DETOXIFICATION AND CLINICAL RECOVERY: A COMPARATIVE CASE REPORT OF PANCHAKARMA AND A MODERN WELLNESS-BASED DETOX PROGRAM

Background: Detoxification interventions are increasingly used for managing lifestyle-related metabolic disturbances; however, comparative clinical observations between traditional Ayurvedic detoxification and modern wellness-based detox programs remain limited. Case Presentation: This comparative case report describes two middle-aged individuals presenting with comparable metabolic complaints, including overweight status, mild dyslipidaemia, elevated inflammatory markers, and fatigue. Patient A (44-year-old male) underwent a structured Panchakarma protocol incorporating Poorva Karma, Basti, and Paschat Karma over a 14-day period. Patient B (42-year-old female) participated in a modern wellness-based detox program consisting of short-term juice fasting, a raw vegan diet, herbal teas, and colon hydrotherapy for the same duration. Outcomes: Both patients demonstrated improvements in biochemical and clinical parameters following their respective interventions. Patient A showed greater reductions in C-reactive protein (9.4 → 4.2 mg/L), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (49 → 31 U/L), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (144 → 123 mg/dL), and fasting blood glucose (108 → 97 mg/dL), along with complete resolution of fatigue and marked improvement in digestive symptoms. Patient B exhibited moderate biochemical improvements and partial symptomatic relief, with notable weight reduction but persistent hunger and fatigue during the intervention. Conclusion: In this limited comparative observation, Panchakarma was associated with broader biochemical and symptomatic improvements compared with a modern wellness-based detox program. These findings are exploratory and underscore the need for larger, controlled clinical studies to further evaluate the comparative efficacy and sustainability of different detoxification approaches.