An ancient traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda is considered to be the oldest system of health care, with literature going back 5000 years and an oral tradition that is much older.
Ayurveda helps the healthy person to maintain health and the diseased person to regain health.
The body is made up of Tridoshas (Tri' means 'Three' and 'Doshas' mean 'Humours') - Vata is Air, Pitta is Fire and Kapha is Water and Earth. Good health means a normalcy in the Tridoshas, the balance of metabolic, systemic and excretory functions and good functioning of all five sense organs, and the harmony of mind and spirit.
There are 7 constitutional doshas and every person falls into any one of these categories:
It is very important to understand that simply having a massage with ayurvedic oil is not an ayurvedic treatment. If massage is not provided with proper medicated oils based on different personal factors, it can cause problems at a later stage. Hence ayurvedic treatment requires an experienced doctor to decide what treatment is to be given, and with what combination of oils and medicines, and it needs to be delivered by trained therapists.
It is a form of ayurvedic therapy that involves massage of the whole body with medicated oils. The oleation serves as an absolute preventive measure against many ailments related to the Vata dosha.
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‘Pada’ means leg and ‘abhyanga’ means massage using medicated oils. It is the massage of the legs below the knees.
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‘Shiro’ means ‘head’ and ‘dhara’ is a steady flow of warm ayurvedic oil which is specially selected by the ayurvedic doctor. Dhara can also be done with other ingredients like buttermilk, but they are specifically chosen as per the condition. Shirodhara involves a continuous stream of oil that is gently swayed on to the forehead.
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It is a form of fomentation or heat inducing therapy where finely chopped herbal leaves and herbal powders are warmed in medicated oil and bundled in a poultice, which is then used as a fomentation massage.
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This specialised massage uses medicated ayurvedic powders or ‘churnas’ and the massage is done in an upward direction.
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It is a highly effective ayurvedic therapy where a linen bag filled with ‘churna’ (medicated powder) is used for fomentation, the duration of which varies according to disease conditions. This is effective for ailments due to ‘Vata’ and ‘Kapha’ disorders, as it produces a therapeutic sweat which relieves the condition.
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‘Netra’ means eye and ‘tarpanam’ means nourishment. So treatment which nourishes the eye is called netra tarpanam. This is a special Ayurvedic treatment to set right the degenerative changes in the retina and lens of the eyes, to strengthen both the optic nerve and ciliary muscles, and to correct the refractive errors in diabetic retinopathy. It also helps to reduce dryness and irritation in the eyes.
Specialized procedure where medicated paste is made and applied on the crown of the head for a certain amount of time is called ‘Thalam’. Thalams are of various types according to the nature of the ailment. Medicated ghee is often used as the medium. Medicinal paste depends on the person and the disease.
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Vasti is an important treatment in Ayurveda especially meant for vata diseases. There are many types of vasti. It involves holding warm ayurvedic oils over the affected areas.
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This treatment includes procedures like cleansing, massage, herbal steam, gentle scrub, nutrifying packs, toning, rejuvenating and moisturizing. This is done with a combination of ayurvedic herbs based on the constitution of the person, and fresh fruits and vegetables according to the skin type.
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This is a palliative treatment for ailments in the head region. It is good for diseases affecting the cranial nerves due to Vata disorders. The treatment is named after the folded piece of cloth used to cover the crown called the Pichu. This special treatment is also used for reducing arthritic changes, pain and stiffness in the joints. In this procedure, cotton is soaked in warm medicated oil, which is applied around the joints, changing the cotton as needed to maintain a constant temperature.
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This is a traditional Kerala ayurvedic treatment meant for disorders of the facial nerve and different neurological disorders of facial muscles. This is very important in treating facial palsy.
In this procedure fomentation is done with the help of a tube through which medicated steam is passed over the body for a particular amount of time. The medicated steam is made by boiling parts of medicinal plants with milk in a special vessel.
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This exotic massage is a signature treatment of SOUKYA-a special protocol developed here.
After application of the ayurvedic oil based on one’s body type, hot lava stones are used to massage the body.
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An intensive treatment that works on neuro muscular tissues strengthens the nervous system and tones the body. The strong and vigorous massages together with deep pressure used in the strokes help de-stress the body and also helps in weight loss. It tones the muscles and helps to get rid of deep seated toxins.
'Pizhi' means 'squeezing' and 'Chil' means 'vigorous movement.' Pizhichil is considered to be the most popular treatment amongst the Keralia Pancha Karma therapies. This procedure provides simultaneous snehana and swedana which means that in this specialized procedure the whole body is oleated and fomented with lukewarm medicated oils or decoctions. In this procedure, a large quantity of warm medicated oil is squeezed all over the body with one hand and massaging with the other hand. When administered many times in succession, it is very invigorating and found to alleviate pains. It has also been proved to be highly effective on its own for treating diseases caused due to vitiation of the Vata humour.
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It is one of the most important treatment procedures of Keraliya Pancha Karma therapy. A bolus of navara or shastika rice cooked with milk and herbal decoctions is made into a fist-sized bundle called a kizhi which is used for fomentation. As the poultice is made of special rice, shashtika Sali, where the treatment gets its name. This is done after the application of medicated oil over the whole body which induces a sweat. It is used not only as part of Panchakarma but also as an effective treatment for many diseases due to Vata disorders. This strengthening formulation helps combat neurological disorders, rheumatism, arthritis, and malnutrition of the limbs.
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An exotic facial using fresh, natural, beauty - enhancing herbs like milk cream, curd, mint, honey, turmeric and various other ayurvedic herbs. The fresh herbs rejuvenate the skin where the aromas relax the mind.
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A complete facial procedure using a combination of ayurvedic herbs and the highly nourishing and detoxifying mud from the Dead Sea. The high mineral content of the mud is what makes it so effective in improving the flow of nutrients to the skin surface by detoxifying and rejuvenating the skin.
This is the application of herbal preparations in paste over the head for a particular thickness, after which the head is covered with specific herbal leaves and kept for 30 to 60 minutes. Ingredients of the paste vary according to the nature of the ailment.
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It is a kind of immersion bath where the patient is made to sweat while sitting in a tub filled with a specific warm medical decoction for the whole body or different parts of the body like the hips or feet.
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"SOUKYA is deservedly called "The Best ". Doctors and therapists are very good. All staff very cheerful, professional. We return home thoroughly rejuvenated. Healthy and energised by all that you do here.”
- Mrs. & Dr. Dixon (UK) Week’s stay, 8th visit, January 2017 (Personal Physician to Prince Charles)
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