These are the therapies that get the body rid of toxins.
They are used when the doshas (toxins) are in excess and need to be thrown out of body through the nearest route. 

Panchakarma therapy is used in prevention or treatment of disease. They destroy the disease at the root level so it does not re-occur.

Just as a plant would regrow if the root is left intact so the disease would recur if not pulled out from its site of origin. Panchakarma is always carried out in three stages:  Preparatory, Main procedure & Post- operative.

All of the stages are equally important. Preparatory stage organises the body for proper elimination.  The digestive fire is kindled, the undigested matter within the GI tract is digested and the toxins get mobilised from the tissues.

After the treatment, the digestion and the body become weak. In order to restore the strength of both, a special diet and activities are advised for the period of 3-7 days depending on the level of the cleanse achieved.