Treatments
Elakizhi: Herbal leaves hot poultice therapy
Herbal leaves used for the poultice are from the plants
- Erukkila: Calotropis gigantea
- Ummathila: Datura metel
- Karinochiyila: Vitex nigundo
- Erukkila: Calotropis gigantea
- Ummathila: Datura metel
- Karinochiyila: Vitex nigundo
Preparation: Fresh mature clean leaves of the above-mentioned plants are chopped fine and roasted with grated coconut and select spices till the combination turns brittle. This roasted formulation is tied into a tuft-handled cloth poultice
Procedure: Medicated paste or oil is applied on the head. The body is warmed up with a warm medicated oil massage and the massage is continued in a synchronized heat-controlled way with the prepared herbal leaf hot poultices. After the massage is continued for 45 minutes to one hour the body is wiped and washed and allowed to cool naturally
Benefits of elakizhi: Paralysis, Back pain, Joint pain, Stiffness, Numbness, Muscle pain, Weight management, Relaxed body, and refreshed mind
Podikizhi: Herbal powder hot poultice therapy
Common herbal powders used are
- Kola: Zizyphus jujuba
- Kulatha: Dolichos biflorus
- Triphala: Terminalia chebula, Terminalia myrobalan, Embelia officinalis
- Kottam: Saussurea costus
- Chukku: Zingiber officinale
Preparation: The powders are roasted and tied into tuft-handled cloth poultices.
Procedure: Medicated paste or oil is applied to the head. The body is warmed up with a warm medicated oil massage and the massage is continued in a synchronized heat-controlled way with the prepared herbal powder hot poultices. After the massage is continued for 45 minutes to one hour the body is wiped and washed and allowed to cool naturally. The variant is the massage done by heating Podikkizhi in Dhanyamla medium, a fermented liquid
Benefits of podikkizhi: Joint pains, Inflammation, Pain, Fatigue, Numbness, Obesity
Naranga kizhi: Lemon with spices hot poultice therapy
Lemon is combined with spices like fennel, fenugreek, and other select spices
- Lemon: Citrus limon
- Fenugreek: Trigonella foenum
- Fennel: Trigonella foenum
Preparation: Fine chopped lemon is fried in medicated oil and equal quantity of coconut gratings till
the mixture is mashed and turned brown. This roasted formulation is tied into a tuft-handled cloth
poultice
Procedure: Medicated paste or oil is applied on the head. The body is warmed up with a warm
medicated oil massage and the massage is continued in a synchronized heat-controlled way with the
prepared herbal medicated hot poultices. After the massage is continued for 45 minutes to one hour
Benefits of narangakizhi: Arthritic pain, Stiffness, Inflammation, Muscle spasm, Joint disability,
swellings
Abhyanga: Head and body oil massage therapy
Preparation: Sesame oil or any medicated oil
Procedure: Medicated paste or oil is applied on the head. Oil at room temperature on the head and
warm oil on the body is applied in specific strokes for 45 minutes to one-hour duration with
controlled pressure and also advisable as part of daily routine lifestyle practice. Body is allowed to
cool naturally before wash
Benefits: Improves blood circulation, facilitates detoxification, relieves physical and mental fatigue,
betters the functioning of the musculoskeletal system, removes stiffness, lightens the body, assists
the development of a healthy body, helps to maintain body tone, reduces body fat, delays aging,
enhances visual acuity and longevity, improves sleep, and bestows endurance
Udvarthana: Podithirummal: Coarse herbal powder massage therapy
Preparation: The powders used for podikizhi are used for the therapy
Procedure: Medicated paste or oil is applied on the head. Warmed powder either mixed with a
medium or in dry form is applied on the body below the neck in specific strokes against the hair line
direction for 45 minutes to one-hour duration with controlled pressure and Body is allowed to cool
naturally before wash
Benefits: Reduces excess fat, obesity, swellings, body odour, lethargy, impaired circulation, enhances
primary and secondary circulation, improves skin tone and removes dead cells on skin
Njavarakizhi: Medicated rice and milk poultice massage therapy
Preparation: Navara rice is cooked in medicated decoction. This roasted formulation is tied into a
tuft-handled cloth poultice. Milk is cooked with herbs and medium for heating prepared
Procedure: Medicated paste or oil is applied on the head. The body is warmed up with a warm
medicated oil massage and the massage is continued in a synchronized heat-controlled way using
hot medicated milk as the heating medium with the prepared herbal rice hot poultices. After the
massage is continued for 45 minutes to one hour. Body is washed immediately and maintained
warmth to prevent chills
Benefits: General or local muscle wasting, dry skin, convulsive disorders, stiffness, contractions,
hemiplegia, and other painful states. It increases the health of the skin and prevents wrinkles and
aging
Pizhichil: Oil or medicated liquid irrigation and massage therapy
Preparation: Warm medicated oils, medicated ghee, herbal decoctions, or milk
Procedure: Medicated paste or oil is applied on the head. Squeezing hot oil or medicated liquid on
the body using a cloth and following up each squeeze with a light massage stroke is Pizhichil. The
process is continued for 30-45 minutes
Benefits: Rejuvenation, improves stability and stamina, enhances primary and secondary
metabolism, improves skin tone, increases sensual organ acuity, reverses aging process, fractures,
paralysis, traumatic pain, contusion, pain and stiffness of the joints. To facilitate normal labor
pizhichil is advised during 9 th month of pregnancy.
Shirodhara: Oil or medicated liquid irrigation
Preparation: Medicated oils, medicated ghee, herbal decoctions, or milk at normal room
temperature
Procedure: Continuous pouring of decoction or oil or other liquids on the forehead at a specified
flow rate and height using a special device is Shirodhara. Spill into the eye or leakage into the ear has
to be taken care of. The duration is for 30-90 minutes. The person is advised to take rest for 10
minutes before wash
Benefits: Mental stress, Hypertension, Headache, Anxiety, Psychological problems, Pediculosis, Skin
eruptions