Diseases Diagnosis & Treatment » Treatments » Other Ayurveda Treatments

Thalam (Shirovasti) – Ayurvedic Care for Brain
Thalam is the Malayalam name for the Ayurvedic therapeutic measure, shirovasti (shirobasti). It is the process of retaining medicinal oil over the head with the help of a suitable cap to provide nourishment to brain cells to prevent brain cell damage.

Thalam is the best treatment to cure variety of conditions like insomnia, stress, tension, and different mental conditions. In the past this therapy was prescribed only for people with mental illness.

The stress associated with modern lifestyle has created several problems and thalam is redesigned as an Ayurveda therapy to cure conditions such as lack of memory, inability to concentrate, lack of willpower, etc. It is also a good therapy for general good feeling.

Snehapanam – Ayurvedic Internal Oil/Ghee Therapy
Snehapanam is an Ayurvedic therapeutic measure in which medicated oil or medicated ghee prepared from cow’s milk is given orally for internal purification before panchakarma therapy (purva karma) or as a treatment. The dose of snehapan increases gradually from day one until day 8 or day 14 according to prescription. It is beneficial in curing different conditions like osteo-arthritis, certain skin diseases like psoriasis, chronic constipation, etc.

The treatment for peptic ulcer also involves sneha panam. Overproduction of gastric juice in the digestive track is neutralized by medicated ghee. The choice of medicines varies with patients. The general treatment is that the patient is given a dose of snehapan of specific quantity and quality, based on the ability of the person to digest the medication. The person is also not allowed to eat anything till the medicinal ghee digests completely in his/her digestive tract. Snehapana therapy for peptic ulcer may end in less than eight days.

Shaman in Ayurveda
Shaman is a milder than shodan methods including panchakarma. Shaman is required when the person is not fit for shodan or slightly harsh body purification methods. Other reasons to resort of Shaman (saman) can be lack of time or apprehensions of the person about Ayurvedic deep cleansing methods (panchakarma).

Unlike in Shodhan chikitsa, shaman doesn’t try to eliminate vitiated dosha from the system. Shaman tries to put the doshic state in balance by medication. Here the aggravated dosha is balanced by either addition of subtraction of dosha elements. Shaman is not also as effective as shodan as the system and go back to state of imbalance or ill health. It takes efforts on part of the person to retain the positive results of shaman.

There are seven different types of shaman. They are:

1. Deepan – deepan literally means illumination. Here it means empowering agni (digestive fire) to create appetite. Deepan includes administering medicated ghee and spicy and fat rich food to subside aggravated dosha or increase subsided dosha to achieve a balanced state.
2. Pachan – Pachan includes the methods of digesting toxic wastes called ama. There are different herbal combinations that help in digesting undigested toxins.
3. Kshudha Nigrah – or kshuda nigraha literally means killing of appetite. It is a fasting technique. Total of selective fasting is directed to the person until the balancing of doshas in the body system. To avoid a specific aggrevated dosha (say vata), avoid food or lifestyle activities that promote that dosha (here, vata). Ayurvedic principle behind ksudha nigraha is leveraging agni in restoring tridosha balance. This is particularly beneficial for diseases associated with digestive tract.
4. Thrisha Nigraha – means killing thirst. It is a method to cure water retention problems of the body. The ama accumulated in kidney and urinary system are digested this way.
5. Vyayam – Vyayam or vyayama means physical exercise. Specific vyayama regimes are prescribed for conditions like obesity, digestive problems, diabetes, etc. It is sometimes combined with medication for optimum results, but mostly without any medicines.
6. Atap Seva (heat service) – it includes sunbathing for skin diseases, rheumatism or arthritis related conditions. This treatment pacifies vata.
7. Marut Seva (Wind service) – it is the therapy that includes the administration of fresh air, mostly to treat asthma, tuberculosis related conditions. According to Ayurveda, breathing air is prana or life. It is a method of pumping ‘life’ into the body system.

Shaman therapy is for everyone who lack the capabilities and/or time to go through shodan (panchakarma) therapy. Persons with conditions like tuberculosis can never take shodan chikitsa as their body will not be capable of handling the therapeutic measures.

Pudapakam Ayurvedic Eye Care Therapy
Pudapakam is the retention of medicated oil over the eyes of a person to give a cooling effect to the eyes, strengthen the optic nerve, relief from repeated stress injury, and different diseases that affect the eyes.

Tharpanam and pudapakam are two terms used together in the same sense.

Pichu – Ayurvedic Therapy
Pichu is associated with Ayurvedic oil massage therapy. It includes pressing parts body with cloth dipped in warm medicated oil. It is applied over areas that require treatments for different conditions.

Partial paralysis, rheumatism, and symptoms associated with nervous disorders are treated this way.
Siropichu
Siropichu means pichu given to siras or head. It is pichu therapy given to the head. It has different applications like cure to hair loss, increase eyesight, relieve stess, etc.