Ayurveda

Ayurveda- the medicinal science that follows our rich traditional knowledge we got as legacy from our ancestors the Rishis and Vaidyas. The basic concept and framework of Ayurveda lies in the well being and happiness of humankind. It includes the study of right conduct (dharma), which is obligatory for the healthy expansion of society in which the man lives. Ayurveda philosophically understands the limitation of human efforts. Still it talks about the means of prolonging life and the methods of invigorating it. The objectives of Ayurveda are mainly two, the first being the maintenance of positive health, and the other treatment of diseases. In Ayurveda, the importance is given to the wellness of mind and body.

Ayurveda is, perhaps, the oldest science of life, a system of diet, healing and health maintenance that is deeply spiritual in origin. Unlike conventional Western medicine, Ayurveda is not restricted to healing of disease in a superficial treatment of symptoms. Instead, it evaluates the complete body mind of the individual. Ayurveda teaches us to understand our body; our meticulous nature; and our personage blend of elements at a deep physical, mental and emotional level. With that awareness we are able to recognize activities, conditions, herbs and foods that either keep us healthy and in balance, or make us ill and throw us out of balance.

Ayurveda includes all aspects of daily life like:

Preservation of health
Prevention of disease
Harmonization of body and mind
Natural treatments
Holistic and complimentary healing techniques

In Ayurveda the recommendations put forth are in consideration with the systematized daily routine (dinacharya), life according to the changes in seasons (rithucharya) and well planned diet and exercises. Ayurveda recognizes that mind is very powerful in both the causation and cure of diseases. Therefore, strict mental discipline and adherence to moral values considered a pre-requisite for health. Therefore, ethical basis of life (sadvrttam) described as an important health support system. The innate strength of an individual to resist the affliction of disease (vyadhikshamatvam) is well considered and its positive and negative influence on health understood. The techniques evolved in this regard are the boosters of human immune system.

Experts’ view the recommendations for maintenance of positive health as protective measures against endogenous (e.g. ageing) and exogenous (e.g. environmental pollution) afflictions and point out their efficacy in strengthening the cellular function in human body. These interpretations are comparable with modern concept of Prohost Therapy and use of Cyto-protective Agents of contemporary medicine. Obviously regular or periodic use of rejuvenation therapy (rasayanachikitsa) also finds a place in the maintenance of positive health because of its therapeutic potentials to delay the process of ageing and to improve quality of life. Concisely, Ayurveda recommends socio-economic adjustments, modification of personal habits, protection against trauma, control of infection, control of pollution, and prophylactic medication for the maintenance of positive health.
The Ayurvedic therapy is either palliative (samanam) or purification (sodhanam). The palliative approach stresses on the use of medicaments. The famous Panchakarma therapies and the supportive Kerala special therapies belong to the purification approach. In both cases, proper control of food and behavioral habits is a necessary component for achieving perfect cure. The human constitution and the condition of his ailment are ensconced in a three-factorial humoural (tridosha) framework which itself is a derivation from the five-factorial (panchabhautic) macrocosmic framework. Medicaments, the tools for dealing with a condition of ailment, are also perceived to belong to these two axiomatic frame-works.

Ayurveda in Kerala
The geographical location of Kerala is ideal for Ayurvedic treatments and rejuvenation. The ideal location of Kerala and its salubrious climate has made external purification and rejuvenation therapies most effective for treatment of many psychosomatic disorders. The high humidity of Kerala helps to open up the body pores and the medicinal oils used for massaging get absorbed very quickly to the body there by increasing the effectiveness of the treatment.

Sirodhara, Pizhichil, Navarakizhi, Thalapothichil, Pachakizhi and Podikizhi, Nasyam, Abhyangam, Swedanam, Lepanam are some of the Kerala special Ayurvedic procedures. The fundamentals of Ayurveda being practiced and taught in Kerala are not different from those of the rest of the country, in their essence and philosophy. However, at present days, there is indeed a notable difference in certain aspects of Kerala tradition of Ayurvedic treatments. The traditional practitioners of Ayurveda considered Ashtangahridaya as a primary text. Experts here wrote several commentaries. More importantly, new texts were written in Kerala in both Malayalam and Sanskrit. Sahasrayogam, Chikilsamanjari, Vaidyamanorama are just a few examples. These and similar other Kerala texts, still remain sources of very useful information on formulation, medicinal plants and therapies.
Moreover, the medical persons here developed an enriched Panchakarma therapy. Some are unique, including the Dhara, NavaraKizhi etc. With many unique herbal formulations, Kerala tradition of Ayurveda had developed a unique place in world of Ayurveda.

Important Treatments

Abhyangam
Abhyanga Snana is part of the purvakarma or preparatory measure of Panchakarma treatment in Ayurveda. It is traditional oleation therapy, given by two therapists, who with their tandem, synchronizing strokes and massage according to the circulatory and marma points for sixty minutes. Detoxifying sesame oils are chosen according to one's illness. Usually this is done in seven standard positions. It is considered as the most rejuvenating treatments of Ayurveda, especially in the Kerala tradition.
This treatment helps to overcome various age related and other common disorders. There are many advantages of this treatment which includes :

pain relief
improved circulation
stress relief
better sleep
flexibility
athletic performance and emotional benefits
Delays ageing
Beautify skin
Removes toxins

Massage therapy can soothe pain, relax stiff muscles, and reduce the swelling that accompanies arthritis. With Ayurvedic massage, deep-seated toxins in the joints and tissues are loosened and are released into the system for elimination through natural toxin-release processes.

Swedanam
Swedanam can be described as ‘Herbal Steam Bath’. In this herbal hot oil is applied all over the body, then in the next stage the individual has to sit inside a steam chamber keeping the head out. The herbal steam from the medicinal plants 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. This therapy helps toning the skin and giving it a special glow.

Pizhichil
The patient is made to lie on a wooden Droni (a specially designed wooden plank). Then pieces of linen dipped in comfortably warm medicated oil squeezed over the patient’s body from a specific height. When the warm oil flows and spreads over the body, four masseurs sitting on either side give the patient a gentle massage. This is effective in diseases connected with the Vata Dosha and its allied manifestations like spondylosis, hemiplegia, Arhtritis, back pain, muscular dystrophy etc. This is done only on the body below the neck and the duration can be fixed from one to one and a half hours depending upon the strength of the patient.

Benefits:

Relieves body pain and muscle spasms
Helps preserve and promote optimum health
Helps in the healing of fractured bones
Increases immunity and prolongs life span
Promotes development of muscles
Improves skin complexion
Anti aging and rejuvenating
Ensures better blood circulation
Alleviates the burning sensation in the body
A soothing and relaxing procedure

Dhara
The patient is advised to lie on a special wooden droni with his neck and head comfortably placed. Then a non-stop continuous stream of the prescribed liquid medicine is gently poured on his forehead from a prescribed height through a specially devised apparatus called Dhara Chatti for a period of one to one and a half hours. Dhara is occassionally administered on whole body in special cases.
Dhara considered being effective for several diseases like stress related disorders, sleeplessness and many degenerated brain disorders. Different liquid mediums are used in Dhara for different diseases. Medicated oils, milk, tender coconut water and decoctions of herb extracts are some of the fluids used.

Benefits:

Deep relaxation of the nervous system
Improved functioning of the 5 senses
Relief from mental and physical stress and strain
Improved vitality and balance
Increased blood circulation around the body and to the brain
Boosts memory
Nourishes hair and the scalp
Assists in providing sound sleep

Navarakizhi
Medicated oil is first applied liberally over the patient’s body. Then the body is massaged with small linen bags filled with cooked Navara rice. The rice is cooked by boiling it in cow’s milk along with suitable. The linen bags filled with rice are dipped in the same mixture kept boiling over a gentle flame and applied by masseurs at a comfortable temperature over the whole body of the patient. Navarakkizhi is a special massage, which rejuvenates the body. It is very effective in degenerative muscle diseases like poliomyelitis muscular atrophy etc. It is more effective when done immediately after Pizhichil treatment. The course of treatment can last for 14 or 21 days.

Benefits:

Rejuvenates the tissues
Improves muscle tone.
Improves blood supply by cleansing the channels of circulation
Removes metabolic waste
Promotes digestion
Restores vigor
Gives softness to the body by improving the health of the skin
Endows sound sleep
Makes the body strong and sturdy
Nourishes the body and increases immunity
Promotes sharpness of vision and functions of other sense organs

Shirovasti
This is the most important of all external use of oil application. Certain lukewarm herbal oils poured into a cap fitted on the head for 15 to 60 minutes per day according to the patient's conditions for a period of 7 days. This is highly effective for facial paralysis, dryness of nostrils, mouth and throat, severe headaches, burning sensation of head and other vata originated diseases. Certain lukewarm medicated oil applied to the entire head. A leather cap is then placed on the head to maintain the temperature. Its effects are marvelous in neuralgia, hemicranias, optic atrophy, deafness, facial paralysis and all diseases affecting the cranial nerves.

Benefits:

Bestows liveliness to the organs
A clear voice and firm jaws and strength to the head
Reduces dryness of the mouth and nose
It helps to cure clinical conditions like head ache, ear ache, humming in the ear and ailments connected with Vata in the head