Kerala
Ayurveda
Kerala's equable climate, natural abundance of forests (with a
wealth of herbs and medicinal plants), and the cool monsoon
season (June - November) are best suited for Ayurveda's
curative and restorative packages. In fact, today, Kerala is
the only State in India which practises this system of
medicine with absolute dedication. Ayurveda evolved around 600
BC in India. This new system of medicine stressed on the
prevention of body ailments in addition to curing them.
Followed by the Dravidians and Aryans alike, Ayurveda has been
practised ever since. Today, it's a unique, indispensable
branch of medicine - a complete naturalistic system that
depends on the diagnosis of your body's humours - vata, pitta
and kapha - to achieve the right balance. Ayurveda believes in
the treatment of not just the affected part, but the
individual as a whole. Making it the natural way to refresh
yourself, eliminate all toxic imbalances from the body and
thus regain resistance and good health.
Monsoon - Time for rejuvenation
Traditional texts reveal that the monsoon is the best season
for rejuvenation programmes. The atmosphere remains dust-free
and cool, opening the pores of the body to the maximum, making
it most receptive to herbal oils and therapy.
Rejuvenative Programmes
Rejuvenation Therapy (Rasayana Chikitsa)
Tones up the skin and rejuvenates and strengthens all the
tissues so as to achieve ideal health and longevity. Increases
'Ojas' (primary vitality) and improves 'Sattva' (mental
clarity) and thereby increases the resistance of the body.
Includes head and face massage with medicated oils and creams,
body massage with herbal oil or powder by hand and foot,
internal rejuvenative medicines and medicated steam bath.
Herbal baths are also used.
Body Immunisation And Longevity Treatment (Kayakalpa
Chikitsa)
Prime treatment for retarding the ageing process, arresting
the degeneration of body cells and immunisation of the system.
Includes intake of Rasayana (special Ayurvedic medicines and
diet) and comprehensive body care programmes. Most effective
for either sex if undertaken before the age of 50.
Body Sudation (Sweda Karma)
Medicated steam baths eliminate impurities from the body,
improve the tone and complexion of the skin, reduce fat and
are recommended for certain rheumatic diseases, particularly
for pain. Precious herbs and herbal leaves are boiled and the
steam is passed over the entire body for 10 to 20 minutes
daily. Hand massage with herbal oils or herbal powder improves
blood circulation and tones up the muscles.
Body Slimming
Medicated herbal powder and medicated herbal oil massages, an
Ayurvedic diet of herbal juices etc. are part of the programme.
Beauty Care
Herbal face pack, herbal oil massage, intake of herbal tea
etc. improves complexion and beautifies the body.
Mental And Physical Well Being (Meditation and Yoga)
Mental and physical exercises meant to isolate the ego from
the body and mind - designed to hone your concentration,
improve health and help attain peace of mind through eight
stages of training : 1. Disciplined behaviour (yama) 2. Self
purification (niyama) 3. Bodily postures such as the lotus
position (asana) 4. Control of breathing (pranayama) 5.
Control of the senses (pratyahara) 6. Fixing of the mind on a
chosen object (dharana) 7. Meditation (dhyana) and 8. Samadhi
- a state of being where you experience absolute tranquility
and well being.
Overall Fitness (Panchakarma Treatment)
A five fold treatment for mental and physical well being -
tunes the body, organs, mind, breath, nerves and purifies the
blood.