Important: Any medical condition should be assessed and treated by a registered medical doctor. If you are considering any traditional cleansing programme, please discuss it with your doctor first, especially if you have any medical condition, are pregnant, nursing or taking any prescribed medication. The information below shares the classical Ayurvedic perspective on Panchakarma and is informational only. It is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment or care.
Panchakarma: a classical Ayurvedic perspective
Panchakarma is a traditional Ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation practice described in classical Ayurvedic texts. The name derives from the Sanskrit words Pancha (five) and Karma (actions). Classical texts describe five traditional procedures that are part of the Panchakarma framework. These procedures are offered at Om Vedic Heritage Centre as traditional wellness practices. They are not a medical treatment and do not diagnose or treat any medical condition.
The five classical procedures
Vamana is a classical cleansing procedure described in Ayurvedic texts in the context of Kapha balance. In traditional practice it is undertaken under qualified guidance.
Virechana is a classical cleansing procedure described in Ayurvedic texts in the context of Pitta balance. It is traditionally undertaken under qualified guidance.
Vasti is a classical procedure described in Ayurvedic literature in the context of Vata balance. It is one of the most referenced practices in classical Panchakarma.
Nasyam is a traditional nasal oil ritual described in classical Ayurvedic texts as part of the daily and seasonal routine.
Raktamokshana is a classical procedure described in Ayurvedic texts. It is referenced here for completeness of the classical framework only and is not offered at our centre.
How a Panchakarma programme is typically structured
A traditional Panchakarma programme is structured in three classical phases: Purvakarma (preparatory phase), Pradhanakarma (main cleansing phase) and Paschatkarma (post-cleansing care including dietary routine). Each guest’s programme is designed with their Ayurvedic practitioner, based on classical considerations such as individual constitution, season and schedule.
During the consultation, our Ayurvedic practitioner may use traditional methods such as pulse-reading and classical questioning to understand your constitution. These are traditional Ayurvedic consultation methods. They are not a medical diagnosis.
Traditional accompanying therapies
Our Panchakarma programmes typically include traditional supporting therapies such as:
- Abhyanga: a traditional full-body oil ritual
- Shirodhara: a traditional continuous oil pouring over the forehead
- Swedana: a traditional steam ritual
- Kizhi: a traditional herbal bolus ritual
These are traditional wellness rituals included for comfort and classical completeness. They are not medical treatments and do not diagnose or treat any medical condition.
A note on scope of practice
Our Ayurvedic practitioners are not registered medical practitioners under the Singapore Medical Registration Act. The information on this page is informational only. For any medical condition, please consult a registered medical doctor. Do not stop or change prescribed medication without medical advice. A Traditional and Complementary Therapy qualification.