Concerns About Panchakarma Experience and Digestive Health - #46051
I travelled for panchakarma with a dr from Kerala in my country, Australia. The Dr never mentioned that during PK,he would not be the dr seeing me daily. A junior dr saw me daily. I had pitta and vata imbalance. Vata consitution, vata in majja. Missing meals is a big issue for me. The Ayurvedic dr did not communicate clearly from the start. I had questions that were not really ever answered by the dr seeing me daily. The treatment schedule was such that I missed meals and lunch ended up being 4:30pm Sometimes. This causes huge stress to my body. I called the dr upset and crying second Day at 8:30pm crying because I wasexhumando wanted to sleep soon. But hungry because I hadn’t eaten enough during the day. He told me tk to eat even at 8:30pm. I did but but still was hungry from lack of nutrition that day. Eating again at 12:00am abd sleeping at 2:30am. The next day I was scheduled to fast until after my vasti as 12pm meaning I would eat first meal around 2:30/3pm. I called him stressed on the day as this was going to be too much for me. He changed my appointment to 9am. After 3 days ghee Virechana abd 8 Bastis, poor sleep and very poor eating schedule my bldy felt exhausted. I had while body tingling, some breathlessness.the dr told me I was physically fine. Even though my bldy was experiencing severe stress. I had a bad experience with shirodhara with Jnr dr. Oil temp was inconsistent it was noisy and it was not a good experience. I told her the oil was moving too fast but she did not adjust. Also Abhyanga with her had no clear sequence. She also started from Any side, not from the left for females that I was trained to do (I have diploma in Ayurveda). Sometimes she missed my hands/feet. Afterall of this and the 8 Bastis I was exhausted. My vata very high. Anxiety Is now an issue. Ibelieve the dr should have modified the treatment when I had breathlessness and internal trembling. But she didn’t. Senior dr have not taken my pulse since - he hasn’t explained to me even what my issues are (dihestive issues are my main concern). I had improvements but due to stress my Agni is now weak again and toxins are beginning again in my digestion. After speaking to senior dr on phone yesterday after being very anxious, he told me thatthisis anopportunity to learn about Myself - I already knew I am a very sensitive (vata pitta) person. Missing meals is a HUGE no no for me. I feel let down by this Dr and he does not even seem to acknowledge responsibility. I feel as the Dr, he should have accounted for this. I’m not even sure if I gained anything now as digestive system is very upset. He started me on ashwaghanda but I feel it was too late and the bldy is already deeply stressed.I am still experiencing stress from what I believe tk be poor planning and execution of PK
How would you describe your current digestive health?:
- Poor, constant problemsHow often do you experience stress or anxiety related to your meals?:
- Almost alwaysWhat was your typical meal schedule before the Panchakarma treatment?:
- Very late meals oftenDoctor-recommended remedies for this condition


Doctors' responses
It seems you had a troubling experience during your Panchakarma treatment, which can be quite challenging when communication and proper care are missing. Panchakarma, while highly beneficial, should be personalized, especially considering your constitution and current imbalances.
Your concerns about missing meals and the stress it caused during the treatment highlight the sensitivity of your vata constitution. When the vata dosha is aggravated, it can lead to symptoms like anxiety, breathlessness, and poor sleep, particularly affecting the nervous system. This imbalance can indeed worsen if not addressed timely with appropriate dietary and lifestyle modifications during Panchakarma.
Eating timings during therapies, such as Virechana (purging) or Basti (enemas), must be carefully managed to maintain Agni, your digestive fire, and ensure nourishment. The experience you had, with irregular meal timings and late-night eating, possibly disrupted your Agni, leading to the digestive issues you’re experiencing now.
The practice of Vata-pacifying diet is key. Regular meals, avoiding cold or raw foods, and incorporating warm, cooked, soupy meals can nurture the vata imbalance. Small, regular meals help in supporting digestion, thus avoiding further stress on the body. Introducing warm teas like ginger or cumin can aid in digestion and soothe vata dominancy.
In terms of Shirodhara and Abhyanga, these should be calming, consistent, and done with understanding of your prakriti. Discrepancies you encountered may have further elevated vata, leading to anxiousness. It would be wise to halt any taxing procedures until your balance is restored.
Ashwagandha is beneficial for stress, but optimal results come from a balanced intake. Ensuring you are resting well, engaging in gentle yoga or pranayama to ground vata, and having consistent communication with a practitioner who fully understands your needs is vital.
Consult an experienced Ayurvedic doctor locally for guidance or pulse diagnosis, to realign your treatment plan to suit your current condition. They can assess your health more intimately, directing you towards a regimen that reinforces your digestion and eliminates toxins effectively without further upheaval. Prioritize gentle care and nourishing routines to regain your balance and improve your agni.
Thank you for your response 🙏🏻

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