Upakarmas
Supportive Therapies for Healing
UPAKARMAS
Complementary Therapies for Targeted Pain Relief
Upakarmas are specialized supportive Ayurvedic therapies designed to complement primary Panchakarma treatments and address specific health conditions effectively. These therapies include Abhyanga, Kati Vasti, Greeva Vasti, Shirodhara, and various Kizhi treatments, each targeting particular areas of the body. They help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, and strengthen muscles and joints. Using medicated oils, herbal preparations, and traditional techniques, Upakarmas promote deep relaxation, accelerate healing, and restore functional balance, making them essential for both therapeutic and rejuvenation purposes in Ayurvedic care.
Targeted Therapies for Relief
Abhyanga
Full-body Ayurvedic oil massage using medicated oils to improve circulation, reduce stress, nourish tissues, balance doshas, and promote relaxation, detoxification, and overall wellbeing.
Kativasti
Localized lower back therapy using warm medicated oil retention to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, strengthen muscles, improve circulation, and support spinal health and mobility.
Greeva Vasti
Neck-focused oil therapy retaining medicated oil over cervical region to relieve pain, stiffness, nerve compression, improve circulation, and restore flexibility and strength.
Shirodhara
Continuous pouring of warm medicated oil over forehead to calm mind, reduce stress, improve sleep, enhance concentration, and balance nervous system and emotions.
Janu Vasti
Therapeutic knee treatment using warm oil retention to relieve joint pain, reduce stiffness, strengthen ligaments, improve lubrication, and enhance mobility in degenerative conditions.
Elakizhi
Herbal leaf bolus therapy using medicated oils to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, relax muscles, and enhance flexibility in musculoskeletal disorders.
Podikizhi
Heated herbal powder bolus therapy reducing stiffness, pain, obesity, improving circulation, stimulating metabolism, removing toxins, and strengthening muscles for better physical function.
Abhyanga
Traditional Oil Massage for Complete Body Rejuvenation
Abhyanga is a traditional oil massage therapy that involves massage of the body with large amounts of warm medicated oil according to the condition. The Abhyanga is a part of the Dinacharya (daily practices) specified by the Ayurveda to maintain good health and well being. An Abhyanga is prescribed for over health, nourishing the dhatus (tissues of the body), good skin and to bring aggravated doshas back to balance.
Abhyanga is an extremely valuable Dinacharya to pacify aggravated vata dosha and help regain good health and well being.Abhyanga is done as part of the steps of panchakarma therapy, especially in the preparatory part of any panchakarma. It is often followed by svedana (fomentation) therapy, a warm bath. Many times abhyanga is performed by two or more massage therapists working in sync but it can also be done by oneself.
Benefits of Abhyanga :
- Reduces Muscle Tension-Massage affects the muscles and other soft tissues in the body. Massage loosens contracted, shortened, hardened muscles. It may stimulate flaccid muscles.
- Improves Blood Circulation-The oxygen capacity of the blood can increase 10-15% by the procedure of massage.
- Induces Better Lymph Movement-Muscular contraction is having a pumping effect that moves lymph. Massage helps to move lymph.
- Increased Mobility and Range of Motion of Joints
- Stimulates Nervous System
Kativasti
Lower Back Oil Therapy for Pain Relief
Kati Vasti is a specialized localized therapy focused on the lower back region. This treatment is very effective for pain in the lower back and spine. The treatment involves retention of medicated warm oil over the painful lower back or other parts of the spine for a stipulated period of time.
Indications:
Sciatica
Chronic Back Pain
Lumbar Spondylosis
Lumbar Spondylitis
Slip Disc
Disc Prolapse
Intervertebral Disc Protrusion
Muscle Sprain around Backbone
Degenerative illnesses of vertebra or disc
Procedure : The patient is asked to lay face down. The therapist prepares dough made of the black gram powder or wheat powder, the dough is used to make a circular boundary in the lumbar area. Ensuring no leakage, medicated lukewarm oil is poured and retained. The oil is repeatedly changed in order to maintain the warm temperature at the back. This procedure is repeated for 30 to 40 minutes depending upon the patient’s condition. Once the procedure is done, the local area is gently massaged for 5 to 10 minutes.
Benefits : The treatment helps to increase the blood circulation, strengthens muscle and connective tissues and lubricates the joints keeping them flexible and pain free. It also strengthens the back muscles that help maintain normal curvature of the spine, and nourishes the nerves, thus providing relief from pain and numbness.
Greeva Vasti
Neck Therapy for Cervical Pain Relief
Greeva Vasti, is a treatment in which medicated oils are poured and pooled for a fixed duration of time in a compartment constructed over the neck or nape of the neck (back side of the neck) area using wet flour of black gram, covering the cervical region.
Indications : Cervical spondylosis It is one of the most common causes of neck pain. Cervical spondylosis is also known as cervical osteoarthritis or neck arthritis. It’s a degenerative condition that affects the joints and discs (cushion like material between each 2 bones of the spine or backbone) and soft tissues of the neck. It develops due to the wear and tear of the cartilage and bones found in the cervical spine.
Benefits :
- Helps relieve neck pain and stiffness.
- Improves flexibility and range of motion.
- Reduces muscle tension and inflammation .
- Promotes relaxation and stress relief .
Shirodhara
Calming Therapy for Mind and Nervous System
Shirodhara is a deeply relaxing therapy in which a continuous, gentle stream of warm medicated liquid (medicated oil,buttermilk,milk) is poured over the forehead (Ajna / third-eye region) for a fixed duration.
Types of Shirodhara
- Taila Dhara – Using medicated oils
- Takra Dhara – Using medicated buttermilk
- Ksheera Dhara – Using medicated milk
- Kwatha Dhara – Using herbal decoctions
Indications :
1.Stress, anxiety, depression ,Insomnia ,Migraine & chronic headache Memory problems, poor concentration
2.Facial palsy ,Parkinson’s disease (supportive therapy)
3.Hair fall ,Premature greying ,Dandruff and Dry scalp
4.Psychosomatic Conditions -IBS (stress-related) ,Palpitations ,Chronic fatigue syndrome
Benefits :
- Reduces stress,anxiety and mental fatigue.
- Promotes deep relaxation and better sleep.
- Helps improve concentration and mental clarity.
- Nourishes the scalp and improves hair health.
- Sesame oil (base)
Janu Vasti
Knee Joint Therapy for Strength and Mobility
Janu Vasti is a specialized Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy in which warm medicated oil is retained over the knee joint (Janu Sandhi) within a dough‑made circular boundary for a fixed period of time.
This therapy deeply nourishes the knee joint, strengthens surrounding tissues, reduces pain and stiffness, and improves joint mobility. It is one of the most effective treatments in Ayurveda for chronic knee problems and degenerative joint disorders.
Indications:
- Osteoarthritis of knee (Sandhivata)
• Knee joint pain and stiffness
• Degenerative joint diseases
• Rheumatoid arthritis (supportive therapy)
• Sports injuries and ligament strain
• Post‑traumatic knee pain
• Meniscus injury (supportive care)
• Weakness of knee joints
• Difficulty in walking, climbing stairs, or bending knees
Benefits
- Reducing knee pain and inflammation
• Improving lubrication of the joint
• Strengthening muscles, ligaments, and cartilage
• Increasing flexibility and range of motion
• Slowing down degeneration of the knee joint
• Improving walking comfort and daily activity performance
• Delaying or avoiding the need for surgery in early stages
Elakizhi
Herbal Leaf Therapy for Pain and Inflammation
Elakizhi, also known as Patrapinda Sweda, is a classical Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy in which warm herbal leaves are cooked with medicated oils, tied into boluses (pottalis), and then gently massaged over the body.This therapy provides both oleation (snehana) and sudation (swedana) effects, making it highly effective for relieving pain, stiffness, inflammation, and musculoskeletal disorders.
Special medicinal leaves such as Nirgundi, Eranda, Arka, Chincha, and Shigru are fried in medicated oil along with herbal powders, lemon, coconut, and rock salt. The mixture is tied into cloth boluses and dipped repeatedly in warm medicated oil.
These warm boluses are then rhythmically rubbed and pressed over the affected parts or the whole body.
Benefits of Elakizhi
- Chronic back pain and neck pain
• Knee pain and osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Cervical and lumbar spondylosis
• Sciatica
• Frozen shoulder
• Muscle stiffness and spasms
• Sports injuries and muscle strain
• Post‑stroke rehabilitation
Indications
- Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout
• Cervical spondylosis
• Lumbar spondylosis
• Sciatica
• Frozen shoulder
• Ankylosing spondylitis (supportive)
• Paralysis and neurological weakness
Podikizhi
Herbal Powder Therapy for Detox and Pain
Podikizhi, also known as Choorna Pinda Sweda, is a classical Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy in which warm herbal powders are tied into boluses (pottalis) and massaged over the body or affected areas.
This therapy is a form of dry sudation (Ruksha Swedana) and is especially beneficial for reducing pain, inflammation, stiffness, obesity, and Kapha‑related disorders. Podikizhi is widely used in musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.The warm boluses are then gently pressed and rubbed rhythmically over the affected parts or the whole body to induce sweating and relieve stiffness and pain.
Benefits of Podikizhi:
- Chronic joint pain and arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Cervical and lumbar spondylosis
• Sciatica
• Frozen shoulder
• Muscle stiffness and spasms
• Sports injuries and muscular strain
• Obesity and localized fat deposits
• Paralysis and post‑stroke rehabilitation (supportive therapy)
Indications:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (Amavata)
• Osteoarthritis (Sandhivata)
• Gout
• Cervical and lumbar spondylosis
• Sciatica (Gridhrasi)
• Frozen shoulder (Avabahuka)
• Ankylosing spondylitis (supportive)
• Obesity and Kapha disorders
• Neuromuscular weakness
Navarakizhi
Nourishing Rice Therapy for Strength and Rejuvenation
Navarakizhi, also known as Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda, is a special Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy in which boluses prepared from a unique medicinal rice variety called Navara (Shashtika Shali) are cooked in herbal decoction and medicated milk, tied into cloth bundles, and applied warm over the body.
This nourishing therapy provides both sudation (Swedana) and strengthening (Brimhana) effects. It is one of the best treatments for neuromuscular weakness, joint degeneration, paralysis.
The patient is first given a gentle full-body oil massage (Abhyanga). After this, the warm rice boluses are dipped in the medicated milk and rhythmically massaged over the entire body or affected areas.
Indications (Conditions Treated)
- Hemiplegia and paraplegia
- Facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy)
- Parkinson’s disease (supportive therapy)
- Multiple sclerosis (supportive)
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis (after acute phase)
- Cervical spondylosis
- Lumbar spondylosis
- Sports injury rehabilitation
- Boluses are repeatedly dipped in medicated milk to maintain warmth
- Duration: 45–60 minutes