Other articles by Andrew Weil:

Ask Dr. Weil : Growing method doesn't determine nutrition value Ask Dr. Weil : Monitor toxins that body burden tests measure Ask Dr. Weil : Nasal-spray flu vaccine is safe for kids over 2 Supersweet, natural stevia appears to be safe Olive oil adulteration is a tough problem to solve Registered dietitians and certified nutritionists No reason to buy supplemental bovine colostrum No clear evidence on cell phone's long-term risks Soy eaten in whole, unrefined forms is preferable Chemical used for sterilizing almonds a concern

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Q I am considering undergoing the ayurvedic treatment called panchakarma for five days at an ayurvedic center. Do you think this is worthwhile?

A Panchakarma is an ayurvedic cleansing program for body and mind. Ayurvedic medicine, which originated within the ancient Vedic tradition of India, defines health as a body free of toxins, a mind at peace, emotions calm and happy, wastes efficiently eliminated, and organs functioning smoothly. Panchakarma (literally "five works") is designed to restore health and wellness by cleansing the body of toxins with five methods: induction of vomiting, intestinal purging (with herbal laxatives), medicated enemas, nasal irrigation with medicated oils, and bloodletting (traditionally with leeches or by cutting a vein.)

In modern ayurvedic practice, people go to ayurvedic clinics, spas or resorts for panchakarma, where they eat carefully prepared food (generally bland and warming, like rice mixed with lentils), reduce physical activity and stimulation, and avoid exposure to cold. They sit in steam baths and get frequent vigorous massages with oil and herbal extracts, all designed to mobilize toxins and facilitate their elimination from the body. The ayurvedic doctor in charge of the facility prescribes the individual treatments and may suggest doing only one or two of the five methods, but, even so, the recommended time for panchakarma is 14 to 21 days. Less than a week is cutting it really short.

Panchakarma is widely available in India (I underwent a 10-day version in Mysore a few years ago that focused on purging — I skipped the vomiting, enemas and bloodletting). In the United States, the foremost authority on panchakarma is Dr. Vasant Lad of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, and that is where I would send patients and friends to try it (www.ayurveda.com). In an introduction to panchakarma published by the institute, Dr. Lad explains that the particular therapies recommended depend on your constitution and disorder. Based on my experience in India, I'm not sure that it's possible to undergo authentic panchakarma here. (For one thing, it requires the services of many therapists per client, and labor costs here would be prohibitive.) I suggest consulting Dr. Lad or one of his associates at the Ayurvedic Institute to check out the program you're contemplating and the practitioner who will supervise it.

Q My daughter, age 19, wants to go on birth control pills to regulate her periods. She's living in a dorm, and it seems most of the girls in her dorm are using the pill to do just that. I'm very much opposed to it and am looking for ammunition to make my case.

A Birth control pills are commonly used to regulate menstrual periods in women whose periods are irregular (coming too often or not often enough). The pill can also reduce the length of the period and the amount of bleeding and can help decrease menstrual cramps. Menstruation is hormonally regulated, but it can be thrown off by stress, too much exercise, a poor diet or weight gain or loss. It is also important to remember that "regular" is relative — the typical cycle is 28 days, but cycles ranging from 22 to 45 days are still considered normal.

The pill is popular among high school and college girls as a treatment for both irregular periods and acne. But my colleague Victoria Maizes, M.D., notes that a request for the pill may be an indirect way of asking for protection from pregnancy and suggests that this may be the time for a candid conversation about sexuality.

Sexually active young women should know that while the pill is a very effective contraceptive when used as directed, it won't protect them against sexually transmitted diseases, including herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, genital warts and HIV. For that, they need to make sure that their partners are using condoms.

Your daughter should also be aware of the potential side effects of the pill. These may include nausea (it helps to take the pill with a meal or with a snack at bedtime), breast tenderness, dizziness and headaches (women who have severe migraines should NOT take it). These side effects may disappear after a few months of use, but some girls also experience mood changes and gain weight (some may actually lose weight, but I wouldn't count on that effect).

The more serious risks are high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attack and stroke, but these are rare. Problems occur most often among women who smoke, particularly those over the age of 35, who are 40 times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than nonsmokers.

Although today's pills are safer than ever, I favor non-pharmacological methods of contraception, but that's another issue. If your daughter's periods are irregular enough to be disturbing, the pill may be the best treatment available, although there's no guarantee that they will remain regular if she stops taking it. And be sure to have that talk about sex.