Rainfall is a welcome respite from high temperatures, being quite cool for most of July-September. In the Malayalam calendar, Karkidaka – the last month of the year falls during the monsoon season . It is considered as a month of poverty and diseases.
Your immunity will be at its lowest during this month. And this is when Karkidaka Chikitsa – an exclusive Ayurvedic therapy – plays its part.
What is Karkidaka Chikitsa?
Karkidaka chikitsa, also known as Monsoon treatment in Ayurveda, is a therapeutic style that originated in Kerala’s traditional healing practices.
Karkidaka Chikitsa helps improve your immunity and physical and mental strength. It also helps remove toxins from your body and bring back a healthy, rejuvenated you!
Let us look into the depths of Karkidaka Chikitsa exploring its essence and benefits.
Common Karkidaka Chikitsa Methods
Here are the common treatment methods of Karkidaka Chikitsa that helps build your immunity.
Abhyanga (Oil Massage)
Abhyanga is a traditional Ayurvedic oil massage practice that uses warm herbal oils on the entire body.
Benefits of Abhyanga
- Improved blood circulation: Abhyanga helps enhance blood circulation in the body.
- Detox the body: Abhyanga helps in loosening and liquefying body toxins and thereby makes excretion easier.
- Helps your skin glow: Regular use of oil on the skin helps to moisturise and soften your skin giving it a natural, healthy glow.
- Decrease Stress: As Abhyanga relaxes your body and mind, moreover, it reduces stress.
How to Do Abhyanga?
Take some oil in your palm and apply it gently on the top of your head – specifically, at the bregma.
Then, use your fingers to massage the scalp (you can also choose to massage the oil along the length of your hair.)
Then, massage your face. Follow by massaging your hands, feet, and the rest of your body.
Use gentle, circular motions over joints, but with long strokes on limbs for the self-Abhyanga session at home.
Wash it off with warm water after 20 minutes by taking a shower.
Swedana
Swedana, or sudation therapy, is, in fact, a part of Panchakarma preparation.
There are 13 types of Swedana. In each type, sweat is induced using different methods.
Benefits of Swedana
- Reduces toxins: Swedana, therefore, opens pores in the skin to help, consequently, release toxins.
- Relieves muscle tension: The warm experience relaxes your muscles.
- Detoxification: Sweating helps remove toxins.
- Promotes respiratory health: The aroma from herbal steam helps clear sinus passageways and restore easy breathing.
How to Do Swedana?
You can, therefore, get it done at an Ayurvedic hospital under the supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic doctor.
Panchakarma
Panchakarma is, in fact, a full body cleansing therapy that not only helps detoxify the body but also brings back the balance of the Doshas.
It includes five types of Ayurvedic treatments – Vamana (emesis), Virechana (purgation), Basti(enema), Nasya (nasal administration) and Rakta Mokshan (blood purification).
Benefits of Panchakarma
- Detoxification: Panchakarma enables deep cleansing, removing toxins found in tissues and deeply embedded throughout the body.
- Balances Doshas: This therapy balances Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas of the body.
- Improves digestion: Panchakarma improves the digestive fire (Agni) in the body hence it improves digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
- Improves immunity: When Panchakarma flushes out all toxins in the body, it helps to boost overall immune strength and function.
How to Undergo Panchakarma?
It is best to have the treatment under the guidance of a qualified doctor.
An Ayurvedic doctor recommends the required Panchakarma treatment methods for a patient based on the patient’s Prakriti (body constitution) and health conditions.
Nasya
Nasya is, in fact, the process in which oil is instilled via the nasal route. It is especially helpful in the monsoon as it protects us from recurring respiratory issues.
Benefits of Nasya
- Clears sinus: Nasya can clear congestion and sinus.
- Boosts respiratory health: It enhances the general function of your respiratory system to a great extent and relieves you from allergies, colds, etc.
- Great mental health: Nasya helps to obtain mental clarity and also cuts down the recurrence of headaches or migraines.
- Dosha balancing: It also helps balance the Vata and Kapha Doshas.
How to Do Nasya?
I recommend using Nasya Oil and Steaming Oil to do Nasya.
- Massage your face, neck and chest with Steaming Oil while applying slight pressure on sinus areas.
- Now, apply steam on your face, neck and chest, while covering your eyes using a blindfold.
- Lie back with your face raised upwards. Now, apply 2 drops of Nasya Oil in each nostril. Hold the position until you feel the oil enter your nasal cavity.
- The next step is very important – spit out the mucus.
During Karkidaka month, Ayurveda hospitals and clinics in Kerala offer Karkidaka Chikitsa.
It is an Ayurvedic therapy that includes a combination of Ayurvedic treatments and diet, especially of medicated rice gruel.
This treatment is not only great for boosting your immunity, but also for detoxifying your body.
Read also: Monsoon Seasonal Care
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