Kerala, often called "God's Own Country," is globally renowned for its lush landscapes and ancient healing traditions. Among these, Ayurveda holds a prominent place, deeply ingrained in the culture and daily life. Ayurvedic treatments in Kerala focus not only on physical well-being but also on mental health, addressing the stress and anxiety prevalent in today's fast-paced world.
Understanding Ayurveda
Ayurveda, translating to "the science of life," is an ancient Indian therapy using herbal oils to heal and detoxify the Body, Mind, and Spirit. It is one of the world's oldest medical systems, aiming at improving a person holistically through various therapies, including yoga, diet, massages, and herbal medicines. It is a holistic healing system promoting the balance of the mind, body, and spirit, emphasizing prevention, lifestyle modification, and natural remedies. According to Ayurveda, stress and anxiety are caused by an imbalance in the body’s three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each dosha represents different elements of the body and mind.
Ayurveda recognizes that stress affects not only the mind but also the body. Over time, stress can lead to various health issues, such as headaches, digestive problems, insomnia, and weakened immunity. Kerala’s traditional Ayurvedic treatments are based on natural remedies, which makes them safe and effective for long-term use. Unlike modern pharmaceuticals that often have side effects, Ayurvedic therapies focus on restoring balance without introducing toxins into the body.
Benefits of Ayurvedic Massage
Over time, Ayurvedic massages have demonstrated their effectiveness in promoting overall health, easing muscle tension and discomfort through deep tissue techniques and stretching. The warmth and fragrance of custom-blended oils create a tranquil experience, alleviating worries. Ayurvedic massage is typically deemed safe and effective when performed by a skilled person since it is tailored to an individual's wellness needs. It may nourish the body, restore dosha equilibrium, and promote one's health and lifespan.
The benefits of Ayurvedic massage are numerous:
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- Body Detoxification: Warm therapeutic oils used in Abhyanga penetrate cells and liberate physical, emotional, and spiritual impurities from our bodies, detoxing us from head to toe, inside out.
- Increased Blood Flow and Activation of Internal Organs: Abhyanga promotes blood circulation, allowing metabolic wastes to be removed quickly and offering fast relief from ailments as well as energy and endurance to endure throughout the day. The massage improves the functioning of the organs and the body's ability to wash out impurities.
- Immune System Boosting: Ayurvedic massages on a regular basis are a time-tested technique for preventative care.
- Sleep Enhancement and Nerve System Relaxation: Worries melt away with the warmth and perfume of custom-blended oils. Blood pressure and heart rate have also been demonstrated to be reduced by Ayurvedic massage.
- Holistic Healing: Ayurveda addresses the root cause of stress rather than just the symptoms.
- Personalized Treatment: Each therapy is tailored to the individual’s needs based on their dosha constitution.
- Physical and Mental Relaxation: Many Ayurvedic therapies focus on both physical relaxation (e.g., relieving muscle tension) and mental calmness (e.g., reducing anxiety).
- Improved Sleep: Ayurvedic therapies help in calming the mind and body, leading to improved sleep patterns.
- Enhanced Mental Clarity: Ayurvedic treatments help in clearing mental fog and improving focus.
Types of Ayurvedic Massage in Kerala
Ayurvedic massage includes a full body massage with various oils, depending on the body type. Practitioners focus on the marmas (subtle energy spots) that help to rejuvenate the body. Ayurvedic massage is a cornerstone of traditional Indian medicine, promoting holistic health and well-being. Here are some of the primary types of Ayurvedic massages and treatments offered in Kerala:
Abhyanga (Massage)
Abhyanga, also known as ayurvedic massage, is a broad term that means any kind of ayurvedic massage. It’s an individually prepared herbal-oil Ayurveda body massage, designed to penetrate oil deeply into the skin, relax the mind-body, break up impurities, enhance the ability of nutrients to reach cells, and allow for the removal of stagnant waste. It is a technical adaptation of touch, which is an absolutely primal and a basic instinctive need for the living being. It relies upon the power and magic of touch for efficacy. It heals, it comforts and it brings a warm glow of security that encircles both the giver and receiver in a peculiar kind of bonding. It can include full-body massage, head massage (shiro abhyanga), or foot massage (pad abhyanga).
Abhyanga is considered such a significantly beneficial therapy that it’s recommended daily - especially for the elderly, those with more air & ether in their constitution (vata dosha) and for those experiencing stress, anxiety & insomnia to name a few. Excellent for pain relief and healing, abhyanga is usually characterised by a specific sequence of strokes including long, sweeping movements using copious amounts of warm, herbal oils suitable for the individual. Different types of abhyanga can use herbal powders, herbal pastes or ghee.
The act of massaging the body melts away tension and stress from the muscles, as well as reduces aches & pains and balances what we call vata dosha in ayurveda, which primarily is responsible for balancing out nervous system and governs all movement in the body including elimination. Massaging the body with medicated or herbal oils specific for your natural constitution (dosha) or current condition (vikriti, or imbalance), further enhances the benefits of the massage. Regular abhyanga is a way to keep yourself in optimal health and balance, via the skin, which ayurveda recognises as a major organ and vehicle to reach our internal organs. The skin is both a protective shield and a gateway to nourishing our bodies' more subtle channels through our pores.
If you’ve received abhyanga before at different locations, this can explain why there are slight variations of traditional abhyanga techniques. The key feature is that abhyanga uses warm, herbal oils usually chosen by your therapist for your specific body-type or condition. The beauty of abhyanga being a relaxation type of massage, is that it works on a more subtle level that is working with our nervous system and helps to calm the mind. Beginning with a head and neck massage, then coming to lay down, your therapist will use a combination of strokes including cupping, kneading, rubbing and then massage with oil, each section of the body at a time until the entire back and front body is treated.
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Self-Abhyanga: As a daily practice, abhyanga is fantastic for general fatigue, stiffness in the joints and muscles, as preparation for the activities for the day, or in the evening it can be practised as post-workout recovery for the muscles and joints. As a rule of thumb - massage the limbs with long strokes and the joints with gentler, round strokes. It’s ideal if you can relax in a warm place for 10 - 15 minutes after your massage before taking a warm shower, however it is not necessary and it is better to do the massage and hop straight in the shower or bath than to not do it! Start from your feet and work your way upwards, avoiding the neck and face (there are better oils for these areas). Once you are familiar with the sequence, your self-abhyanga can take anywhere from 5 - 15 minutes, depending on the time that you have. The main thing is that the massage is done with presence and doesn’t become a superficial oil application - really feel each part of your body.
Shirodhara (Pouring Oil on Head)
Shirodhara is administered by mildly and methodically pouring warm medicated oil over the forehead, synchronizing brain waves and profoundly coordinating and calming the mind, body, and spirit. Every human being is considered to be like a tree with an inverted position. The roots of the tree carry all mineral substances and water for nourishment. Likewise, all ayurvedic treatments are done on the head like Shirodhara, shirovasti, etc relaxes and revitalizes all sensory organs including the Central Nervous System, regulates hormonal balance, and improves mental alertness. Takahara is a variant form of Shirodhara, which involves a continuous and steady flow of medicated buttermilk over the forehead. It is particularly effective for mental relaxation, promoting deep relaxation and improving mental clarity.
Pizhichil
Pizhichil is one of the special Ayurveda treatments in Kerala developed by Kerala scholars, in which a continuous stream of warm medicated oil poured over the whole body followed by Ayurveda massage in perfect unison. It is extremely soothing and relaxing. It acts as a free radical scavenger, toning, strengthening and deeply rejuvenating the whole body. This also increases vitality and immunity. Two massage therapists commonly execute it, and it is also known as an "oil bath" because continuous warm streams of herbal oil are massaged into the body. During this treatment, oil is poured over the body while therapists gently massage it into the skin. It helps in calming the Vata dosha, improves blood circulation, detoxifies the body, and soothes both the mind and body.
Udwartana
Udwartana is a deeply penetrating powder massage for reducing body weight and the removal of stagnant lymphatic toxins out of the body. The powder massage is usually done upward direction. It uses herbal powders to massage the body, enhancing circulation and exfoliating the skin.
Njavarakkizhi (SSPS- Shashtika Shali panda Sweda)
Njavarakkizhi is a tissue-nourishing treatment, using highly nutritious rice called ‘Njavara’. Hence, its benefits in treating paralysis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, cervical spondylosis, osteoarthritis, diabetic neuropathy, intervertebral disc prolapse, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. are superior. Njavarakizhi is also an excellent rejuvenating therapy to keep the body young and healthy.
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Elakkizhi (PPS (Patra Pinda Sweda))
Elakkizhi is an innovative classical Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala with medicated leaves. Herbal poultices (bundles) are prepared with various herbs; the poultices are heated to moderate warmth in medicated oils and used to treat.
Tarpanam
Tarpanam is a highly powerful procedure that rejuvenates the eyes. The paste of black gram is applied around the eyes and the medicated ghee is then poured in the eyes for a time described according to the diseased condition. The active ingredients of the ghee medicine start the regeneration process and the vision is restored.
Kativasti
Kativasti is done by retaining a certain amount of warm medicated oil on the low back of the body. This is one of the most effective treatments for many degenerative disorders in that area. Diseases like chronic backache, sciatica, lumbago, weakness of lower limbs, etc.
Januvasti
Januvasti is done by making a reservoir with black gram paste around the knee joints and filled with warm medicated oil. This is followed by a brief massage of the area.
Swedana (Sudation)
Swedana is an individually herbalized fomentation in different methods. A medicated steam bath is commonly administered with a steam box. Depending on the patient, different herbs are added to the steam generator.
Marma Therapy
Marma therapy focuses on stimulating specific energy points in the body to promote healing and balance. Marma points are critical energy or life points that connect the body, mind, and emotions.
Garshana
Garshana is a dry massage using raw silk gloves to exfoliate the skin and stimulate lymphatic drainage.
Nasya
Nasya involves administering medicated oils or herbal extracts through the nostrils. This treatment is highly effective for clearing the sinuses and improving respiratory function. Ayurveda holds that the nose serves as the brain’s entrance. By administering herbal oils through the nose, Nasya helps in balancing the Vata dosha and relieving mental stress.
Contraindications of Abhyanga
Abhyanga is contraindicated immediately after eating, when experiencing a strong headache or migraine, those with excessive mucus or congestion, suffering severe constipation or early stages of fever or directly after having surgery. Abhyanga is also contraindicated during the first three days or during heavy flow of menstruating women.