Panchakarma - If you are interested in Ayurveda, sooner or later you will stumble across this term, because in Ayurvedic medicine the Panchakarma retreat plays a central role. If you would also like to know more about what this Ayurvedic form of treatment actually is and what it involves, then you have come to the right place!
Ayurveda Panchakarma
Where would you like to travel to?
Destination or hotel
What are you looking for?
Travel theme or indication
When & how long
Travel period
Our customers love us
Good
4.4 / 5.0
263 Customer Reviews
Very good
4.7 / 5.0
316 Customer Reviews
Very good
4.7 / 5.0
934 Customer Reviews
Ayurvedic detox retreats
The most popular hotels for Ayurveda Panchakarma
14 nights from
£3,806
Kunzmann's Hotel | SPA
S
Germany · Rhoen / Vogelsberg · Bad Bocklet
Classic Ayurveda Therapy - Panchakarma
Excellent
4.7
/510 nights from
£2,334
- 10%
Alpino Atlântico Ayurveda Hotel
Portugal · Madeira · Canico de Baixo
Ayurveda Slimming
Marvelous
4.6
/514 nights from
£766
- 25%
Ypsylon Resort
COMFORT
Sri Lanka · West Coast Sri Lanka · Beruwala
Classic Ayurveda Therapy - Slimming
Marvelous
4.6
/511 nights from
£941
Oasis Aramaya Ayurveda Beach Resort
COMFORT
Sri Lanka · Southwest Coast · Ambalangoda
Intensive Ayurveda Therapy
Marvelous
4.6
/510 nights from
£576
- 15%
Nikki's Nest
COMFORT
India · South-West India / Kerala · Trivandrum
Classic Ayurveda Therapy
Marvelous
4.6
/514 nights from
£2,439
TOMESA Fachklinik & Gesundheitszentrum
COMFORT
Germany · Rhoen / Vogelsberg · Bad Salzschlirf
Panchakarma Therapy
Great
4.1
/5More popular destinations
Popular topics
Ayurveda Panchakarma therapy for your health and wellness
We have compiled the most important information on the subject of Ayurvedic Panchakarma treatment for you, so that you can find answers to your questions about the treatments, the procedure and the benefits of Panchakarma therapy.
Plus, with SpaDreams, your journey to wellness doesn't stop here. Explore and book our exclusive Panchakarma offers directly on this page, unlocking the path to rejuvenation and inner harmony. Let SpaDreams be your trusted companion on your quest for holistic well-being. Start your transformative journey today!
Our expert team of Ayurveda specialists is dedicated to ensuring that your journey to wellness is seamless and tailored to your unique needs. You can opt for a full package that includes a personalized program, convenient transfers, and even flight arrangements, offering you a stress-free and comprehensive holiday experience.
Definition: What is Panchakarma?
Panchakarma in Ayurveda refers to the detoxification or cleansing therapy aimed at preventing or treating diseases and restoring the balance between body and soul. The imbalance can be caused, for example, by improper diet, stress, environmental factors or even private problems. The body becomes unsettled and toxins and waste products can be deposited, which also causes the doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha, the basic energetic forces - to become unbalanced. In the long run, this can promote the development of disease.
Translated, Panchakarma means "fivefold action" or "fivefold purification", or "the five actions". This refers to the five procedures of Ayurvedic detoxification, with the help of which the body is cleansed of excess doshas and thus brought back into balance. Below you will learn more about the different treatments and the course of the Panchakarma therapy.
Components of a Panchakarma retreat
In Ayurveda, different external treatments are used. These include, of course, different types of massages. Here, the whole-body synchronous massage (Abhyanga), the whole-body powder massage (Udvartana, with an exfoliation of barley and chickpea flour) and the whole-body synchronous massage with raw silk gloves (Garshana) are among the most important forms of massage. In addition to oil massages, other oil treatments (snehana) are also used, such as the typical forehead oil pouring shirodhara. In order to flush the substances dissolved by the massages from the tissues, herbal steam treatments are used.
In addition to the external treatments, the purification of the body is also carried out internally. For example, in the morning you take ghee, which is purified, sometimes medicated butter fat. This penetrates the cells and dissolves the doshas. Ayurvedic herbs and spices are also used to activate metabolic waste products and to support the body after cleansing. The five cleansing techniques of Panchakarma therapy are also among the internal treatments and will be further explained below.
The right, dosha-compliant diet plays a central role in Ayurveda. Therefore, your diet plan is also adapted to your dosha or constitution type to rebalance the doshas. Ayurvedic food is mostly vegetarian or vegan, from time to time there is white meat or white fish. It is important to eat a balanced diet, which in Ayurveda means that all tastes should be included. These include: sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter and tart/ astringent. Another important concept is Agni, the digestive fire, which is considered to have important therapeutic significance.
To restore the balance between body and soul, relaxation techniques are also an important part of an Ayurveda retreat. These include above all yoga and meditation, but also breathing exercises. In many Ayurveda hotels and resorts, yoga and meditation are on the program daily, others offer it at least several times a week.
Ayurveda Panchakarma retreat: indications & benefits
A classical Ayurveda Panchakarma therapy can be used for the treatment of numerous diseases. For example, it is beneficial for the following conditions:
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Respiratory diseases
- Burn-out
- gynaecological disorders
- Skin diseases
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Headaches and migraines
- Stomach and intestinal diseases
- Psychosomatic diseases
- Sleep disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Stress
- Tinnitus
The course of a Panchakarma therapy
Diagnosis
An integral part of any Ayurvedic treatment is the consultation with the Ayurvedic doctor or specialist at the beginning of your stay. Through an intensive examination and various procedures such as pulse diagnosis, the doctor or specialist can accurately determine the state of your doshas and localize imbalances.
Your constitutional type is then determined. For this purpose, your Ayurvedic specialist will have an in-depth conversation with you and will also take a close look at external features such as your skin, hair, fingernails and eyes. Based on all of these observations, the specialist will create an individual treatment plan that is tailored to your exact needs. From the variety of Panchakarma treatments, the most suitable for you will be selected and the diet will also be adapted to your Dosha type. During the course of the retreat, the Ayurvedic specialist will ensure during further consultations that the chosen treatments will also help you.
The subsequent Panchakarma thearpy, with the treatments individualized for you depending on the focus, is divided into three main phases :
Purvakarma - Preparatory phase
The aim of the preparation phase is to activate the doshas and the metabolic waste products(ama) accumulated in the tissues. Ayurvedic herbs and spices as well as internal and external oil treatments are used for this purpose. Here, for example, the ghee described above is used to release the doshas and waste products in the cells. External oil massages are used to eliminate the toxins and waste products that have accumulated in the tissues.
Pradhanakarma/Panchakarma - The fivefold purification
During the main phase of the Panchakarma treatment, the five effective cleansing techniques mentioned above are used. With their help, the previously dissolved excess doshas are directed out of the body. Ayurveda knows these five methods:
- Vamana - therapeutic vomiting
- Virechana - laxative therapy
- Basti/Vasti - intestinal enema
- Nasya - nasal and sinus treatment
- Raktamokshana - blood purification therapy
However, in most cases - and especially for European guests- purification is performed only by Virechana or Vasti. Therapeutic vomiting and blood purification are very rarely used.
Paschatkarma - Post-treatment
In the regeneration phase after the treatment, the effects of the Panchakarma therapy can unfold. During this phase your body and mind are further strengthened, for example with the help of herbal preparations, soothing oil massages, steam baths, powder massages and doshagerecht rebuilding diet. Yoga and meditation are also important components of the Paschatkarma phase.
SpaDreams tip: Since each phase of the Panchakarma retreat takes its time, you should stick to the recommended travel time of at least 2 weeks for your Ayurvedic detox. This way, the appropriate time can be planned for the purification, reconstruction and strengthening phases.
Find the right Ayurveda accommodation
For your Panchakarma therapy we have a variety of different Ayurveda hotels and resorts in our portfolio. Especially in India and Sri Lanka, many facilities are certified as Ayurveda hospitals and work closely with the Ayurveda clinics of the country, where the Ayurveda doctors, specialists and therapists were trained. Many of them come from traditional families and have years of experience in Ayurvedic medicine.
Also the Ayurveda specialists of our hotels and resorts in Nepal, the United Arab Emirates or in Europe can draw from many years of experience. Some doctors even come from India or Sri Lanka themselves. At SpaDreams we place great emphasis on the authenticity of the Ayurveda therapies, so we always ensure that the hotels and resorts for original Ayurveda retreats are also specialized in Ayurveda.
Which Ayurveda hotel suits you best depends entirely on your personal wishes and requirements. Our travel experts will be happy to help you find the right Ayurveda accommodation.
The three most popular destinations for Panchakarma
In the birthplace of Ayurvedic healing, authentic Panchakarma retreats await you in traditional Ayurveda hotels or luxurious resorts. Enjoy the dreamlike location of your accommodations on a palm-fringed sandy beach, in the mountains or in the midst of tea plantations. The warm hospitality of the hotels and their staff will make your stay even more enjoyable.
Besides India, Sri Lanka is also a popular destination for authentic Panchakarma retreats. From traditional Ayurveda hotels to beach resorts, there is something for everybody. The island boasts beautiful nature, long sandy beaches and many exciting excursion destinations, such as temple complexes or colorful markets.
For your Ayurveda Panchakarma you do not necessarily have to fly far! There are even many hotels in Europe, for example in Germany, Austria or Spain that offer authentic Ayurveda retreats. Iin the wonderful surroundings of these holiday destinations you can find many hotels where you can experience the Far Eastern art of healing close to home.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about Panchakarma
Ayurveda Panchakarma - What are the experiences?
Feel free to take a look at the customer reviews on our Ayurveda hotel pages. Our customers have shared their experiences there, so you can find first-hand information.
How long should a Panchakarma retreat last?
For a Panchakarma retreat you should plan enough time due to the special structure. 7 nights are not enough for this Ayurveda retreat, so many hotels offer classic Panchakarma therapies only from 14 nights. 21 nights would be preferable.
How much does a Panchakarma retreat cost at SpaDreams?
Thanks to our great prices, you can book a classic Ayurveda Panchakarma retreats with us from about 700 euros per person for 14 nights.
Which cleansing techniques are used in authentic Ayurveda?
In order to purify the body, mind and emotions - which is the main treatment of the Ayurvedic cleansing therapy - various cleansing techniques are used in the original Ayurveda. These can range from inhalations to enemas to therapeutic vomiting. Especially in Germany and Europe, but also in Asia, consideration is given to the Western mentality, so that the more extreme cleansing techniques of Ayurvedic Detox are not used. Here, more attention is paid to your well-being and mainly treated with massages, herbal oil treatments, sweating sessions and full body wraps.