By Shantini Mala A/P Paramasivam

Ayurveda is a 5,000-year old system of natural healing that has its origin in the Vedic culture of India.

It is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit, and also reminds us of the dynamic integration between our body and environment.

Its main goal is to promote good health, not to fight with diseases. More than treating illness, Ayurveda is a science of life. “Ayur” means life and “Veda” means science of knowledge. It offers a body of wisdom to help on ideal daily routines of diet, behaviour and other proper use of the senses.

Ayurvedic herbal treatments are usually safe and well-tolerated. Although it depends on the disease, one will experience improvement within 10 to 15 days of taking treatment.

The full course of the herbal treatment should be taken so that the disease is properly treated and a complete benefit can be achieved.

Ayurveda describes three fundamental energies of our inner and outer environments, movements, transformation and structure. It is known in Sanskrit as “Vata” (wind), “Pitta” (fire) and “Kapha” (earth). These primary forces are responsible for the mind and body characteristic.

They are also called “doshas”. They control how the body works. For each element, there is a balanced and imbalanced expression. When Vata is balanced the person is lively and creative, but when there is too much movement in the system he/she tends to experience anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, constipation and difficulty in focusing.

When Pitta is functioning in a balanced manner, the person is warm, friendly, disciplined, is a good leader and a good speaker, but when it is out of balance he/she tends to be compulsive and irritable, and may suffer from inflammatory conditions.

When Kapha is balanced, one is sweet, supportive and stable, but when it is not, there may be a tendency to experience weight gain and have sinus congestion. If the toxins are abundant in the body then a cleansing process known as panchakarma is recommended to purge unwanted toxins. It is also to strengthen the immune system to restore health and wellbeing.

Ayurveda offers many remedies for pain relief. Many treatments are combined to give a long-standing relief from pain, stiffness, swelling and other complaints associated with sore joints and bones, and musculoskeletal and neuromuscular pains. They also rejuvenate, relax and strengthen the joints, muscles and soft tissues. Many treatments are highly useful in preventing diseases like arthritis and lower back pain.

In this case, I would like to expand the Podhi Kizhi Ayurvedic Treatment for the client. Podhi Kizhi (also called Churna Pinda Sweda) is one popular treatment from the list of highly-effective remedies in Ayurveda towards pain relief. The therapeutic action of Podhi Kizhi is that our skin is a large highly complex organ and structurally integrated organ system, and the components of the skin are cutaneous membrane with hairs, nails and exocrine gland.

When the procedure starts, increased temperature will be the result of vasodilation, and an increased flow of blood through the area will occur so that necessary oxygen is supplied and toxins are removed. The active ingredients of the medicinal herbs help to act as muscular relaxants, and to reduce pain. In fact, with an increase of blood supply, the metabolism will increase as a result of output responsible for removal of disease from the cells, and this will help to nourish the skin.

Podhi Kizhi is the herbal powder used in this procedure. Herbs are cleaned, dried and powdered. These are tied into a bolus using a suitable cloth. Medicated oil may be applied over the body. The herbal powder bolus is heated during the treatment. It is beneficial in treating arthritis, removing toxins from the circulating system, and it’s found to be effective in certain lower-back aches, cervical spondylitis and frozen shoulder. The duration of the treatment is from 30 to 45 minutes according to the condition of the individuals. This is done from seven to fourteen days.

Each ingredient has its purpose. Rock salt is for relieve of pain and hold heat for swedana effect; the fresh turmeric is for antiseptic; coconut is for moisturising; fresh ginger, clove, cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper are heating elements; dry neem leaves have anti-bacterial properties; and lemon leaves have a healing effect.

In this treatment, the herbs are heated to tolerate temperature and are tied in a bolus. The bolus is heated in a pan and dipped in herbal oil and continuously rubbed over the pain area. A couple of boluses are prepared for changing and backup. Once the bolus gets cooled, it is changed with another. The bolus is repeatedly interchanged with backup bolus throughout the treatment duration. The key is to maintain the temperature of the bolus. The procedure is repeated many times as per estimate time of this treatment.

Podhi Kizhi is the best treatment in Ayurveda to reduce pain and swelling, and catches related to neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders. Please don’t be shy to meet a consultant to get clarity on your condition. Proper diagnosis should be made before a treatment is planned, and the best way to do it is under the supervision of a doctor.