The rainy July and August is also the time for physical and spiritual rejuvenation in Kerala. Karkkidakam, the last month of the year in the Malayalam calendar, is earmarked for relaxation and a focus on mental and physical well-being. Foremost in this regimen is the Karkkidaka chikitsa – medicated diet that aids in the rejuvenation of the digestive system and general health along with therapeutic oil massage. The recital of Ramayana through the month is another practice that calls for a shift of attention from the material pursuits to the spiritual.
The Karkkidaka chikitsa has seen a revival over the past few years in tandem with the general frenzy over health and fitness. With the spike in business, a lot of its authenticity has been compromised. Those who want to take a course of the treatment in its authentic form will do well to do a little bit of reading up on the what and how and why of it. We have flagged a few facts on Karkkidaka chikitsa for you -
Why the Karkkidaka treatment?
Ayurveda divides an year into six seasons: Sisiram – December and January, Vasantham – February and March, Greeshmam – April and May, Varsham – June and July, Sarath – August and September, Hemantham – October and November. In this cycle, Greeshmam and Varsham are considered as the seasons when the human body is most vulnerable. At the seasonal junction of May and June when the searing hot weather gives way to the monsoon rains, the body is most susceptible to infections and diseases. Karkkidaka chikitsa - the ayurvedic rejuvenation treatments done in the monsoon month of Karkkidakam – will boost up the immunity of the body. The healing therapies are meant to rejuvenate a person physically, mentally and spiritually.
Marunnu kanji/medicinal gruel and body massage
Says Dr Vasudevan Nampoothiri, Principal, Amrita Ayurveda Hospital, Vallickavu, Kollam – “Ayurveda prescribes ritucharya – seasonal rituals – to rejuvenate your immune system. The diet and oil massage routine can help smooth out the chink in the armour through physical and mental fortification.” The gruel cooked along with medicines will improve digestion, boost immunity and prevent viral infections during the rainy season. The oil massage has a therapeutic effect on the body as well as the mind. It will improve blood circulation and physical strength. Together, the diet and oil massage routine will detoxify the body and alleviate health issues, he explains.
Karkkidakam suitable for sukha chikitsa/relaxation therapy
The past few decades have seen a rejuvenation of interest in the Karkkidika chikitsa. Come August and it’s that time of the year when tourists from all over the world and other states of India flock to God’s Own Country for sukha chikitsa or ayurvedic relaxation therapies. The famed immunity-boosting quality of the treatment is the prime reason why people head to Kerala during Karkkidakam. They hope to find a long-term solution to health issues through the holistic healing regimen. There is an equal number of tourists who are fans of the therapy’s powers to cut flab, rejuvenate the skin and gift you that long-lasting lustre of good health.
“The word sukham in Saksrit also denotes good health. Sukha chikitsa therefore implies a regimen that improves your general health condition. But, Ayurveda prescribes certain practices specifically for the monsoon months. So, even if the person who signs up for Karkkidaka chikitsa is primarily looking at beauty benefits, what you get is a holistic immunity-boosting treatment,” says R Radhakrishnan, chief physician, Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom.
Who can sign up for sukha chikitsa?
“Peope who do not suffer from diseases can do a course of sukha chikitsa,” says Dr Raddakrishnan. “It will help balance the three doshas – vata, pitta and kabha. It will detoxify the body and rejuvenate it. The treatment does to the human body what an auto maintenance does to a car.”
He reminds that children and pregnant women are not given sukha chikitsa.
One may wonder if it is right to put your body through this difficult routine when it is naturally weak, as ayurveda suggests, during the monsoon months. On the contrary, your body is most receptive to natural remedies during this season.
“Steam baths, kizhi and such treatments are best done during the cool months. We avoid swedana or steam bath during the months of April and May because of the heat. When it rains almost continuously and there is moisture in the atmosphere, the treatments will give the best results,” says Dr P T N Vasudevan Moossu, chief physician of SNA Oushadhashala, Thrissur.
Is panchakarma chikitsa and sukha chikitsa the same?
There is a common misconception that sukha chikitsa and panchakarma chikitsa are one and the same. Although some of the procedures can be included in both, these are essentially two different sets of therapies. Panchakrama chikitsa includes the five procedures of vamanam (induced vomitting), virechenam (induced purgation), vasti (oil enema), nasyam (purifying therapy for nasal passage), raktha moksham (blood letting). Sukha chikitsa is usually a four-step procedure involving snehapanam (intake of medicated ghee), swedanam (steam bath), pizhichil (oil massage and heat treatment), and shirodhara (pouring herbal oil on the forehead).
Snehapanam and swedanam are sometimes performed as preparatory steps before panchakarma. This will aid in detoxification and make the body more receptive to the treatment. Similarly, some of the purgative therapies like virechanam and vasthi are performed as finishing steps in sukha chikitsa.
Is sukha chikitsa advisable for people with health issues?
People suffering from any diseases should undergo specific treatment and not sukha chikitsa. However, the Karkkidaka month is a good time to start on a treatment plan targeted at long standing health issues like asthma, bone and joint pains, allergies etc. The treatment is based on the history of the medical condition, the body constitution of the patient including the imbalance of doshas etc. The basic principles of panchakarma will be applied according to individual requirements. Oral medicines will be given if needed after the treatment.
What should we expect in a text-book based sukha chikitsa?
The science of ayurveda prescribes cleansing of the intestines and improving the digestive system before starting sukha chikitsa, says Dr Vasudevan Nampoothiri. “Massage centres might not do this and such unscientific methods can cause long-term health issues. A lot of people are not aware of this while signing up for ayurveda treatment packages,” he said.
Though most of the procedures like snehapanam, swedanam, kizhi and oil massage are done as part of sukha chikitsa everywhere, Dr Vasudevan warns that the preparatory steps should precede the core treatments. The order of the therapies is important. A full-scale treatment, done in the text book format, will take about a month’s time. A more compact form of the treatment will take about ten days to complete.
Is it safe to opt for ayurveda treatment packages?
Experts point out that ayurveda treatment packages on offer during the Karkkidaka season are a far cry from scientific. The idea of customized packages lasting 3-4 days is a hoax, warn doctors.
Text books prescribe seven days of treatment each for the seven dhatus (tissues) in the body. A condensed form of the treatment will never meet these requirements.
Some general do’s and don’ts regarding sukha chikitsa are
» The number of days you undergo the treatment should be supplemented with a rest period of equal or double the duration.
» One should avoid all physical exertion during the rest period.
» Do not expose yourself to the sun.
» Drink only boiled water.
» Avoid sleeping in the day during the treatment.
» Stick to the prescribed diet.
“You will not find sukha chikitsa mentioned as such in ayurveda texts. It is a therapeutic treatment regimen that evolved in Kerala over time. It definitely refreshes and rejuvenates you, filling you with the energy that can keep you going through the year. So, I would say it’s a proud addition to the ayurvedic system,” says Dr Vasudevan Moossu
