Ayurveda – Therapies
- Sarvanga Abhyangam; Pada Abhyangam; Shiro Abhyangam; Marma Abhyangam
Sarvanga Abhyangam | Benefits |
Abhyanga literally means “Motion in different direction”. It is defined as an Ayurvedic procedure of application of snehadravyas (medicated oils) over body.
Warm oil is pre-medicated with different herbs according to health condition and massaged all over your body in even, rhythmic strokes by therapists. The massage will be of mild to moderate pressure. |
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Pada Abhyangam | Benefits |
Ayurvedic foot and calf massage. Ayurveda says that five marmas (vital areas) out of 107 marmas are located in each foot.
The feet are very important part in our body as it contains nearly 15,000 nerve endings. Padabhyanga releases negative energy from these marmas. It is considered central to our health and wellbeing. |
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Shiro Abhyangam | Benefits |
A complete massage of the head, neck, and shoulders using Ayurvedic herbal oils. Warm herbal oil with a sequence of specific massage strokes helps to open up the channels in the head and neck. |
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Marma Abhyangam | Benefits |
Herb infused Ayurvedic oils are warmed up and gently massaged involving marma points. Marma are vital points of the body which contain prana, the vital energy. Gentle pressure on marma while doing massage provides prana energy to the body and mind which gives ultimate healing. |
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Swedhanam | Benefits |
It is a process of inducing sweat with the help of steam, generated from medicated herbal decoctions. It is the pre-operative procedure in various Ayurvedic detox therapies. The objective is to dilate the channels of the body to detach the toxins from the tissues. Swedhana is usually given after an oil massage (Abhyangam). |
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- Kizhi: Podikizhi; Aavikizhi; Dhanyamalakizhi; Elakizhi; Narangakizhi; Njavarakizhi
Kizhi, in general, means the process of stamping, rubbing and massaging the body with hot pouches made of medicinal powders, leaves or other suitable ingredients like cooked rice or sand.
Stamping the body with pouches disturbs and breaks stored and hardened inflammation / swelling inside muscles and tissues especially in joints such as shoulder, neck, knees and lower back.
It helps to relieve inflammatory pain. Kizhi also reduces associated stiffness by loosening up the muscles. It is considered nutritive to the body depending on the ingredients used.
Podikizhi | Benefits |
“Podi” means “powder” and “kizhi” means “pouch”. Podikizhi is stamping and massaging the body (whole or a specific affected part) using pouches containing powdered herbs.
This can be done after applying oil or without oil application as prescribed by physician. Usually done by two therapists, the pouches are heated and applied over the body in stamping and long strokes. The pouches will be reheated and used maintaining a constant temperature. |
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Aavikizhi | Benefits |
“Aavi” means “steam” and “kizhi” means “pouch”. Medicinal herbs are powdered, made into a pouch and heated using steam from herbal decoction. This heated pouch is stamped all over the body in rhythmic strokes by therapist. |
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Dhanyamlakizhi | Benefits |
“Dhanya” means “grains,” “amlam” means “sour “ and “kizhi” means “pouch”.
This procedure is similar to aavikizhi, but the pouches of herbs are heated by dipping in heated “dhanyamlam” (fermented decoction) and are applied all over the body or an affected part in stamping strokes by therapist. |
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Elakizhi | Benefits |
“Ela” means “leaves” and “kizhi” means “pouch”. This involves massaging the body with pouches containing medicinal leaves. It is done only after oil application. A gentle abhyangam is done at first. The pouches are made by frying medicinal leaves which have anti-inflammatory properties in oil and tying them up in a cotton cloth.
The pouches are heated by dipping them in warm oil and applied over the body in long, circular and stamping strokes. The procedure is done in different positions as in abhyangam. |
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Narangakizhi | Benefits |
“Naranga” means “lemon” and “kizhi” means “pouch”. It is done only after oil application.
Pieces of lemon along with some powdered herbs are fried in oil and tied together in a cotton cloth. These pouches are heated by dipping in warm oil and applied over the body in long, circular and stamping strokes. |
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Njavarakizhi | Benefits |
Fomentation of indigenous variety of rice. Massage with bolus of the cooked rice with milk along the body. |
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- Nasyam; Kavalam; Dhoomapanam
Nasyam | Benefits |
One among the panchakarmas, nasyam is a powerful cleaning method for the head region. It cleans mainly the Kapha dosha from the upper body. It is done by administering medicine through the nose. Medicinal powder, specially prepared oils, juices of herbs are used for nasyam. |
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Kavalam | Benefits |
A daily morning routine practiced in Ayurveda, usually after brushing teeth to maintain good oral hygiene. The traditional choice is sesame oil, which has to be swirled gently inside the mouth for a specified period of time after which it is spat out when the oil becomes thicker in consistency. Each part of the tongue is mapped with meridians representing different internal organs. Kavalam soothes and stimulates these meridians that benefit the corresponding organ. |
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Dhoomapanam | Benefits |
Procedure in which the medicated fumes are inhaled and exhaled out. Medicated dhoomavarthis for dhoomapana are made according to the disease condition. |
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- Twacha Upchar: Fruit facial; Ayurvedic facial; Udvarthanam; Utsadanam
Fruit facial | Benefits |
Fruit pulp and extract massage over the face. |
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Ayurvedic facial | Benefits |
Herbal face massage. |
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Udwarthanam | Benefits |
A medicated herbal powder is applied to the patient and rubbed vigorously. The therapist will work in an upwards motion in order to open the sweat glands. |
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Utsadanam | Benefits |
Massaging the body with medicinal paste. Powdered herbs are made into a paste by mixing with herbal decoction or oil which is applied over the body. This paste is rubbed over the skin with moderately high pressure. |
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Shirodhara | Benefits |
“Siras” means “head” and “dhara” means “continuous flow”. This is flow of oil / decoction / milk or buttermilk over the head in rhythmic and continuous fashion.
A mild abhyanga is done initially. The patient will lie supine on the table underneath a small hanging vessel filled with warm oil. Luke warm oil will flow in a small stream to the forehead from the vessel. The therapist will move the vessel back and forth over the patient’s forehead. |
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- Kati Vasti; Janu Vasti; Nabhi Vasti; Matra Vasti
Kati Vasti | Benefits |
Simple and unique Ayurvedic therapy which involves retaining warm oil over the affected area bordered with herbal and dough paste, followed by a gentle massage. Oil and the herbs will be chosen depending on the bodily constitution and the health disorder of the person. |
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Janu Vasti | Benefits |
Pouring & pooling medicated oils for a fixed duration of time in a compartment constructed around the knee joints using wet flour of black gram. |
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Nabhi Vasti | Benefits |
Naval filling of herbal oil with a dough prepared out of black gram flour/ wheat flour. |
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Matra Vasti | Benefits |
A type of sneha vasti – medicated oil enema passed through anus for colon cleansing. |
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- Special Therapies: Pizhichil; Dhanyamladhara; Lepam
Pizhichil | Benefits |
Snehana (oil massage) and Swedanam (fomentation, sweat inducing, sudation) treatment involves pouring of herbal oils over the body for a fixed duration of time and inducing sweat. |
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Dhanyamladhara | Benefits |
Pouring fermented medicated liquid over lower limbs. |
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Lepam | Benefits |
Bandage with herbal powers covering knee joints. |
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