An essential part of a complete Ayurvedic Panchakarma detoxification program is ‘Vamana’ or emesis. This is a means of eliminating toxins which easily accumulate in the mucus between mouth and stomach. If allowed to remain they can lead to bacterial, fungal and viral conditions. The easiest way to get rid of these toxins is through the mouth.

The greatest accumulation of waste (ama) is when the stomach is empty in the morning. After breakfast three or four glasses of a herbal decoction containing licorice is taken. This penetrates the cells and removes the toxins. This leads to a feeling of nausea and the contents of the stomach are expelled smoothly and effortlessly. When this is repeated two or three times in a week the stomach, throat and nasal passages are left cleansed of toxins. The patient will feel lighter and clearer.

The body has an overwhelming capacity to produce waste in the course of carrying out its normal activites. One researcher recently estimated that it would require a site of 64,000 acres of land to build a factory capable of such a range of processes. If the resulting by-products are left in the body the resulting conditions might include respiratory disorders, poor digestion, a blocked lymphatic system and obesity. An annual cleansing is as desirable as sweeping the chimneys each year. It will result in a feeling of cleanliness and lightness of the whole body, and is a valuable aid to full body rejuvenation.

Advice on careful selection of foods is given immediately after the treatment, as the body will be very sensitive for a time. The rewards are great, as this is yet another way of preventing disease from gaining a foothold in the system.