An Ayurvedic approach to treatment of a disease consists of two major procedures: Shamana Chikitsa (Pacification Therapy); and Shodhana Chikitsa (Purification Therapy). Shamana Chikitsa is a more conservative treatment, designed for subsiding or alleviation of vitiated Doshas. On the other hand, Shodhana Chikitsa is a more radical treatment aimed at complete eradication of vitiated Doshas from the body, thereby removing its root cause and preventing its recurrence.

Shodhana Chikitsa consists of physico-physiological measures advocated to expel the vitiated Doshas, called Karmas, which are five in number and therefore the name Panchakarma. They are Vamama (emesis), Virechana (purgation), Vasti or Basti (medicated enema); Nasya (nasal administration of medication) and Rakta Mokshana (bloodletting). Simply put, Panchakarma is a personalised treatment to cleanse the body of all unwanted wastes and vitiated Doshas from the mind-body complex.

Each of the Panchakarma treatments is divided into three parts; Purva Karma (preparatory measures), Pradhana Karma (main Shodhana measure such as Basti etc.,), and Pashchat Karma (post therapy), such as a dietetic regimen after Shodhana.