Virechana - Purgation

One of the 5 branches of Pachakarma, Virechana is best for Pitta related conditions where heat, inflammation and acidity are involved. The process of Virechana aims to direct all the toxins (ama) throughout the body towards the GI tract to be eliminated through the bowels.

Each Virechana Program has three main steps. To prepare the body to receive medicated ghee, to loosen the toxins (ama) in the tissues and to purge the toxins (ama) out through the bowels.

Please reserve a journal and pen entirely for this process. We need specific notes throughout to help with adjusting your program along the way. Your Ayurvedic Practitioner & Team will be checking in to support you throughout your Pancha Karma program.

Step 1. Purva Karma (pre-procedure):

Deepana (strengthening digestive fire)

Pachana (metabolizing excess waste material)

Days 1-5 of your Panchakarma program are to prepare the body for receiving medicated ghee. Ghee is heavy and will need to move into all cells of the body, for this we need strong digestion. Each day 15 minutes before your meals take 1 tsp of Pre-digestive Churna (powder)with a little warm water to improve digestive fire.

Meals during this time should be vegetarian, freshly cooked and easily digestible. Avoid raw food, dairy, nuts, processed foods like chips, meats, ferments like alcohol, vinegar, caffeine and sugar. Please see recipe guide.

A morning routine (Dinacharya) that includes Tongue Scraping, Dry Brushing (Garshana), Self Oil Massage (Abhyanga) with Pitta pacifying oil, and Yoga Therapy is encouraged daily during this period of the process.

Step 2. Snehapana (Internal Oleation):

Days 6-11 of your Panchakarma program are to soften the tissues with medicated ghee, moving deep seated toxins to the surface. The herbal formula chosen for your medicated ghee (gritta) is designed to specifically target the area of concern. Carefully calculated amounts of ghee are administered each day until the body reaches saturation (sneha siddha lakshana).

First thing in the morning have your shower then, (around 9 am) on an empty stomach, please use the double boil method (indirect heat by boiling water and placing a bowl of ghee in) to warm your ghee. Then measure 40 ml of the liquified ghee and drink this ghee followed by sipping 50 ml of hot water with 1 tsp of whole Ajwain seeds. Please do not boil the Ajwain seeds as they will be too potent boiled. In your journal note the time you drank the ghee & ajwain water.

Wait to eat until you are fully hungry and please note the time when you feel hunger and eat your meal in your journal. (see recommended recipes)

After eating your first meal wait until you are fully hungry to eat again. Please note this next time you feel hunger in your journal.

The continued administration of the ghee each day is as follows:

Day 6 - 40 ml

Day 7 - 60 ml

Day 8 - 80 ml

Day 9 - 100 ml

Day 10 - 120 ml

Day 11 - 140 ml

Please note in your journal the following times for EACH DAY of ghee administration:

Ghee administration time

1st meal hunger time

2nd meal hunger time

The main goal of Snehapana is to reach saturation of all cells, bringing deep seated toxins to the surface of the body’s tissues. Please discontinue abhyanga (self oil massage) and garshana (dry brushing) during this time so as not to dislodge toxins in the body.

This is the most delicate portion of your Pancha Karma process. It is best to reduce stress and commitments during this time. Please stay warm, sip only comfortably hot water throughout Snehapana and opt for lighter forms of exercise like walking and gentle yoga. Avoid day sleeping, exposure to cold temperatures and raw food as well as any vigorous mental or physical activity.

Once the saturation point (sneha siddha lakshana) is reached (please refer to self assessment document and consult your Ayurvedic Practitioner) it is time for rest.

Step 3. Vishrama Kala (Rest Period):

Days 12-14 are reserved for rest with the aim of further manipulating the tissues and liquifying the toxins. The toxins (ama) then enter the circulatory system and the body does its natural magic of moving the toxins to the digestive tract.

On each of these three days abhyanga (oil massage) and swedana (heat/sweating) are essential. The massage further softens the tissues which hold the toxins and the heat releases them into the circulatory system.

Abhyanga is a vigorous form of Ayurvedic Massage using an oil specific to your Vikruti (current state of your doshas) and is best performed by one of our therapists at the clinic.

Swedana (heat application to induce sweating) happens directly following your massage with our infrared/sauna for 15-20 minutes or until sweating is induced.

On the third day of your rest (Vishrama Kala) it is time to begin purgation (Virechana)

Step 4. Pradhana Karma (Main Procedure) - Virechana (purgation):

Directly after your abhyanga and steam (around 7 am) on day 12, have a shower and administer 20 g of Trivut Lehya (purgative jam) (around 9 am). Following your Lehya drink 100 ml of Triphala Kshaya (decoction) to activate the properties of the Lehya.

The purgative may be administered at the clinic or at home. Bowel motions should begin 1-1.5 hours after the lehya and kshaya administration. Please allow for no work or commitments on Virechana (purgation) day so that you may be near the bathroom and as comfortable as possible.

Please note in your journal the number of forceful and immediate expulsions/bowel motions that pass following your purgative administration.

It is typical to not feel hunger until closer to the end of the purgation process. Please see self assessment document for further kshaya (decoction) administration and your Ayurvedic Practitioner will check in with you throughout this part of the process to support.

When motions have begun to cease it is time to intentionally rebuild with food.

Step 5. Paschat Karma (Post Procedure) - Samsara Jhana Krama (step by step rebuilding of agni and microbiome):

This final part of the process is very crucial to rebuild the body for success in maintaining wellbeing following your Panchakarma program. Your digestive system and digestive strength will be very low following ghee administration and purgation so it is important to take great care with your diet from here on.

The first 12 meals are outlined below. Please follow this order as closely as possible. After these 12 meals you may begin to incorporate seasonal,  fresh produce and spices. Be sure to move slowly when reintroducing further foods into your diet to avoid complications after this wonderful cleansing process.

We are rebuilding digestive fire. You will likely be hungry for your first meal which is typically lunch or dinner on your Virechana (purgation) day. For meals following your Virechana day we hope to achieve hunger for all three meals. If you are not feeling hungry but it is time for your next meal please return to taking your pre-digestive from deepana / pachana (1 tsp churna - powder with a little warm water 15 min before each meal) to stimulate hunger. Gentle yoga therapy, walking or pranayama (breathwork) may be recommended in this time as well to stimulate hunger and support continued circulation.

Following Virechana day it is very usual to not pass bowel motions for 2-3 days while the body is rebuilding and forming waste again. You have systematically cleared the body so there is nothing to worry about when not passing bowels in this time.

Based on Number of Motions, please consult your Ayurvedic Practitioner:

Meal #1-3 Peya - 1 part rice, 16 parts water - reduce to soup consistency, then add salt and 1 tsp of ghee

Meal #4,5 Vilepi - 1 part rice, 6 parts water - reduce to slightly more solid like baby food, then add salt and 1 tsp of ghee

Meal #6,7,8 Akrita Yusha (unseasoned semi-solid) - 1 part rice & dahl (1/2 & 1/2), 6 parts water, reduce to desired consistency then add salt, ghee, cumin and pipalli

Meal #9,10,11 - Krita Yusha - 1 part rice & dahl (1/2 & 1/2), 6 parts water, reduce to desired consistency then add salt, ghee, cumin, pipalli, and any further spices you wish - still no vegetables but if you are feeling the need for something more sip bone broth between meals

Meal #12 Rasam - Soup made of dahl 7 rice, still no vegetables, add any seasonings you wish

Beginning with your 13th meal you may add seasonal fresh vegetables.

At any time during this process if you have concerns or questions please reach out to your Ayurvedic Practitioner directly. We are here to guide and support you through this precious part of your healing journey.