Rakthamoksha or blood letting is the last, but most complex form of body purification therapies in Ayurvedic panchakarma. Toxins from the gastro-intestinal track accumulate in the blood and reach every tissue and cell of the body. This toxins cause different problems like infections, skin diseases, and diseases that affect heart, liver, spleen, etc.

Excess pitta can be transferred to raktha (blood). Pitta is originally produced from the red blood cells disintegrated at the liver. Thus pitta and rakta are closely related. Excess pitta converts to toxins of the blood.

Blood letting automatically stops after some time. It is as if the body knows how much blood it needs to throw out to attain swastya or healthy condition.

Conditions like acne, rashes, eczema, chronic itching, enlarged liver or spleen etc are the conditions for which blood letting is advocated.

Persons with anemia, edema, body weakness, etc are not advised to take rakta moksha. Children, elderly people, pregnant woman, etc are also not allowed to take this therapy.

Nasya or nasal administration of medicines is an important treatment in panchakarma method of Ayurvedic treatment. According to Ayurveda concepts, nose is the doorway to brain and consciousness.

According to yoga and Ayurveda, Prana, the life force enters our system through our nose. The doshas of the body accumulated in sinus, throat, nose or head can block the movement of prana. Nasya therapy is a method of eliminating the accumulation of such doshas from sensitive areas. Prana is responsible for healthy functioning of nervous system, memory, and intellectual qualities of humans.

Nasya also address problems like sinus congestion, migraine, certain eye and ear problems, etc. Improvement of breathing is another application of nasya.

There are six main types of nasya, they are:

Pradhama or virechan nasya characterized by blowing of dry powders to the nose. Headaches, heaviness in head, cold, sinusitis, epilepsy, drowsiness, etc are the conditions that attract the use of prahamana nasya. It also will eliminate negative emotions like greediness.

Bruhana Nasya (nutrition nasya) involves the use of nutritional ghee, oils, salts, shatavari extracts, ashwagandha, milk, etc. It is to normalize vata imbalances like headaches, nervousness, fear, dizziness, negative emotions, dry sinus, etc.

Shaman Nasya (sedative nasya) is for pitta dosha disorders.

Navana Nasya (decoction nasya) is used for problems associated with vata-pitta or kapha-pitta combination disorders. Medicated oils are applied to the nostrils.

Marshya Nasya (ghee-oil nasya)

Prati Marshya (daily oil nasya) – dip the clean little finger in medicated oil or ghee and insert into each nostril to lubricate the nasal passage. Care should be taken not to harm the sensitive lining tissue.

Basti or Vasti is the third karma of Panchakarma. It is administered to lower conditions occurred due to the aggravation of vata or vata dosha. Basti or enema therapy involves introduction of medicated oils or medicinal preparation to the rectum. Basti is administered for almost all kinds of vata disorders. It is also used to treat constipation, chest pain, back ache, arthritis, sexual disorders, muscle cramps, headaches, etc.

Basti is further divided into eight types, they are:
Anuvasana (oil enema) used to treat pure vata disorders.

Niruha Ashthapana (decoction enema) is used to address conditions like nervous diseases, fever, certain urinary problems, acidity, etc.

Uttara Basti (basti through the upper side or sexual organs) is to treat sexual disorders. Semen, ovulation disorders are treated. This therapy is not for persons with diabetes.

Matra Basti (daily oil enema) is for persons continuing too much physical exertion like walking too much, lifting heavy objects, indulgence in sexual activities, and for persons with chronic vata aggravation related disorders. It gives the person strength and helps in elimination of waste products quickly.

Karma Basti is a schedule of 30 bastis.

Kala Basti – 15 bastis; 10 oil bastis and 5 decoction bastis

Yoga Basti  – schedule of 8 bastis; 5 oil and 3 decoction

Enema is administered in both kalabasti and yogabasti as a combination of both oil enema and decoction.

Bruhana Basti (nurtritional enema) is for nourishment to body. Highly nutritive substances like bone marrow soup, shatavari, ashwagandha etc are used.

Oil enema is not directed for persons with diabetes, obesity, digestion problems, cough, etc.  Nutritional enemas are not persons with diabetes, obesity and lymphatic obstruction.