1) The procedures to be performed are determined by the doctor after carefully assessing
the individual.
2) Generally, each procedure is done for 7 days. But the time period can be varied,
depending on the decision of the physician.
This whole body massage provides sufficient pressure on the muscles and warms them up, thereby providing relaxation. It improves the overall blood circulation and relieves muscle tension, neck stiffness, back ache etc. The lukewarm oil used for massage improves skin complexion and provides overall nourishment.
This is a special type of massage, which, through intense pressure, dramatically improves the blood circulation, thereby providing enhanced nourishment to the tissues. It's more useful in deep seated muscle pains, muscle pains of chronic nature, chronic muscle fatigue etc. The massage, along with the oil, revitalizes the body and improves overall complexion.
Head massage focuses on the shoulders, neck, face and head, these areas being most vulnerable to stress and tension. The head massage induces a state of calm, peace and tranquillity and promotes high levels of alertness and concentration.
A proper foot massage is an outstanding healing technique, the feet being the area of culmination of many important nerves. It's surprising as to how certain points of feet can affect a lot of areas in body like eyes, sinuses, brain, liver, kidney, heart etc. A properly executed foot massage is one of the most enjoyable experiences and a potent stress reliever.
It's a classical version of massage, wherein specific oils are used to massage the person, in 7 different positions - sitting, supine, left lateral, supine, right lateral, supine and sitting. Massage is done in downward direction only. It was adopted from Kerala Kalari treatment and Kathakali massage. The combined action of the heat, medicine and massage improves skin complexion, delays ageing, improves sleep, enhances the sense organs and provides an overall strength to the body.
In this, medicated powder or paste is rubbed on body with bearable force, in retrograde (upward) direction. This improves skin complexion, burns out fat, increases cellular level circulation, cleanses the body and provides a feeling of well being. For people who cannot tolerate Udwarthanam, a process called Utsaadanam is done, where oil is added to the above said powder or paste.
A steam chamber is used for this purpose. The purpose of this procedure is to enable the oil applied on body to penetrate deeper and have action on underlying tissues. Moreover, the increased temperature produces vasodilation, thereby relieving muscle fatigue. It also improves circulation, liquefies fat, improves skin complexion and enhances removal of bodily toxins through sweat.
It is a process where medicated powder is tied into a bolus using a piece of muslin cloth and is heated and used to apply heat either to whole body or a specified part. It is especially useful in acute inflammation, rheumatism, musculoskeletal disorders and some neuromuscular disorders.
This is a variety of Choorna Pinda Sweda, where egg yolks are used instead of medicinal powder. It is nourishing and provides strength to bones and muscles.
Here, fried lemon pieces are tied into bolus using muslin cloth and sudation is given. It's useful in inflammation, stiffness, pain, frozen shoulder, low back ache etc. It's especially useful in the musculoskeletal conditions of neck and shoulder.
Here, specially prepared leaves of medicinal plants are tied into bolus using a muslin cloth, heated and used to give sudation. It's useful in conditions like hemiplegia, sciatica, low back ache, osteoarthritis etc.
This is a very nourishing procedure, which involves sudation using bolus made of special cooked rice. Though heat is applied, it actually cools the body and helps in tissue replenishment. It is given especially after a series of other procedures, to remove fatigue. The drugs used and the controlled heat stimulate micro circulation and helps healing from within. It's rejuvenates the body and is very useful in conditions like muscular wasting, hemiplegia, paraplegia, degenerative diseases etc.
In this procedure, specified sand is heated and tied into a bolus using muslin cloth and is used to apply heat to the body. While the other swedana (sudation) processes may involve oil, this is done without oil. Hence, the body gets the heat directly from the sand. It is useful in muscle pains, inflammation, calcaneal spur etc.
Here, medicated paste is applied to whole body or a specific part. It's useful for improving skin complexion, for certain skin conditions etc. Depending upon the medicine used, it also acts on the underlying tissues.
Here, the rice used is the same type as that in Shashtika Pinda Sweda. But instead of tying the cooked rice into a bolus, it is made into a paste and is applied all over body (excluding head and face) or on a specific part. It is useful to provide nourishment to children and the elderly, who cannot withstand strong procedures like Shashtika Pinda Sweda. This also has a rejuvenation property and the indications are the same as that of Shashtika Pinda Sweda.
It's a process of sudation therapy where warm liquid is poured all over the body (below neck). When it's done over a specific part, it's called Ekaanga sekam. Oil may or may not be applied before the procedure. Medicated oils, medicated buttermilk, tender coconut water, milk, Dhanyamlam (a specially fermented medicinal preparation), medicinal decoctions, medicated plain water etc can be used for this purpose. It has both rejuvenative and curative properties. It's useful in calculi pain, urinary problems, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, pain, fatigue, exhaustion, diabetic neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease etc.
It's a Kerala Special procedure in which lukewarm oil is poured over whole body or a specific part, in a specific manner and for a specific period of time. It's a modified form of Kayaseka, which was developed by the eminent Ayurvedic physicians of Kerala. A mild massage is also given along with the pouring of oil. It improves circulation by promoting vasodilation, relieves muscle tension, stimulates the nervous system and provides a feeling of general well being. It's useful for neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, Low back ache, IVDP, osteoarthritis, degeneration, insomnia etc.
It's a type of sudation therapy, in which the person is made to sit or lie down in a tub and then lukewarm decoction or oil is poured into the tub till chest level or neck level. It's more effective than other sudation techniques because the liquid can reach even the clefts and crevices in body. It's especially useful in ano - rectal disorders. It's also useful in low back ache, sciatica, pilonidal sinus, IBS, arthritis, pain of back muscles etc.
A mixture of milk and suitable medicated decoction is taken in a container to which a tube of appropriate length is attached. The mixture is boiled and the steam coming out through the tube is used to induce sudation. The heat can be regulated and modulated and so, this can be used in sudation therapy for those people who cannot withstand the heat of other sudation therapies. It's effective in Facial palsies, jaw stiffness, ptosis, speech disorders, mild cold and sinusitis, nervous disorders etc.
It's sudation therapy for local areas of body. Here, medicine is applied to the particular area and it is covered and tied with suitable medical leaves and cloth. It's useful in tennis elbow, osteoarthritis, synovial problems, neck stiffness, carpal tunnel syndrome etc.
It's a process in which liquid is poured over forehead from a specific height, for a specified period of time. The liquid used and the temperature of the liquid depend on the indication. Oil, medicated buttermilk, tender coconut water or even plain water can be used for this purpose. It's useful for conditions like sinusitis, hemiplegia, facial palsy, migraine, psoriasis, psychosomatic disorders etc.
In this, a cotton flap or folded cotton cloth is used to cover the top of head and is soaked with suitable oil. Hair of head may be shaved off ideally. This relieves conditions like hair loss, premature greying of hair, dermatological conditions of scalp and certain neurological and psychological problems.
It is an intense procedure, which has deep, penetrating action on scalp and brain. Hair on head may be shaved off ideally. Here, medicated oil is allowed to stay on head for a specific period of time. It's usually done after subjecting the person to some preparatory procedures. It's useful in various neurological and psychological disorders, facial palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, chronic tension headache, chronic depression, strong migraine etc.
In this, medicinal paste is applied on vertex of head, covered and bandaged for a specific period. It's useful in stress, anxiety, depression, conversion disorder, insomnia, premature greying of hair, diabetic retinopathy, optic nerve atrophy, ADHD etc.
It's a concise form of Shiro lepam. Here, suitable medicinal powder is mixed with suitable liquid and the paste is applied on vertex and kept for some time. Covering or bandaging is not applied. It's Kerala Special procedure which is used extensively, especially in children. It prevents excessive heat from affecting head and face while doing sudation therapies. As a standalone procedure, it's useful in stress, insomnia, fever with delirium, headache, facial palsies, sinusitis, anxiety, ADHD etc.
Nasya is the procedure of administration of medicine through nasal route. It has direct effect on brain. It's one among the 5 major procedures (Panchakarma) and usually can be done only after proper preparation of patient. But Pratimarsha Nasya can be done as an everyday procedure. Oil, decoction, powder, milk, honey etc can be used for this purpose. Though it has primary action on problems above neck, it also has whole body action.
It's the process of holding medicated liquid in mouth, for a specific period of time, without gargling. It can be used as a therapeutic procedure and as a daily preventive procedure. It improves the strength of facial muscles, cleans mouth and stabilize the teeth and gums. It's useful in mouth ulcer, tonsillitis, throat pain, certain conditions of gums and teeth etc.
It's the same as Gandoosham, with the addition of gargling. The uses are same as that of Gandoosha.
Here, medicinal paste is applied on face and is kept undisturbed for some time. It improves the skin complexion of face, provides coolness to eyes, removes fatigue of facial muscles and gives good result in cases of premature wrinkles of face, acne vulgaris etc.
It's a procedure in which cotton, rolled into a thick but small wick is dipped in lukewarm medicated oil and is inserted into nose and kept for a specific period of time. It's especially useful for sinusitis.
Here, medicated smoke is inhaled through a specially designed instrument called Dhooma Netra. It has antiseptic property and hence can clear the nasal passage. It's useful for common cold, stuffed nose, sinusitis etc.
It's a procedure in which liquid medicine is carefully poured over closed eyes from a specified height, for a specific period of time. It's useful in pain, burning sensation, itching and foreign body sensation of eyes, redness and watering of eyes etc.
Here, the required medicine is made into a paste and is applied over closed eyelids, sparing the eyebrows. It's useful in congestion, redness and irritation of eyes, increased intraocular pressure, conjunctivitis etc.
It is the process of keeping liquefied medicated ghee on the eyes for a specified period of time. It has deeper actions and hence is useful in visual defects, eye strain, optic nerve disorders, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, dry eye, squint etc.
Here, warm medicated oil is retained on chest, within a frame designed for this purpose, for a specific period of time. It's useful in muscle pains of chest, costochondritis, trauma to chest without wounds etc. When only a large cotton piece is kept instead of using the frame, it is called Uro pichu.
Process is same as Uro vasti, except that it is done in cervical region. It's useful for cervical spondylosis, prolapsed disc, muscular pain of shoulder and neck etc. When only a large cotton piece is kept instead of using the frame, it is called Greeva pichu.
Process is same as Uro vasti, except that it is done in lumbosacral region. It is useful in IVDP, low back ache, sciatica, ankylosing spondylitis etc. When only a large cotton piece is kept instead of using the frame, it is called Kati pichu.
Process is same as Uro vasti, except that it is done in on knee. It is useful in knee pain caused due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ligament injuries etc. Jaanu pichu is usually not done due to uneven structure of the knee joint.