Rejuvenation

Swedanam is a traditional steam therapy designed to open tissues with the saturation of heat and moisture. Deep seated toxins are released through the pores of skin, thereby reducing inflammation, improving circulation. It promotes healing & restoration.

Note: Generally Swedanam is done after Abyangam.

Procedure:

It is the pre-operative procedure in various Ayurvedic detox therapies where the objective is to dilate the channels of the body to detach the toxins from the tissues.  Herbs are selected depending on the condition and doshic predominance.Treatment is continued till the forehead and abdomen sweat very well.

Types:
There are many different varities of Swedana. Some of them are as follows:

Bashpa Sweda (Chamber steam):
The fomentation is done by making the person to sit in the chamber where steam emanates from boiling herbal decoction.

NaadiSweda:
Naadi sweda is penetrating heat. It is a more penetrating type of wet heat than Bashpa Sweda. This is given to affected parts, using a tube; importance is given to thick and complex structures of joints.

Benefits:

• Balances Vata and Kapha humors in the body
• Detaches toxins; expels them through the tiny pores of the skin along with sweat
• Increases circulation; reduces inflammation
• Revitalizes and rejuvenates the skin
• Improves digestion
• Acts on fat tissues
• Relieves stress
• Eases sore muscles
• Reduces numbness, stiffness, rigidity, heaviness; improves mobility

Udwarthanam is special therapeutic deep tissue massage using combination of herbal powders or paste.   This massage involves upward stroking, where the powder is rubbed forcibly on the body.

Procedure:

The herbal powder is warmed by heating. The massage is done in the opposite direction to hair follicles by two therapists. The procedure is performed in seven postures.  After completion the person is advised to take rest for 30 minutes, followed by a shower with warm water.

Duration of treatment : 45 minutes to 60 minutes

Benefits:

• Pacifies the aggravated Kapha dosha
• Reduces the excess fat accumulated in the subcutaneous tissues
• Softens and exfoliates dead skin cells, thereby giving a lustrous glow to skin
• Detoxification, purification, toning the skin
• Eliminates bad body odor
• Improves mobility of joints
• Strengthens  and tones up the muscles
• Refreshes and rejuvenates the body
• Takes care of conditions due to improper blood supply
• Improves the circulation; opens up the body channels, increasing the basal metabolic rate.
• Tones up the skin and muscles after the child birth
• Removes cellulite and helps in weight reduction
• Improves the sense of touch
• Makes the body and mind alert; gives a sense of lightness of the body
• Reduces the blood cholesterol

The dry powder massage is very useful in the following conditions:

• Muscular dystrophy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Hemiplegia
• Sciatica
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Skin diseases
• Obesity

Njavara in Malayalam stands for the rice (Shashtika Shali in Sanskrit) that grows in 60 days ;  Kizhi (Pinda in Sanskrit) stands for bolus.  Njavara is indigenous variety of rice grown in Kerala, having medicinal properties. It is a unique treatment procedure practiced by Kerala Ayurveda physicians. Kerala Ayurveda massage therapy for back pain in Dwarka, It is a procedure by which the whole body or any specific part  is made to perspire , by the application of certain medicinal drugs with Njavara rice puddings externally in the form of boluses tied up in a muslin bag.

Procedure:

A generous amount of medicated oil is applied over the head and body. Then the body is massaged with warm muslin bag bolus containing njavara rice puddings cooked in the herbal decoction. The boluses are dipped in the mixture of warm milk and herbal decoctions when they cool down thus inducing sudation. The procedure is done in seven different postures.  At the end of the procedure, the rice paste sticking over the body is removed. A gentle massage is given with warm medicated oil once again.

Benefits:

• Makes the body supple and removes stiffness
• Calms the mind and reduces the stress
• Promotes sound sleep
• Boosts immune system and slows the aging process
• Enhances body nourishment and rejuvenates
• Improves luster and texture of the skin
• Sharpens the sense organs
• Strengthens and nourishes the nervous system

The procedure is found effective in:

• Spasticity
• Reduced mobility
• Rigidity
• Low back ache
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Kyphosis
• Cervical myelopathy
• Hemiplegia
• Arthritis

The word Greeva refers to neck and Basti stands for container or retaining something inside. It is an Ayurvedic neck care and basically a hot oil therapy. Greeva Basti is bathing the neck region with medicated oil or freshly prepared herbal decoction. The procedure does oleation and sudation around the neck region simultaneously. Due to present day lifestyle which involves continued and glued sitting position and lack of body movements the problems of the spine, muscles and skeletal tissues of neck and shoulder arise. Greeva Basti addresses these issues effectively.

Procedure:

The person undergoing  Greeva Basti is made to lie face down on the massage table (Droni)

The dough is prepared out of black gram flour or whole wheat flour. It is then made into a small ring of four to five inches in diameter which is placed over the neck to cover all the vertebrae of the neck and 2-3 vertebrae of the thoracic region.

After it is glued with some water to make it leakproof, lukewarm medicated oil or the decoction of herbs is slowly poured into it. When this cools down it is squeezed out and replaced with warmer one.

At the end of the procedure the dough is removed; a gentle massage is given over the area. The person is made to take rest for a while.

Duration of treatment: 30 minutes
Benefits:

• Relieves the burden of stress and congestion in nerves, bones and muscles of neck and shoulders and thus relaxing and rejuvenating them
• Improves the flexibility and brings smooth movement
• Improves circulation around the neck and shoulder region.

Greeva Basti gives relief from the following conditions:

• Cervical spondylosis, cervical spondylitis,
• Vertigo
• Tingling, numbness of the hands
• Compression fractures
• Chronic pain in neck region
• Frozen shoulder