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.
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. |
|
- 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. |
|
- 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. |
|
- 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. |
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.
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.
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..
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The process of keeping medicated oil or ghee in the eyes for a certain period of time is called Netratarpana.
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.
A herbal paste is applied to the entire head for 45 minutes.
A soothing massage of the head, neck & shoulder for 15 minutes using warm herbal oils.
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.