Ayurveda often dubbed as the ‘science of life’ in Sanskrit is a timeless gift from India and more specifically south India to the world. Today, Kerala is the one of the few states in India, which practices this system of medicine with absolute dedication. Ayurveda evolved around 600 BC in India. This new system of medicine stressed on the prevention of body ailments in addition to curing them. Followed by the Dravidians and Aryans alike, Ayurveda has been practised ever since.

Today, it's a unique, essential branch of medicine – a complete naturalistic system that depends on the diagnosis of your body's humours – vata, pitta and kapha - to achieve the right balance. Ayurveda believes in the treatment of not just the affected part, but also the individual as a whole, making it a natural way to refresh you, eliminate all toxic imbalances from the body and thus regain immunity and good health.

According to Ayurveda philosophy the entire cosmos is interplay of the energies of the five great elements- Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Vata Pitta and kapha are combinations and permutations of these five elements that manifest as patterns present in all creation. Just as everyone has a unique thumbprint, according to Ayurvedic beliefs, each individual has a distinct pattern of energy - a specific combination of physical, mental, and emotional characteristics.

In the physical body, vata is the subtle energy of movement, pitta the energy of digestion and metabolism, and kapha that forms the energy that forms the body’s structure. Each of these produces positive and negative energies and Ayurveda involves understanding the impact of the imbalance and path to restore and maintain order.

Ayurvedic treatments

The treatment of Ayurveda is based on the belief that all the disease in human body arise due to imbalance in the Tridoshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Ayurvedic therapies offer relaxation and rejuvenation to create a balance between mind, body and soul. Chronic stress, a poor diet, or lack of sleep, proponents believe, can disturb the balance among doshas and cause various ailments. Several Ayurvedic practitioners maintain that you can restore your ‘doshic balance’ and treat illness by cleansing your body of toxins, modifying your diet, taking certain herbal medicines, and practicing yoga and meditation. Ayurveda has various treatments that work towards balancing these doshas in the body. These range from those for rejuvenation to remedies for physical and mental ailments.

1. Rejuvenation therapy – It is done with hands or feet using oils, powders, steam baths, and limited use of internal medicine. The rejuvenation massages include treatment for the mind and body that are directed towards concentration, improving health and providing peace to the mind.

2. Body immunisation therapy – Ideally meant for those who have crossed fifty years of age, the treatment protects the body from further degeneration. It follows a system of diets, medicine and body care that ensures the strengthening of the immune system and delays the process of aging.

3. Body slimming therapy – to reduce the fat content in the body, a number of massages with powders and oils are prescribed. The diet plan includes fruits and juices.

4. Panchakarma therapy – Pancha means five and this is a five-fold therapeutic treatment for one’s well-being. The basic belief of Panchkarma is that the body needs to be cleansed prior to emerging as healthy and energetic and youthful. The therapies and treatments are wide and varied. A select few signature treatments are mentioned below-

• Vamanam
This is medically-induced vomiting. This is the cleansing process for the upper respiratory tract and upper digestive tract. Effective in Kapha rogas and some skin diseases like leukoderma.

• Virechanam
This is a medically induced purgation, which cleanses the lower digestive tract. Almost all types of skin diseases and chronic rheumatic problems will be relieved by this.

• Nasyam
It involves the administration of medicines through the nose in the form of drops or powders. It is one of the Panchakarmas. Highly effective for all kinds of headaches, paralysis, depression, stress, pain around the neck and shoulders, eye diseases etc.

• Sneha Vasthy
Medicated oil mixed with some herbal paste and salt, is administered through the anus. The quantity of material will be decided according to the strength of the patient and disease. One with the lowest dose of oil is called Mathra Vasthy. This is beneficial in chronic nervous disorders, joint problems and skin diseases.

• Kashaya Vasthy
This is enema done with a mixture of honey, salt, herbal paste, herbal decoction and medicated oils. This will be preceded by one or two rounds of Sneha Vasthy according to the condition of the patient. Combination of Sneha and Kashaya vasthys are helpful in some chronic rheumatic problems. This is very effective for Urinary stones, nervous disorders and in some gynaecological problems.

• Abyangam
To treat diabetes, special oils are rubbed on the body in various specific strokes for a period of two weeks. This massage continues for 45 minutes daily.

• Shirodhara
It involves a continuous stream of oil that is gently swayed on the forehead, which completely relaxes the nervous system and the mind. It is beneficial in conditions like hypertension, anxiety, and insomnia.

• Ellakizhi
Finely chopped herbal leaves and herbal powders are warmed in medicated oil and bundled in a poultice, which is used for the fermentation process. In cases of rheumatism and other diseases, fomentation in the affected area brings great relief. Ellakizhi promotes better circulation, relieves stress and treats osteo-arthritis.

• Ayurvedic udvarthanam
The specialized massage uses ayurvedic powders or churnas to help reduce obesity, impart mobility to the joints and strengthen muscles. The most promising benefit is an all over slimming and toning effect on the body.

• Choornaswedam
A linen bag filled with churna (medicated powder) is used for fomentation, the duration of which varies according to the disease condition. This is effective for ailments due to Vata and Kapha disorders as it produces a therapeutic sweat, which relieves neurological disorders, rheumatism and arthritis.

• Nethra Tharpanam
This is a special Ayurvedic treatment to set right the degenerative changes in the retina and lens of the eyes, to strengthen the optic nerve, ciliary muscles, and to correct the refractive errors in diabetic retinopathy, etc.

• Thalam
This is a palliative treatment for ailments in the head. It is good for diseases, which affect the cranial nerves due to Vata disorders. The treatment is named after the folded piece of cloth used to cover the crown called pichu.

• Ksheera Dhoomam
This is a traditional Kerala Ayurvedic treatment meant for disorders of facial nerve and different neurological disorders of facial muscles. This is very important in treating facial palsy. It involves holding warm Ayurvedic oils on the affected areas that help immensely in cases of lower back problems, cervical problems, arthritic knees and cardiac related conditions.

• Nasyam
It is one of the important treatments in Ayurveda in which medicated herbal preparations, decoctions, oils and ghee are administered through the nose and head regions. This is a highly effective treatment for sinusitis, headache, migraine and chronic cold.

• Pizhichil or Sarvangdhara
Pizhichil is a special form of Ayurvedic treatment that combines rich oil massage with a special heat treatment. Known as the King’s Treatment, it is a highly rejuvenating treatment that enhances muscular tone and re-tunes the entire nervous system. The treatment is done by pouring lukewarm herbal oil over the body from a particular height with a regular speed of flow. The treatment spans for about 60 to 90 minutes per day for a period of 7 to 21 days.

• Njavarakizhi
The body is massaged with linen bags filled with cooked Navara rice, frequently warming in a mixture of ecoction and milk. This massage is normally done by three people. It is a cardinal treatment for diseases affecting the nervous system. Pain, rheumatism, emaciation of limbs, stroke, hypertension, sciatica, spondylosis etc. are the indications.

• Podikizhi
This is a special type of massage done with cloth bags filled with herbal powder, which will be warmed frequently. This massage is normally done by three people. This is massage has been seen to be very effective for inflammatory joint problems and primary stages of hemiplegia.

• Snehapanam
This involves internal administration of medicated ghee, daily, in increasing doses and strict restrictions on diet and activities. This is the primary preparation for all the panchakarmas. This is an internal Shehana (oleation) procedure. It is helpful in treating allergic asthma, psoriasis, eczema, low immunity, hyper acidity, peptic ulcers, digestive disorders and in all kinds of mental illnesses.

• Thalam
Oils or pastes are applied on the middle of the head and kept for one hour. This has been seen to be helpful in alleviating insomnia, high blood pressure, stress and vatha conditions.

• Lepanam
Herbal pastes are applied over the affected parts. This is usually done to reduce swelling, pain or inflammation of the joints. And this is also used to treat some skin diseases.

• Thalapothichil
The head is covered with Amla (Indian gooseberry) paste prepared in buttermilk or some decoctions suitable for the condition. The head is covered with a banana leaf. Effective for dealing with stress, anxiety, sinusitis, chronic headache, sleep disorders and hair loss.

Pic: Dominik Gwarek