Pizhichil

Introduction

Pizhichil is a specialized therapy that is performed for disorders related to Shareerika doshas (body) and Manasika doshas (mind). This therapy has been used since ancient times and was much popular among the kings of ancient times. This is why Pizhichil therapy is also famous as “King’s Treatment”. It is also known as Sarvanga Dhara. The word pizhichil means squeezing Sarvanga stands for the whole body and Dhara means pouring.

Pizhichil is a process where the pouring of medicated oil in a rhythmic stream from a height of 4 angula (inches) all over the body. Pizhichil is a type of snehayukta swedana karma (sudation therapy) and one of the bahir-parimarjana chikitsa (external therapy).

Treatment Procedure:

The treatment procedure is divided into three parts-

  • Purva Karma(pre-procedure)
  • Pradhana Karma(main Procedure)
  • Pashyat Karma(Post Procedure)

Purva Karma (Pre-Procedure)

Selection of the patient:

The selection of the patient for this procedure depends on the diagnosis which is done with Ashta Vidha Pareeksha (eight-fold examination) and Dashavidha Pareeksha (ten-fold examination) which is done by a qualified physician.

Selection of the medicine:-

Different medicated oils with proper indications and with the proper instructions of the qualified physician are selected based on the patient’s condition, the Rogi Bala (Strength of the patient), and Roga Bala (severity of the disease).

Pradhana Karma(Main Procedure)

The person is made to lie on the droni, if abhyanga (massage) is indicated before the dhara, then it is performed followed by the pizhichil where the prescribed quantity of lukewarm medicated oil is poured all over the body with a height of 4 angula’s (4 inches) from the body continuously in a regular stream for a specified time.

Duration

30 to 45 Min

Pashchat Karma (Post-procedure)

After the treatment, the patient is advised to take bath and rest for a while.

Indications for Pizhichil

  • Arthritis.
  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Paralysis.
  • Hypertension
  • Sleeplessness
  • Autism
  • Muscular atrophy
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Lumbar Spondylitis
  • Cervical spondylitis
  • Paraplegia
  • Hemiplegia
  • Oligospermia
  • Muscular Sprain
  • Fracture
  • Increase blood circulation

Mode of Action

This treatment acts as both snehana and swedana.

The action of taila Dhara or pizichil depends on its pressure, rhythmic steaming of the medicine, Pharmacological action of the medicine, local application of the heat, and the timings of the treatment.

When the procedure starts because the pouring of the medicated oil from a height of 4 inches the absorption of the medicine is very fast and can penetrate the epidermis and this depends on the lipid solubility of the drug and media, as human beings are made up of different cells and each cell membrane is made up of phospholipids and so the lipid-soluble medicine can easily pass the cell membrane.

After reaching into the cell membrane it causes partial rejuvenation of cell organelles and cell membrane and replaces their older components with new ones. Because of the temperature which is maintained during the treatment, vasodilatation happens which increased blood flows through the area so that the necessary oxygen and nutrition materials are supplied and waste products are removed because of increased blood supply.

Due to the therapeutic action of the medicine, the metabolism will increase and as a result, the output of waste products from the cells is increased.

The skin has a battery of sensory receptors which respond to different stimuli such as touch, contact, temperature variation, or pain, it reduces the nerve compression by relaxing the muscles which are surrounded by the nerves.

By this, the nerves can assume their normal work of transmitting messages to and from the brain and which improves the functioning of the muscles and organs.

It also induces muscle relaxation and increases the efficiency of muscle activity as the increased blood supply ensures the optimum condition for muscle contraction.

Pranava Kerala Ayurveda Clinic manages with a thorough understanding of the principles, to manage it properly without any mishaps, the physicians in our hospital are well experienced.