Ayurveda is India’s traditional alternative therapy, which uses holistic
healing methods to promote good health. The three main classical texts
that are the foundation of Ayurveda are the Charaka Samhita (Charaka),
Ashtanga Hridaya (Vagbhata) and Susruta Samhita (Susruta) and according
to these texts the human body is made of 5 elements – earth, fire, air,
water and space. These five elements combine in the body to for three
Doshas – Vata Dosha (Space and Air), Pitta Dosha (Fire and Water) and
Kapha Dosha (Water and Earth). Ayurvedic treatment tries to bring about a
balance between the mind, body and spirit and harmonise it with the universe. Any disruption of this harmony causes sickness and poor health.
Benefits of Ayurveda
Ayurveda has been a part of life of the
people of India since the dawn of civilization and in recent years,
Western culture has also embraced the procedure of holistic healing of
the patient’s mind, body and spirit. Often called the “Science of Life”,
Ayurveda has various physical and mental benefits that help in
improving the overall quality of life. Usually a lot of people
get severely effected by Loneliness that leads to mental disorders.
- Boosting Immunity – The immune system
is the natural defence mechanism of the body that helps in fighting
disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Ayurvedic medicine and Ayurvedic
home remedies use a multitude of herbs and oils that are mixed together
to create tonics that improves appetite and strengthen the body’s
defence system.
- Complete Healing – The
herb preparations administered by the Ayurvedic practitioner help in
healing diseases from the root along with its symptoms. The treatments
also involve lifestyle changes and increase in physical activities.
Relieving Stress –
Stress is one of the major reasons of poor health and the tonics,
therapies and massages involved in Ayurvedic treatment helps in
relieving stress and enhancing physical well-being by balancing the mood
and bringing about a harmony between the soul and the body.
- Purifying the Body –
Purging the body of toxins and maintaining it at the proper balance is
the basic aim of Ayurveda. The Ayurvedic medicines and tonics promote thorough cleansing from within in order to improve overall health. Panchakarma is the most effective cleansing Ayurvedic treatment.
- Maintaining Overall Balance
– One of the greatest benefits of Ayurvedic treatment is that it helps
achieving overall balance of energies in the body. The body is affected
by the accumulation of toxins and Ayurveda helps in cleansing and
removing these impurities.
Ayurvedic healing process depends mainly
on holistic self-healing through purgation of toxins of the body and
administering of herbal oils and medicines. The treatments involve
massages, therapies, herbal medicines, proper diet
and exercise. The benefits of Ayurveda are so powerful that even in the
21st Century; these treatments are extremely popular among health
conscious people.
Purvakarma
Panchakarma is one of the vital ayurvedic treatments for complete purification and rejuvenation of the body.
But in order to prepare the body for this treatment, Purvakarma is
required. It is a pre-purification measure that precedes the Panchakarma
process. It involves a combination of Snehanam (oleation) and Swedhanam
(fomentation) both of which helps in loosening up the body and prepared
it to flush out the toxins by moving them through the gastrointestinal
tract.
Snehana – Snehana involves both internal and external oleation. For external Snehana, Abhyanga oil massage is done in which the body is massaged
with various Ayurvedic oils that promote the toxins to move towards the
gastro-intestinal tract. There are several other benefits of the
Abhyanga massage. It relieves stress and improves the functions of the
nervous system. It enhances the softness and suppleness of the
superficial and deep tissues. Snehana is recommended for 3 to 7 days at a
stretch. Internal Snegana is done through the oral intake of ayurvedic
medicated Ghee.
Swedana – Swedana or
sweating is done on a daily basis for 3 to 7 days and the process
follows Snehana – Abhyanga. In this process, herbal decoction infused
steam in applied to the body to make it sweat and liquefy the toxins
which lead to its release through the gastro-intestinal tract.
Panchakarma
Panchakarma is a Sanskrit term used in
ayurvedic treatment. Ayurveda Panchakarma involves five therapeutic
treatment methods that are used to purify the body and remove toxins
from the system. It is equally effective in case of both healthy and
unhealthy individuals. While the unhealthy person gets rid of the chronic diseases, the healthy person becomes fit enough to prevent diseases and stay physically and mentally fit.
The history of Panchakarma dates back to
5000 B.C and it has been designed as a treatment method based on
medicine and diet. This procedure follows five steps for removing the
deep-seated impurities from the body and balances the Doshas – the
forces that rule all biological functions. The five parts of Panchakarma
are Vamana, Virechana, Vasti, Raktamokshana and Nasya. Ayurvedic
treatment centers such as Kerala ayurvedic health care specialize in
providing this treatment.
Vamana
Vamana is the first step of Panchakarma
that involves Emesis therapy. It is an ayurvedic procedure of
therapeutic vomiting that helps in eliminating excess Kapha or mucus
that is the root cause of diseases such as bronchitis, asthma,
sinusitis, cough and cold, etc. It also helps in treating the skin problems of psoriasis, eczema and urticaria.
Vamana is also an effective ayurvedic
treatment for diabetes, nausea, food poisoning and tonsillitis. Most
ayurvedic practitioners administer Vamana therapy to cure various
diseases.
Virechana
Next is Virechana, or purgation therapy which removes excess Pitta from the body and purifies the blood to treat the problems of skin rashes, acne, pimples,
inflammation, biliary vomiting, Jaundice, digestive disorders, headache
and certain gynaecological disorders. The procedure involves oleation,
fomentation and emesis followed by a medicated steam bath every day for 3
days along with a light and warm diet.
This procedure cleanses the major organs
of the body – small intestines, colon, kidney, stomach, liver and
spleen. The herbs used in this treatment along with milk, mango juice,
castor oil and raisins work as a laxative that is beneficial for the
patient.
Vasti
Vasti or Basti is a medicated Enema
treatment that is extremely beneficial for rejuvenating convalescence
and treating neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders, infertility, sexual debility
and other conditions. The term “Basti” stands for a pouch or bag. The
procedure involves introducing ayurvedic liquid and herbal concoctions
made of oils and milk through the perineum or anus or the vaginal
opening in women in order to cleanse and heal the lower part of the body
and remove the toxins accumulated in this part through the colon and
urinary tract.
This ayurvedic treatment helps in relieving kidney stones,
backache, chronic fever, cold, constipation, sciatica and joint pains.
There are primarily two types of Basti – Anuvasana Basti that uses
medicated oil enemas and Niruha Basti that uses enema made from a
combination of medicated oils and herbs.
Raktamokshana
Raktamokshana, which means ‘to let out
the blood’ is a bloodletting procedure and effective blood purification
therapy that helps in neutralizing the accumulated Pitta in the blood.
This ayurvedic treatment is especially effective in treating haemo
pathological conditions, skin disorders and skin allergies.
It is a localized treatment and usually not more than 10 to 40 ml of
blood is removed at a time. There are two main types of Raktamokshana –
Shastra Visravana and Anushastra Visravana.
In Shastra Visravana the blood is let
out using surgical instruments through multiple incisions (Pracchana) or
Venepuncture (Siravyadha). In Anushastra Visravana, the blood is let
out through organic instruments such as application of leeches
(Jalaukavacharana), sucking the blood through cow’s horn
(Shrungavacharana) and extracting of blood using a vegetable called
Alabu/ bottle gourd (Alabu).
Nasya
Nasya or nasal administration is a
procedure of cleaning the accumulated Kapha from the head and neck
region. At first, the face, head and chest is massaged thoroughly using
certain herbal oil which promotes perspiration. This procedure is
followed by administering of certain ayurvedic oils and powders through
the nostrils.
The excess mucus accumulated in the
throat, sinus, throat and head is drained out through the nearest
opening – the nose. This treatment helps in treating sinusitis,
headaches, migraine, Rhinitis, facial palsy, paralysis, insomnia, frozen
shoulder and neurological dysfunctions. It is also effective in improving eyesight and memory.
Dhara
Dhara is an exceptionally relaxing
ayurvedic therapy in which a stream of soothing warm herbal oils, milk
and buttermilk is poured on the head and various other body parts that
help in soothing the nervous system and calming the mind. This therapy
induces feeling of peace and happiness in the mind.
This treatment is effective in treating
insomnia, chronic headache, insanity, hysteria, hallucinations and
cervical spondylosis. Nethradhara is a special part of the Dhara
treatment in which the eyes are washed with “Triphala kwatha” that helps
in relieving eye disorders and relieving eye stress.
Pizhichil
Pizhichil or Thailadhara is the best
ayurvedic treatment in Kerala, in which warm medicated oil is poured on
the body along with gentle massage while the person is lying on a wooden
plank. This treatment helps in strengthening the immune system of the
body and is useful for rheumatic diseases, arthritis, neurological
disorders, sexual weakness and blood pressure.
This relaxing and rejuvenating ayurvedic therapy also helps in relieving anxiety, stress and depression. It also maintains the youthfulness of skin and prevents skin aging.
Kizhi
Kizhi is yet another purifying and
rejuvenating ayurvedic treatment that heals the mind and body. Kizhi
involves tying up of heated oils, herbs and powders into small muslin
bags or “Potli” that are placed on different body parts using varying
degree of pressure with a special focus on the nerve points. This is
followed by a healing massage done using fingers and palms of the hands.
The fingers and palms apply controlled pressure on specific areas that
help in treating various ailments.
This therapy follows the process of
perspiration induced body scrub followed by a rejuvenating bath.
Navarakizhi is a special Kizhi therapy that helps in treating muscular
pain arthritis, paralysis, sore muscles and general weakness. It is also
helpful for regulating high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Udhwarthanam
Udhwarthanam is an effective ayurvedic treatment for obesity and weight loss
that involves deep dry massage using herbal powders. The massage is
done in opposite direction of the hair follicles that stimulates the
subcutaneous fat tissue and breaks down subcutaneous fat storage. This
powerful massaging technique reduces obesity and skin problems, improves
mobility of the joints and strengthens the muscles of the body.
The procedure of Udhwarthanam involves
application of a herbal paste on the entire body. It is made of dry
grains, variety of oils and milk. After the application of this paste,
the body is massaged thoroughly followed by a warm bath. There are
various types of Udhwarthanam that are categorized according to their
purpose – medical or relaxation. This treatment also helps in giving a
healthy shine to the skin by exfoliating it and removing dead cells and
cellulite.
Sirolepanam
Sirolepanam or Thalapothichil is a
traditional ayurvedic treatment for hair care that provides a complete
solution to all hair problems. It reduces hair fall, stimulates the hair follicles to promote hair growth
and improves shine of the hair strands. In this process, the relaxing
and rejuvenating process, the scalp is first massaged using prescribed
oils. The massage is followed by application of medicated pastes,
medicines and juices of herbs mixed with oils to head and the whole
scalp.
The mixture comprises of Amalaki, Musta,
Panchagandha, etc. that are ground well to bring about a thick
consistency. After the application of the paste, the scalp is covered
with lotus or plantain leaf and a hole in made at the center of the leaf
for frequent application of oil. This treatment also helps in relieving psychiatric disorders, neurological disorders and vision impairment.
Bahya Vasti
Bhaya Vasti is an ancient ayurvedic
treatment that involves the process of retaining a specific amount of
lukewarm medicated oil on a specific area of the body for a fixed time.
The oil is contained in a receptacle made of paste made of urad dal.
This process helps the medicated oil in
penetrating the outer layer of the body and reaching the targeted
muscles and organs. This healing procedure promotes complete
rejuvenation of the body from within.
Sirovasthi
The Sirovasthi ayurvedic treatment
involves retaining of medicated oils over the head for a certain period
of time. In this procedure, a long leather cap is fixed on the head and
secured at the temple suing a cotton cloth. The top end of the cap is
open through with the warm medicated oil is poured into the cap and the
scalp is allowed to soak this oil.
This treatment is exceptionally effective for treating facial paralysis, deafness, degenerative brain diseases
like Parkinson’s, insomnia, stress and rheumatic diseases. The session
continues for 7 days and the oil is retained for 30 to 45 minutes every
day for these 7 days.
Kati Vasti
Kati Vasti is an effective ayurvedic
treatment for relieving lower back pain, one of the biggest health
disorders of modern times. The waist area of the body is known as “Kati”
in Sanskrit and this treatment involves the holding of warm ayurvedic
oils over the lower back and spine region for a specific period of time.
The patient is asked to lie face down on a wooden plank and 200-300ml
of medicated oil is poured into a reservoir made on the lumbosacral area
using black gram dough.
The warm temperature of the oil is
maintained by adding a small amount of oil throughout the treatment. The
oil is kept in the region for 30 to 40 minutes, followed by gentle
massage of the area and steaming for 15 minutes for better absorption of
the medicinal oil into the body. The course lasts for 5 to 7 days. This
treatment relieves numbness due to Sciatic nerve compression,
strengthens the back muscles, reduces inflammation and alleviates pain associated with fracture and dislocation.
Greeva Vasti
Greeva Vasti treats the disorders
related to the neck region. Greeva stands for neck and basti refers to
the container. In this process, warm medicated oil is retained on the
back of the neck using a reservoir made of black gram dough. The
reservoir covers all the vertebrae of the neck along with 2 to 3
vertebrae of the thoracic region. The worm oil which is poured into the
reservoir helps in alleviating neck pain and strengthens the bones and
joint tissues.
The cold oil is soaked using a cotton
gauge and warm is poured again. The entire procedure runs for 30
minutes. After removing the oil, the area is gently massaged using the
same oil and the patient is asked to rest for some time. This treatment helps in relieving neck pain and stiffness, cervical spondylitis, shoulder pain and headache.
These are the 16 most important treatments of traditional Ayurveda
that has been administered for ages to treat various diseases and
ailments. Let us know if we have missed any other important treatments
from ancient Ayurveda.
