Kerala Special Treatments
Abhyangam (Medicated Oil Massage)
Abhyanga is a panchakarma procedure, which involves whole body massage by two therapists. This is a gentle, synchronized massage that is employed on the whole body using medicated oils. The massage is deep penetrating, gentle and detoxifying. Selection of oils is based on the type of prakruti or constitution you belong to.
A forty to sixty minutes of massage, followed by a steam bath or a hot shower, are enough to rejuvenate you. Abhyanga nourishes the body, infuses sound sleep, smoothens skin, improves vision and provides better physical agility. You feel lighter after abhyanga.
Abhyanga is normally recommended in vata disorders, and works wonders in case of stress-related problem. Overall, it offers a number of benefits on your physical, mental, and emotional levels.
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Physical Benefits :
- Improves skin tone
- Relaxes the whole body
- Relieves tired, aching muscles
- Loosens tight muscles
- Increases flexibility and agility
- Reduces chronic pain
- Lowers blood pressure
- Increases the flow of blood and lymph
- Calms the nervous system
- Speeds recovery from injuries and illness
- Reduces tension headaches
- Strengthens the immune system Mental Benefits :
- Improves concentration
- Calms bad temper
- Reduces mental stress
- Promotes better sleep
- Induces mental relaxation Emotional Benefits :
- Reduces anxiety
- Enhances self-image
- Promotes greater creative expression
- Provides a feeling of well-being
The word shirodhara breaks down into two ideas: "shiro," meaning head, and "dhara," which means flow. Together they form a concept that aims to bring physical and emotional balance by rejuvenating the spirit and preserving health.
Shirodhara is one of the great purification and rejuvenating therapy. Shirodhara is an ancient Ayurvedic healing practice performed in India for over 5,000 years.
This is achieved through a relaxing technique in which warmed oil is poured over a patient's forehead for an extended period of time. There are specialized forms of shirodhara as follows:
| - Tailadhara: Tailadhara is a unique form of ancient therapy of pouring oil on the forehead from a specific height and for a specific period continuously and rythmatically allowing the oil to run through the scalp and into the hair. |
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| - Ksheeradhara: Dhara means 'pouring of medicinal liquid' in the traditional system of Ayurveda. When this treatment is done with milk (Ksheera), it is called 'Ksheeradhara'. To do this, cow's milk is preferred, but buffalo's milk is also used at times. Decoctions of various herbs are added to the milk. If Ksheeradhara is done for the head alone, it is called Shirodhara and if it is for the whole body except the head, it is known as Sarvangadhara. |
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| - Takradhara: Takra means buttermilk and Dhara means pouring. This therapy calms the individual down by using medicated buttermilk, which is poured onto the forehead to relieve insomnia, depression and other stress related problems. This prevents graying of the hair, reduces headaches, increases digestive power and alleviates anorexia. In cases of psoriasis, Dhara is performed on the affected area to have a curative effect. |
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| - Jaladhara: Jaladhara is pouring of Medicated water on to your forehead. This relaxes our nerves and relieves us from heat. This process is mostly done in Summers in which ice cold water is poured. It also prevents Insomnia specialy indicated in headaches & elevated Blood Pressre. |
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Benefits :
- Ultimate mental and emotional relaxation therapy.
- Beneficial for many diseases connected with the head, neck, eyes, ears, nose and throat.
- Beneficial for many diseases of the nervous system like nerve disorders, facial palsy, paralysis and ptosis (drooping) of the eyelids.
- Beneficial for curing long standing insomnia and schizophrenia.
- Beneficial for fits in epilepsy when used in conjunction with other medicines.
- Prevents hair lose, premature graying and cracking of hair.
- Relieves headache and burning sensation of the head.
- Stimulates the nervous system giving sturdiness to the body.
- Improves digestion.
- Sharpens the sense organs.
- Improves the quality of voice.
- Gives strength to the neck and head.
- Improves the health of the skin.
- Cools the body and relieves pain.
- Invigorates the body and mind and stimulate cognitive memories.
- Gives strength to the neck and head
- Disperses negative electrical impulses that accumulate at the skull and hairline from stress.
- Renews the sweetness of life.
- Rejuvenates the entire face and softens worry lines.
- Opens the third eye of lord Shiva by this therapeutic Marma based head massage.
- Activates the pituitary gland.
- Increases spiritual awareness.
- Regulates mood and depression disorders.
- Activates the memory & stimulates the 6 & 7th charka which regulates our breathing patterns.
- Increases intuition.
- It improves concentration, intelligence, confidence and self-esteem.
Shirovasti is an Ayurvedic procedure that essentially involves keeping high specific gravity luke warm oil for a specific period on the head. This treatment is prescribed for disorders like cervical spondylosis, numbness, facial paralysis, Bell’s palsy, dryness of nose and mouth, cataract, deafness, earache, insomnia and other diseases that afflict the cranial nerves. It is also known to prevent hair fall, alopecia and graying of hair. It gives sense organs more efficiency and health.
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Benefits :
- Reduces Anxiety and Stress
- Bestows liveliness to the organs. A clear voice and firm jaws and strength to the head.
- Reduces dryness of the mouth and nose.
- Relieves body pain and muscle spasms
- Helps preserve and promote optimum health
- Helps in the healing of fractured bones
- Increases immunity and prolongs life span
- Promotes development of muscles
- Improves skin complexion
- Anti aging and rejuvenating
- Ensures better blood circulation
- Alleviates the burning sensation in the body
- A soothing and relaxing procedure
- Prescribed in clinical conditions like Paraplegia, Hemiplegia and other Vata dominant ailments
- Strengthens the body
- Rejuvenates the tissues
- Improves muscle tone
- Improves blood supply by cleansing the channels of circulation
- Effective in curing diseases of the nervous system and others such as chronic rheumatism, osteoarthritis, gout, emaciation of muscles, numbness and diseases caused by vitiation of blood
- Makes the body strong and sturdy
- Nourishes the body and increases immunity
- Promotes sharpness of vision and functions of other sense organs
- Slows down aging, premature graying of hair, baldness, appearance of wrinkles over the body and other ailments caused by ging
- Gives softness to the body by improving the health of the skin
- Relieves pain, numbness and edema
- Controls vitiated Vata
- Improves peripheral blood supply
- Cures diseases like arthritis, paralysis and convulsions
- Stimulates the nerve endings
- Treatment for Spondylitis and Sports injuries
- Helps relieve pain in lower and upper back.
- Releases muscle tension and nourishes the vata site(lower back)
- Effective in sciatica, spondylitis, degenerative disorders of disc and compressed disc.
- Osteoporosis, Arthritis, Leg pain, sciatica, spinal cord compression, hip pain etc.,
- Asthma.
- Other Respiratory ailments.
- Muscular Chest Pain.
- Heart Diseases.
- Loosens stiff joints
- Helps to cure cervical spondylitis, neck pain, paralysis and numbness of hands
- Stimulates and nourishes nerves relieving pain and numbness Intervertebral space reduction
- Loss of lordosis in cervical vertebra
- Relieves cracking of the Knee joints.
- Relives pain in arthritis of Knee Joints.
- Helps in degenerative conditions of the Knee joint.
- Cataract
- Drooping of eyelids (Ptosis)
- Night Blindness
- Corneal ulcers
- Strengthens the muscles and nerves of the eyes
- Relieves the strain due to constant glaring to the computer & TV screen
- Helps in preventing early formation of Cataract
- Reduces pain and burning sensation in the eyes
- Offers a good relaxation and cooling effect to the eyes
- It is very useful in conditions like Dry Eye
- Syndrome, Chronic Conjunctivitis, Corneal Ulcer and Glaucoma
- The Ayurvedic Powder massage is very effective for treating obesity and various kapha disorders.
- Udwarthanam done in the seven positions for a specific period considerably reduces excess fat accumulated in the body mostly in the sub cutaneous tissues.
- This therapy effectively reduces the fat collected around the abdomen and in the inner thighs of women due to nutritional disorders.
- It is the only type of massage in which the strokes are performed in opposite direction which leads to softening and exfoliation of dead skin cells leaving a lustrous glow and is used as a major treatment in reducing the excess fat.
- It is done by massaging with dry or wet medicated powders through the whole body by trained therapists for 45-60 minutes. 'Udwarthanam' detoxifies, purifies, tones, and exfoliates the skin.
- This reduces obesity, imparts mobility to joints, strengthens muscles and refreshes the body.
- Udwarthanam is very helpful in Conditions arising due to improper blood supply.
- The massage activates the nerves and increases blood flow to the impaired parts of the body.
- Udvarthanam is also an important health preserving massage. As the massage promotes active blood flow, it revitalizes and reconditions the body, thus preserving its strength, skin texture, and natural elasticity.
- Increases Glow.
- Toning the skin and muscle after child birth.
- Removes Cellulite & Helps in Weight reduction.
- Imparts good complexion to the skin.
- Revitalizes the sense of touch.
- Removes Kapha toxins from the body.
- In Insomnia and Depression
- Hyper active conditions
- Burning sensation in the eyes and headache
- In Dermatitis of the scalp, Dandruff
- Brings sound sleep, profoundly soothing and relaxing
- Gives cooling to the eyes
- Gives relief in Insomnia, Headache, Pre-mature graying & hair loss
- Relaxes the head
- Helps to spread natural oils produced by the scalp thus protecting and conditioning the length of the hair
- Improves blood circulation
- Nourish the hair from the roots
- Drains any accumulated toxins
- Gives cooling to the eyes
- Promotes thick and shiny hair
1. Head ache.
2. Ear ache.
3. humming in the ear.
4. Ailments connected with Vata in the head.
1. Migraine.
2. Deafness.
3. Diseases affecting cranial nerves.
4. Facial paralysis.
5. Insanity
6. Diseases and wounds
7. In fact this treatment is good for all diseases.
Pizhichil (a unique Kerala treatment)
Pizhichil, which literally means squeezing, is a unique contribution of the Kerala tradition of Ayurveda. Here, cloth dipped in warm medicated oil is squeezed over the patient’s body. Trained attendants under the supervision of a physician perform the treatment. The attendants squeeze the oil with their right hand and simultaneously massage with their left hand in down ward strokes. The patient should be made to adopt the seven standard positions so that no area of the body is left uncovered. Though it is actually a process of sudation used as a purvakarma (preparatory treatment), it has also proved to be highly effective on its own for treating diseases caused due to the vitiation of the Vata humour, especially Pakshaghata (hemiplegia), paralysis, muscle spasms and other degenerative diseases affecting muscles.
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Benefits :
Navarakkizhi (a unique Kerala treatment)
Navarakkizhi, Kerala’s unique contribution to Ayurveda, is a fomentation of the body with bolus of cooked rice. Shastika or navara is a particular kind of rice known for its nutritional value. The rice is first cooked with milk and herbal decoction made of kurumthotti, a herb. Four boluses are made of the cooked rice and are tied up in linen bags.
The fomentation begins with the patient sitting straight on the droni with legs stretched. The masseurs on either side perform the fomentation process in an identical manner. The movement of the hands during both fomentation and massage should always be downwards. This therapy is done in seven standard positions. This is a strengthening fomentation employed in all kinds of neurological disorders, rheumatism, arthritis congenital deformity of the limbs, dislocation of bones and joints etc..
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Benefits :
Podikkizhi/Ilakkizhi/PATRA POTLI
General treatment in the Ayurvedic health program, especially for inflammatory conditions of the bones and joints, arthritis, spinal problems, sportinjuries. Treatment: herbs, leaves or powder of herbs are being applied along with warm oil all over the body. Duration: 45 minutes each day for a week up to two weeks. This therapy is effective for various kinds of arthritis, Spondylosis, muscular pains, back pain, sports injuries and for all other soft tissue inflammations especially joint pains.
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Benefits :
Kativasti (or Kati basti) is an Ayurvedic procedure of retaining warm medicated oil over the lower back bordered with a herbal paste. The therapy can last for 45 to 60 minutes. It is a general cure for almost all types of spinal problems and back pains.
The person is let lay on his/her stomach on a massage table. A herbal paste is made into a cup with the skin of lower center back forming the bottom of the cup and the herbal paste its borders or walls. Medicated oil is poured into the cup and retained there. Back pain related to disc problems is cured this way. The herbal oils deeply purify and enrich the blood, build and maintains strong muscles and connective tissues and lubricates the sacral area alleviating pain and restoring flexibility.
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Benefits :Benefits of Kati basti-
This therapy helps to balance the nabhi marma, which is the vital center where all 72,000 nadis (subtle energy pathways) converge. It strengthens the power of digestion and absorption, and facilitates the release of deeply seated emotions.
It relieves digestive symptoms such as irritable bowel, flatulence, poor appetite, constipation and abdominal discomfort. It is performed by filling a boundary made out of dough and placed over the navel area with lukewarm medicated oil.
Herbal Steam Bath (Swedana/MEDICATED STEAM BATH)
A gentle application of warm herbal oil is first done over the body. Next the individual is made to sit, keeping the head out, inside a steam chamber that lets out herbal steam from medicinal herbs makes the individual perspire profusely that promote cohesion between cells. The steam will open up the very small pores of the skin thereby removing all wastes and pacifying the three doshas.
A great therapy for toning the skin and giving it a special glow.
The immediate benefit of swedana is better skin, as the heat and steam helps keep the skin clear and healthy. It can also relieve muscle aches and pains, and for people who follow ayurvedic principles, it can relieve an imbalance of doshas which may be causing health problems. Many people also believe that sweating helps the body detoxify.
Swedana is not for everyone. People who are pregnant should avoid it, as should people with blood disorders, heart conditions, and bouts of dizziness or vertigo. Whether you undertake swedana for health, beauty, or both, it is a good idea to consult a doctor first to make sure that it is not contraindicated for you.
A mixture specially prepared warm herbal oil is poured over the chest and retained inside an herbal paste boundary for 30 to 45 minutes. The healing properties of herbal oils used for this massage enriches the blood and builds and maintains strong muscle and connective tissues.
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Benefits :
Specially prepared warm herbal oil is poured over the neck and retained inside the black gram paste boundary for the required duration.
The healing properties of herbal oils used for this therapy deeply cleans and enriches the blood, builds and maintains strong muscle and connective tissues and lubricates the joints keeping them flexible and pain free.
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Benefits :
Janu Vasti..a treatment of ayurveda…provides a simple and still very effective relief of Pain Knee especially that which is caused due to Osteo Arthritis.
It relieves pain and stiffness and easens movements at the knee joint. Meanwhile it also strengthens the joint, muscles and soft tissues around, improves circulation and enables you to resume back your work and activities.
What is Janu Vasti and how it is done?
It is a simple procedure in which a compartment of flour (black gram powder) is constructed around the painful knee joint, adhered with the same flour and kept in position. Medicated oil which is prescribed by the doctor so as to suit the condition is made luke warm and poured into the compartment. The procedure is carried out for 30 to 40 minutes. After the prescribed time of therapy both the oil and flour are removed from contact. This gives an ashtonishing relief for those suffering from knee pain arthritis or osteo arthritis knee which has not been under control since many days or months. It is usually done in a course of 5 to 7 days as required or as prescribed. They may be repeated giving short intervals particularly in those who have repetitive joint pains so as to have a constant and sustained effect.
Where it should not be done?
* Rheumatoid Arthritis of the knee joint.
* Pain associated with fracture and dislocation.
In conditions of pain knee or osteo arthritis knee of mild to moderate severity, or frequent joint pains or in the work patterns or jobs which demand standing for long time or walking for long distances, the jonts will give way early due to constant and repetitive stress and strain. In such conditions Janu Vasti can be taken as a preventive treatment also. It helps avoid the joint related problems and keeps your joints healthy. In such conditions a course of treatment might not be required. As per the suggestion of the doctor Janu Vasti prophylactically can be taken for a couple of days at the week ends, repeating it once in every 2 to 3 months.
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Benefits :
The process of keeping medicated oil or ghee in the eyes for a certain period of time is called Netratarpana.
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Indications :
Body massage using herbal powder is called Udvarthanam.
Udwarthanam means to elevate or to promote. The name can be attributed either to the treatments ability to improve the body condition or to the upward strokes used in massage here, unlike in other Ayurvedic treatments.
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Benefits :
A herbal paste is applied to the entire head for 45 minutes.
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Benefits :
A soothing massage of the head, neck & shoulder for 15 minutes using warm herbal oils.
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Benefits :
This is the application of herbal paste externally over the affected area. The herbal powder and the medium to make the paste are selected as per the condition. This therapy is having a wide range of usage from cosmetic purpose to severe skin conditions. Very effective in Psoriasis, Pimples, Marks on skin, pigmentation, Arthritis with swelling & pain, injuries and skin infections.
Yoni Prakshalanam – Ayurvedic Therapy for Healthy Female Sexual Organ
It is a method of Ayurvedic cleaning of vaginal area with medicated oils. Yoni means female genital and Prakshalanam or prakshalan means washing or bathing. This procedure is prescribed for gynecological disorders and a general cleansing measure of genital organs to avoid fungal or yeast infections.