'Health is purity and disease is impurity
So purification is the treatment.’ (old Indian saying)

Purification therapy is a unique feature of Ayurveda by which the complete cure and non recurrence of disease is made possible.

The functional components (doshas, namely vatha, pitha & kapha ) move all around the body through the channels of circulation to do the normal physiological activities. The disease is the result of imbalance in the quantity and quality of the doshas. During the disease process, the unbalanced doshas get lodged in the weak parts of the channels of circulation and produce the disease symptoms. If the channels of circulation are pure and healthy, even the aggravated doshas cannot locate anywhere and produce disease

Ayurveda offers two measures in the management of a disease :

1. Pacifying therapy :- in which the unbalanced doshas are pacified with in the body itself. As this therapy don’t cleanse the channels of circulation, there is the possibility of reprovocation when exposed to similar causative factors.This therapy is suited in conditions in which there is not much vitiation of the doshas.

2. Purification therapy :- It is aimed at the complete expulsion of the unbalanced doshas and the purification of the channels of circulation. As the channels are cleansed and strengthened by this process, the chance of recurrence is nil.

Purification therapy can be implemented not only for curing diseases but to maintain health. No other systems of medicine can offer such an effective treatment measure. So we can proudly declare our superiority of Ayurveda to any other systems on account of its purification therapy.

The purification otherwise called 'Pancha karma therapy' is implemented in five ways.

Enema therapy	-	It is best for vatha imbalance.
Purgation therapy	-	Best for pitha imbalance.
Emesis therapy	-	For kapha imbalance.
Nasal drops	-	For all diseases above the neck.
Blood letting	-	Best for removing blood impurities.

Stages of the treatment

First stage :- This includes the external and internal application oils followed with fomentation or sudation. By this the unbalanced doshas lodged in the weak parts of the channels are liquified and loosened.

Main or second stage :- In this stage the loosened and liquified doshas are expelled out of the body by the appropriate purifactory procedure.

Post therapy :- This includes the regimens to be practised after the purification. This is mainly intended to augment the digestive fire.