By Saikat Neogi

HEALING SECRETS OF AYURVEDA

Pizhichil (The Anointment Therapy): Aches and pains melt away

as you lie on a wooden bed. Warm medicinal oils are squeezed

from a saturated cotton cloth all over the body.

Duration: 14 days, 60 to 90 minutes a day.

Recommended for: Tone of the skin, muscle strengthening and

removing toxins from body. Beneficial for arthritis and

lumbago.

Dhara (The flow Therapy): Fatigue and listlessness are washed

away in continuous stream of medicated oil or milk, or

buttermilk flowing gently on the head from an urban pitcher.

Duration: 14 days, about 45 minutes a day.

Recommended for: Lack of vitality, poor memory, insomnia,

chronic headaches, ear and nose diseases, spondylitis and

paraplegia.

Navarakizhi (The Sweat Therapy): Body impurities are sweated

out by applying pouches of cooked rice and herbal decoctions.

Duration: 14 days, about 45 minutes a day.

Recommended for: Skeletal and muscular disorders, joint pains,

paralysis and sciatica. It increases sexual power and vigour.

Sirovasti Herbal oils at bearable temperature are filled in a

leather cap, which is worn by the patient.

Duration: 14 days, about 60 minutes a day.

Recommended for: Deafness, sinus, migraine, diseases affecting

cranial nerves, facial paralysis and other diseases of the

head including insanity.

Nasyam: The patient's upper body from shoulders up is massaged

and made to perspire. Herbal medicine is simultaneously blown

into the patient's nostrils.

Duration: 14 days, about 60 minutes a day.

Recommended for: Sinusitis, migraine, cold and chest congestion.

Kativasthi: In the process specially prepared warm medicated

oil is placed on the chest for 45 minutes.

Duration: 14 days, about 45 minutes a day.

Recommended for: backaches, spinal disorders, asthma, heart

diseases and muscular chest pain.

___________________