V- P+ K+

Determination, discrimination

Judgement

Salt (earth + fire)

V – P+ K+

Enthusiasm

Agitation

Bitter (air + ether)

V+ P- K-

Withdrawal, introspection

Harshness, austerity

Pungent (air + fire)

V+ P+ K-

Comprehension, digestion of experiences

Anger

Astringent (air + earth)

V+ P- K-

Compactness, binding, holding together, integrity

Repression, ‘stuck’ emotions