Ayurveda is an ancient practice that can also heal modern diseases, writes Meera Murugesan
IT used to be a weekly ritual in traditional Indian homes.
On Saturdays or Sundays, every member of the family would indulge in an oil bath, where either gingelly oil (nallennai in Tamil) or coconut oil would be applied onto the scalp and body, and well massaged into the skin.This would then be followed by a relaxing hot water bath.
This rejuvenating home therapy has its roots in the ancient Indian art of healing called ayurveda and is believed to be beneficial to one’s wellbeing in many ways.
HEALING AND PROTECTING
The oil massage helps to soften the skin and ease tired aching muscles.
The application of oil on the scalp keeps the body cool during the hot season and free of heat-related ailments, while the hot water bath provides relieve from aches and pains, and leads to deeper, better sleep after the stresses of the week.
These days the oil bath is not a weekly routine anymore in most Indian households, with Deepavali morning once a year being the rare exception.
But the benefits of oil based therapies and treatments have been well-documented in ayurveda, and these practices are still relevant today to protect and heal the body says Dr U.S. Deepak, senior ayurvedic consultant at Myayurveda, a centre specialising in ayurvedic therapy and modern herbal medicine.
He explains that the whole idea behind this once a week ritual is to bring the body “back into balance”.
It helps to protect the family against diseases and promote overall well-being because our forefathers understood that the mind and body can become highly stressed as we deal with the challenges of daily life.
Deepak says that after the oil has been massaged onto the scalp and body, it should ideally be left to soak and absorb into the skin for some time before the bath.
This ritual should also be regularly practised for long-term benefits and it can address many modern ailments, including stress-related disorders.
“In ayurvedic texts, it’s explained that it should be done once a week or at the very least, twice a month to see results,” says Deepak.
These days, busy people with little time to do this at home are turning to ayurvedic centres to indulge in relaxing and rejuvenating oil therapies and address ailments.
At Myayurveda for example, pizhichil (oil bath) therapy is offered to people suffering from rheumatic diseases like arthritis and nerve degeneration.
Shirodhara, a de-stress therapy is also highly popular among young working adults. This therapy aims to create a profound state of relaxation for the mind and body. It involves pouring streams of lukewarm oil onto the forehead in a rhythmic oscillatory movement to promote deep inner calm and balance one’s emotional state.
Used since ancient times, it is able to relieve stress, depression, improve memory and encourage deep sound sleep.
“We have customers from different ethnicities who try the shirodhara and they actually fall asleep during the therapy because it’s so relaxing,” says Asha Nair, director of Myayurveda.
A rejuvenation therapy offered at the centre is also very popular with young adults. It combines traditional ayurvedic massage using herb infused oils which help to relive stress, stimulate blood circulation, tone muscles and improve the condition of the skin.
BACK IN BALANCE
The whole concept of getting the body back into its natural balance is very popular now, adds Asha but ayurveda has always stressed on it.
Sunil Francis, director of Myayurveda, says in our country, the home oil bath may be a dying ritual but in India, particularly in the state of Kerala, it remains a daily practice because people are aware of its benefits.
Deepak adds that oil therapies and treatments may have ancient roots but they target modern day ailments effectively because they help to relax the body, lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation and promote sleep, conditions which many modern young professionals today struggle with.
At Myayurveda, clients are always assessed to determine their body type and whether they have any underlying illnesses before treatment begins.
The type of oil or oils used for treatment will depend on this assessment because it will then be able to properly address the individual’s specific needs.
“Home remedies are more simple as people tend to use whatever oil is available in the house but here, we are able to make it highly specific,” explains Sunil.
For many people today, back pain, stiff necks, body aches and painful shoulders are also common complaints due to long hours in front of the computer or hunched over their work desks, and these too are being addressed with ayurvedic therapies.
“Ayurveda is an ancient practice but it can heal even modern diseases so it will always remain relevant in our lives,” says Sunil.
AYURVEDIC MASSAGE
AN ayurvedic massage is generally performed in the morning before a shower to facilitate the release of toxins from the body that may have accumulated over the previous night.
After the massage, one is encouraged to relax before having a hot bath.
The benefits include:
• To increase circulation, especially to nerve endings
• To tone muscles
• For lubrication of joints
• To calm nerves
• To enhance mental alertness
• To improve the elimination of impurities from the body
• For softer, smoother, skin,
• To increase stamina
• To gain better, deeper, sleep
Source: Myayurveda