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The healing touch
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Many Ayurvedic centres that have come up in the city offer traditional massages for various ailments
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Vaishali Saravanan is 60 years old. Last year, when playing the Veena, her fingers wouldn't co-operate. She soon learnt from her doctor R. Devadas, that she had suffered a paralytic stroke. Undeterred and with total faith in the doctor and in the ancient system of Ayurveda, she underwent the Pizhichil massage for 28 days.
"During the first few days, when they poured hot oil for the massage, I felt extremely uncomfortable. But thanks to the treatment, today I am up and about and even able to attend to my family chores," says Vaishali. Pizhichil, Shirodhara, Njavarakizhi and Pachakizhi have become popular Ayurvedic treatmentswith a number of people going in for medicated oil massages to find a cure for chronic ailments. At the Ayurvedic massage centre at Dr. R. Devadas's clinic, behind the Perambur bus depot, patients file in from 6 a.m. everyday, including Sundays. "Many seem to prefer the rejuvenating abhyangam massage, which tones the system and improves complexion," says the doctor, who is also the Principal of the Sri Sairam Ayurvedic College and Research Centre.
While most of the health centres offer a package of natural foods, yoga and meditation along with Ayurvedic massages, a couple of them in Chennai offer specialised massages alone.
Dr. P.T. Chacko, Chief Medical Officer at the Sanjeevanam of the Cholayil Group says, "We offer Keraliya Panchakarma which include Pizhichil, Navarakizhi, Shirodhara, Shirovasthi, Vamanam, Virechanam, Nasyam, Kashaya and Snehana Vasthi with decoction and oil and enema, depending upon the ailment."
While people still like going to Kerala for the traditional abhyangam and other rejuvenating massages, centres such as Ayush and Sanjeevanam offer the treatment here for those who cannot travel so far.
The rejuvenation therapy called Pizhichil, prevents ageing, scales and wrinkles and is a cure for rheumatism and spastic muscular disorders. At the end of it, the problem fluids are almost secreted by the sweat pores, which collect on the medicinal table called the droni, made of the `Vengai' wood.
Most people go to Sanjeevanam or Ayush to get treated for disc protrusion, intervertebral disc prolapse, arthritis, spondilitis, head ache, gastro-intestinal, muscular skeletal and neuro-muscular diseases and obesity. The treatment involves oil massages and medicines.
The Shirodhara is a special treatment, where medicated oil is poured on the forehead and head in a systematic manner. This is said tocure paralysis, psychiatric and neurological ailments. Diseases of the head and neck and specifically facial paralysis call for Shirovasthi.
Ayurveda offers several cosmetic treatments too. The Yauvanam therapy at Sanjeevanam includes hair and skin care while Abhyangam is given as a general massage to make a person feel light and fresh. Ayush and Sanjeevanam have their centres in several parts of Chennai including Anna Nagar, Kilpauk, Adyar, Nungambakkam, Mogappair, Royapuram and the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute.
Hindusthan Lever's Ayush Thearpy Centre at T.Nagar, Anna Nagar, Mylapore, Kilpauk and GRT Temple Bay (Mamallapuram) offers Abhayngam, which is supposed to be beneficial for those suffering from musculo-skeletal diseases. Medicated oil is applied on the body and head gently for about 45 minutes. This also makes a person feel rejuvenated and look younger.
Abhayangam is also done with Pichu — a cotton pad soaked in medicated oil is placed on the part of the body and kept moist with warm oil to cure inflammation, pain and cramps. Abhyangam is done with local Pizhichil, with Thalam and Nasyam or the Dinacharya programme, Nethra Tharpanam, Shirodhara, Mukha Lepam and Njavarakizhi.
So next time you feel low and suffer from pain and cramps, think of these traditional therapies.
SWAHILYA
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