Medicated oil will be applied be applied all over the body. A mild massage will also be given in five different postures. Special consideration will be given to the head, ears and feet. This will be followed by medicated bath. It helps the promotion of blood circulation, thereby relaxing the mind and body.

First coconut oil with herbs is massaged on the head, than medicated sesame oil is applied all over the body. The oil is gently rubbed on the whole body. The oil is liberally applied and massaged in steady long strokes to and from the heart. The head and body is massaged for over an hour. The face is massaged with herbal cream. After the massage, you take a medicated steam bath using either Eucalyptus or Lemongrass essential oils depending on your body constitution.  The steam bath is for 15 minutes. The intensity of the steam makes one sweat profusely, clearing the body of toxins. A warm bath is prepared and you wash yourself using Ayurveda herbal soap and Inja. Injais similar to a loofah, a tree bark that absorbs the oil and also assist to exfoliate the skin.

This massage involves massaging all joints, vertebrae, hands and face with oil. In addition a full body massage will be also given. This helps to get rid of rheumatism, joint pains, myalgia, etc. and repeated treatments will increase the strength of joints.

Chavutty Thirummu (massage by foot)
A mild massage is given by hand. Then a customized body massage will be given by bare foot using herbal oils. The head and face will be massaged by hand.

Customized herbal oil is massaged on the head and body. Herbal cream is used
for the facial massage. This is followed by a medicated steam bath for twenty minutes. The water is a decoction made out of herbs and wild fruits. This aromatherapy combination helps to nourish your skin, improve skin tone, vitality and enhances youthfulness.

It is not a massage but an intense internal treatment. A precise and potent herbal concentrate which contains extracts of some of the rarest medicinal plants and other ingredients.  It is actually an intensified version of the historic “Kaya Kalpa Chikitsa”.  When taken orally it changes the constitution of the body and thereby boosts vigour, vitality, vision, memory, muscle power, stamina, sexual energy and dynamism.

This is a 7day treatment. In a 7 day treatment, herbal oil added to medicated milk or buttermilk and poured on the forehead continuously. It is very effective for relieving mental tension, headache, relaxation of mind and body. It also cools the head and body. After the session, a cool bath is taken and one should stay out of the sun. For my one-day treatment buttermilk was used. Sandalwood paste is applied to the head and a cloth is wrapped over it and tied under the chin. The sandalwood paste absorbs excessive heat from the body. Light oil is massaged all over the body. The eyes are blindfolded with cotton to prevent the buttermilk from seeping into my eyes. There is no danger to the eyes, but one merely from a viewpoint of comfort.  On top of my head hangs a clay pot with a wick through it. Buttermilk is poured into the clay pot and down drips the buttermilk gently swinging back and forth on my forehead. The buttermilk smelled delicious. It took a while to get used to this liquid washing down my head.  I dozed off, only to be woken gently from my slumber. 

Recommended for muscle and joints pain. First a light sesame oil base is rubbed on the body. Elakizhi is done utilizing fresh medicinal leaves made into a poultice. The poultice is dipped into hot boiling oil. The excess oil is squeezed off the poultice. The hot poultice is then applied all over the body. This is repeated for an hour. The heat was extremely soothing for the muscle and joint. The fragrance was heavenly. For maximum benefit this treatment is recommended for 15 days. A warm bath is recommended after an hour of the massage.

The steam bath completes the Ayurveda massage. Essential oils are added to enhance the detoxification after the massage. Essential oils used are lemongrass or eucalyptus.
Lemongrass, a native plant of India has a powerful lemon like odor.  It is beneficial for infections, headaches, sore throats, respiratory problems and fevers. Has antiseptic properties and used as an insect repellant. Eucalyptus is beneficial for viral infection, colds, coughs, bronchitis, rheumatism, muscular strain and skin infections. It has antiseptic, antifungal properties and used as an insect repellant.

Luke warm medicated oil will be poured into both nostrils for cleaning the nasal cavities. It is an effective treatment for ailments above the neck. This is very effective for nervous disorders, sinusitis, headache, congestion, etc.

A very effective mode of treatment using medicinal poultice. This treatment is very effective for eradicating rheumatic complaints and nervous disorders.

Luke warm herbal medicinal oil will be poured over the body continuously.  The body and mind will become completely relaxed after this procedure. This treatment helps to relieve rheumatism, nervous disorder and sexual weakness.

Panchakarma is a detoxification program that is utilized in Ayurveda. Panchakarma is only undertaken when the patient is strong relative to the disease. It is not to be undertaken by patient at end stage disease. Panchakarma involves abhayanga(oleation), svedana (sweating), and shirodhara (lubrication of the scalp) and evacuative nasal medication or kriyas. Each of these four purification procedures is modified to the person’s constitution or excess of humors. In abhayanga, warm oil is rubbed all over the body. It penetrates the skin and lubricates the superficial fascia, the deep fascia, and touches the nerve ending, where it releases the certain neuropeptides. These are the same neuropeptides that are present in the central nervous system which assist with immunity.  After abhayanga and svedana the toxins are directed to the digestive tract to be expelled. This is aided by dietary means to help the doshas flow. 

These specific purifications are performed at specific times of the day, morning, noon or evening, depending again on personal constitution. Toxins from the gastro-intestinal tract are directed to the organs specific to each flow of toxin. Pitta is directed to liver, intestine and gallbladder.  Kalpha is directed to the stomach. Vata is directed to the colon as gas .To facilitate complete elimination of the toxin according to each humor, these are the general recommendations.  For pitta, purgation therapy is recommended.  For kapha, it is vomiting therapy and for vata disorder, basti (medicated enema) is recommended. Nasal medication is the preferred purification for all diseases of the head.  After these intense cleansing a pacification treatment is introduced to rebalance the dosha and protect the system. Via this procedure, toxins are eradicated from the system, the system is rejuvenated and disease process is minimizes or halted.

Caution: Panchakarma must be performed under supervision of a qualified Ayurvedapractitioner, or otherwise it will aggravate the situation and make it worse.

1. Robert E. Svoboda, Ayurveda, Life, Health and Longevity, pg. 204-210
2. Dr.Vasant Lad , Yoga Health, The Science of Restoring Harmony, pg. 34-37

Shirovasthy
Luke warm medicated will be allowed to be maintained on the scalp by using a cap fixed around the head. Effective for memory ailments, nervous disorders, disturbed sleep.

Samvahan massage

This massage known as Samvahan is a blend of the essence of ancient Indian methods. Samvahan is a technique consisting of creating rhythms that heal through vibration. Samvahan is believed to serve as a powerful key to unlock emotional trauma trapped with our subconscious.  Thoughts being vibrations, the therapy therefore offers a deeper plane of healing that involves greater emotional and mental clarity.  It provides a strong connection between the mind and body, in turn linking them in a subtle way with the environment around us. (Thiagarajan , K, 2008). Samvahan was rediscovered by Dr. Ram Bhosle in 1930’s in India. He was a legendary healer and great dancer and musician. He was the personal doctor of Mahatma Ghandi and Nehru and the disciple of yogi masters such as Swami Nityananda of Ganeshpuri and Maha Avatar Babaji.

Vibrational Healing from India http://www.samvahan.com/articles-frameset.htm

An Indian Art of Healing  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCm1a415tmg

Retrieved from http://www.nityanandatradition.org/nityananda/eternalone/chapter2.pdf

Tharpanam
Medicated oil or ghee (clarified butter) will be applied over the eyes. This is very effective for eyes irritation. This treatment cools the eyes and enhances the eyesight.

To read more on Ayurveda and to find out your constitution please refer to http://ghis.ca/ayurveda/