Navara Kizhi (Shashtik Shali Pinda Sweda)

Introduction

Navara Kizhi is one of the important treatment modalities which is used as a swedana karma. Navara kizhi is a type of bhrimhana sweda or nourishing therapy.

Shashtik Shali (Navara) means rice that is grown in 60 days. This rice with special medicinal values is used as the main ingredient in the procedure and so the name Shashtik Shali or Navara. Pinda means a bolus.  Sweda means fomentation or sudation.

A bolus that is prepared with the medicated rice along with the other herbal medicines used for sudation is called Navara Kizhi or Shashtik Shali Pinda Sweda.

Treatment procedure.

The treatment procedure is divided into three parts…

• Purva Karma (pre-procedure)
• Pradhana Karma (main Procedure)
• Pashchat 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:-
The Shashtik Shali a medicated rice grown in 60 days is selected and processed with different kinds of herbs and milk according to the condition of the patient depending on Rogi Bala (Strength of the patient) and Roga Bala (severity of the disease).
These Shashtik Shali are cooked with herbs and milk and the prepared medicine is taken in a cloth and tied in the form of a bolus.

Pradhana Karma (Main Procedure):- 
The person is made to lie on the droni, Abhyanga (massage) is performed for a few minutes with medicated oil followed by Navara Kizhi, where the bolus which is prepared with the medicated Navara herbs is dipped in the medicated milk, and sudation is given to the entire body or locally as per the condition of the patient.

Pashchat Karma(Post-procedure):
After the treatment, the person is advised to take a rest for a while.

Benefits

• It promotes the peripheral vascular circulation
• Stimulates the nerve endings in the periphery
• Restores vitality and enthusiasm
• Stimulates brain cells by reverse stimulation method
• Gives strength to the muscles
• Activate peripheral nervous system
• Improves skin texture and circulation
• Induces good sleep and reduces stress.

Treatment Duration

25 TO 30 MIN

The treatment duration depends on the consulting physician and the severity of the condition.

Mode of Action of Navara Kizhi (Shashtik Shali Pinda Sweda)

This treatment acts as both Snehana and Swedana

The therapeutic action of Shali Shashtik Pinda Sweda is because of the pharmacological action of herbal drugs which are used in the therapy. The therapeutic action of the procedure sudation, which is performed in the therapy.

Skin is a large, highly complex organ and structurally integrated organ system and the component of the skin are the cutaneous membrane associated with hair, nails, and exocrine glands, the cutaneous membrane has two components, superficial epithelium or epidermis and the underlying connective tissue of the dermis. The function of the skin is supported by an extensive network of blood vessel branches, and sensory receptors that monitor touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.

When the procedure starts, due to the increased temperature which is more than 2 to 3 and because of the pharmacological action of the medicine vasodilatation will happen all over the body. As a result of vasodilatation, an increased flow of blood through the area occurs so that the necessary oxygen and nutritive materials are supplied and toxins are removed. The active ingredients of medicinal herbs help to act as muscle relaxants and reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

This therapy produces a sudation effect because of the medicinal action and temperature and acts as a counter-irritant which is the thermal stimulus and may affect the pain sensation. It also induces muscle relaxation and increases the efficiency of muscle activity as the increased blood supply ensures the optimum condition for muscle contraction. That is because both eccrine and apocrine sweat glands are innervated by postganglionic sympathetic fibers that help to control the limbic system.

Indications

• Underweight
• Arthritis
• Muscular disorders
• Neurological disorders
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Osteoporosis
• Ankylosing spondylosis
• Motor neuron disease
• Residual hemiplegia/paraplegia
• Pseudomuscular hypertrophy
• Chronic rheumatoid arthritis
• Sciatica
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cervical and lumbar spondylosis
• Parkinsonism