The present book has been divided into three main sections consisting of General considerations, methodology and abstracts of clinical research reports on Panchakarma Therapy. First section dealts with an introduction to Panchakarma Therapy followed by Tridosha principle causation of disease, abnormalities of tridoshas, and a chapter on principles of diagnosis and treatment. In the methodology section salient features of Panchakarma Therapy along with detailed coverage of each type of treatment, viz., Snehana Swedana, Vamana, Virechana, Vasti, Nasya and Raktamokshana have been dealt with. Clinical reports had been enclosed under each type to understand the theory in practice, in the third part, abstracts of the clinical research reports of some important chronic diseases where Panchakarma treatment is very much advocated has been included. Appendix contains some of the apparatus used in the treatment along with some clinical photographs and an index of glossary of medicinal plants and substances and an index of diseases. A table of weights and measures used often in the therapy were included for proper understanding of the subject and its application.

Panchakarma is a long recognised therapeutic modality practiced in one way or the other throughout the world by physicians to alleviate the suffering humanity but practiced in a systematic manner by traditional Ayurvedists. The ancient Ayurvedic literature deals with the subject elaborately and is being practiced even today in the country quite satisfactorily. The present book also deals with the subject matter in a similar fashion as described in the Ayurvedic classics such as Charaka Samita Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridayam and Madhava Nidanam. The only difference is its clinical application as on today in the major Ayurvedic hospitals and research centres to tune to the modern conditions of living.