Definition

Pronunciation: SHOH-dah-nah

Also spelled: Sodhana

Purification; cleansing therapy

About Shodhana

Shodhana refers to purification or cleansing therapies that actively eliminate toxins and excess doshas from the body. Panchakarma is the primary shodhana approach, using specific procedures to expel accumulated waste through the body's natural routes of elimination.

Shodhana is indicated when: imbalance is deep-seated, doshas have accumulated significantly, ama is present in the tissues, or chronic conditions have developed. It provides more thorough cleansing than shamana but requires sufficient strength to undergo the process.

The choice between shodhana and shamana depends on: strength of the patient, severity of imbalance, presence of ama, season, and constitution. Often, shamana prepares a patient for shodhana, and rasayana (rejuvenation) follows shodhana to rebuild the tissues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Shodhana mean?

Purification; cleansing therapy

Which tradition does Shodhana come from?

Shodhana is a key term in ayurveda.

How is Shodhana used in practice?

Shodhana refers to purification or cleansing therapies that actively eliminate toxins and excess doshas from the body. Panchakarma is the primary shodhana approach, using specific procedures to expel accumulated waste through the body's natural routes of elimination.