Ayurvedic medicine is assigned to three ranges according to its origin:

• vegetable
• animal
• mineral

Animal products are e.g. wax, honey, or fat. Gemstones, iron, lime etc. belong to the mineral products. In most cases they are applied as mixture: Ayurvedic medicine may have the form of ointments, powder, juices and oils.

According to Ayurveda the moment of taking the medicine is crucial. Some medicaments have to be taken with sober stomach. Others with every bite of a meal or with every second bite. But similar to Western medicine there are regulations such as taking the medicine before the meal or several times daily.

Cleansing Therapies

In order to reach a reconciliation of the Doshas, Ayurveda tradition recommends a combination of three ways. However, they should only be applied by a trained Ayurveda therapist! The important aspects are:

• Detoxification
• Recovery
• Nutrition

Panchakarma - the Path of Detoxification

Panchakarma can be translated as “the five actions”. These are the five general physical therapies of Ayurveda. They complement each other in their healing effects. Thus, a thorough and deep cleansing and detoxification of the body is achieved.

Pollutants and body poisons are eliminated systematically. As a consequence especially the constitution of chronical patients often improves. But also healthy people may gain more joy and quality of life.

The detoxification takes place in three steps:

• The poisonous substances are dissolved: e.g. by external or internal application of essential oils.
• The poisonous substances are washed from the tissue by thermal treatments.
• The poisonous substances are removed by careful purging.