Elakizhi

Elakizhi, also known as Patra Pinda Sweda, is a traditional Ayurvedic therapy used for pain relief and rejuvenation. It is an external form of treatment in which heated herbal poultices are applied to the body to alleviate various musculoskeletal conditions and promote overall well-being. The word “Elakizhi” is derived from two Malayalam words: “Elai” (leaf) and “Kizhi” (bundle).

The therapy involves preparing small bundles filled with a mixture of medicinal herbs, leaves, and other Ayurvedic ingredients. Common herbs used in Elakizhi include Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Arka (Calotropis procera), Karpoor (Cinnamomum camphora), etc. These leaves are washed and finely chopped. Finally , these leaves are cooked with coconut scrapings ,lemon, turmeric , rock salt ,and medicated oil –  Dhanwantaram tailam, sahacharadi tailam ,murivenna. When sufficiently cooked, the leaves are tied in to poultices in muslin cloth while still warm. The temperature of the poultices is maintained by dipping them in warm oil.

During the therapy, the patient is asked to lie down, and the heated poultices are gently massaged over specific areas of the body or the entire body, depending on the condition being treated. The warmth from the poultices helps to open up the channels, improves blood circulation, and allows the active compounds from the herbs to penetrate deep into the tissues.