The knowledge of Ayurveda was handed down from Brahma to Daksha Prajapati, onto the Ashwin twins (the divine doctors), then passed to Indra. Sage Bharadvja volunteered to go to the heaven to reveive this wisdom from Indra and so became the first human to receive the knowledge of Ayurveda. He passed it to Atreya, then onto Punarnavasu and finally Agnivesha.
The term Ayurveda comprises of two words, Ayu and Veda. Ayu means life and Vedas means knowledge or science. So the literal meaning of the word Ayurveda is science of life. Ayurveda is a science dealing not only with treatments of some diseases, but is a complete way of life.
Kannettil Ayurvedic Development Society & RPM Chikitsa Kendram is one of the most well known and best Ayurveda hospitals in Kollam district in Kerala. It has a working experience of more than 97 years.
It was founded by Late Vaidyakalanidhi P Raghavan Pillai. He was born as the eldest son of Late Neelakanda Pillai, who was conducting Ayurveda practice as paramparya Vaidyan (traditional Ayurveda practcioner). Sri Raghavan Pillai was a disciple of Sree Narayana Guru, the famous social reformer and versatile genius of India and learnt the divine language “Sanskrit” which is considered as the soul of the Ayurvedic science. But his thirst for study made him to join the Sanskrit school and vaidya sastri (Ayurveda) in Changankulangara, Ochira. There he got the chance of becoming the student of Great Vaidyas including Cheruthitta Shankara Pillai. He passed from there with first class and joined the Trivandrum Ayurveda College in the first batch. During the period of studies, he was the best student in the college and he passed out from college with very good result. He enrolled in the Travancore-Cochin Medical counsel with registration no. 24.
The interest in service forced him to start a hospital rather than centering the practice as folk medicine with his father. So he started a clinic in his own village in karunagapally near to his house and named “Dhanwanthari Vilasam Vaidyasala”. Within a short spam of time, he developed the hospital by including inpatient departments and panchakarma departments. And thus it became one of the oldest Ayurveda hospitals with inpatient department and panchakarma in Kollam district.
He was a person with so many special qualities in treating patients among which his love and caring nature to the patients is very famous. He never failed to handover medicines to patients with his own hand after praying God and remembering his Guru, even in a busy situation.
In 1943, he was married to Smt. Madhavakuttiamma. After giving birth to two male children, she expired in the year 1949. He over come the tough situation with the small kids in the absence of his beloved wife.
In 1951, Dr. Pandavathu K Thankamani Amma lighted his life as his wife and thereafter she was with him for each and every step and development of the hospital and pharmacy. As their assistants, their sons; Dr. Ramachandran Pillai and Dr. Shankara Pillai were with them.
The second stage of development started with the starting of the new sophisticated manufacturing wing with the most modern machineries and the new buildings for hospitals. The new hospital was inaugurated by ex. speaker R Shankaranarayan Thambi on May 1st 1986.
In the course of time, new buildings were constructed for hospital and manufacturing section. Now the hospital is under the management of Dr. Shankara Pillai, the son of founder and a medical graduate.
Now the pharmacy has the facilities of “GMP” standards as fixed by the government for the high standards in manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines. The hospital has well equipped panchakarma theater with well trained staffs. Now the hospital and pharmacy is under Dr. T R Shankarapillai, Dr InduPriya Rajesh and Dr. Rajesh. Dr. Rajesh has worked in different parts of kerala and has very good experience in working in different centers in Middle East and in Greece
Attached with the hospital is the Yoga study center where experts in yoga are taking classes.
Kerala's equable climate, natural abundance of forests, and the cool monsoon season (June - November) are best suited for Ayurveda's curative and restorative packages. In fact, today, Kerala is the only State in India which practises this system of medicine with absolute dedication. This system of medicine stressed on the prevention of body ailments in addition to curing them.
Ayurveda is a science dealing not only with treatment of some diseases but is a complete way of life. This system of science stress on the prevention of body ailments in addition to curing them. This tradition of natural healing system has been a part of culture and daily life in India since the Indus valley civilization (BC. 3000). This is the only system, which removes the ailment from the root cause.
Kayachikitsa (internal medicine) deals with the three biological humors (Vatha, Pitha, and Kapha). Health is the balance of these three doshas and disease is the imbalance of the humors. Ayurveda creates balance by supplying deficient humors and reducing the excess ones.
“A therapy that helps some symptoms but causes other symptoms is not a pure therapy.” Ashtanga Hridayam.
Ayurvedic medicines are time tested for their effectiveness and safety. In therapeutically effective doses, they are not only free from side effects, but they generally produce side benefits. For healthy they help in the maintenance of health and prevention of disease; for patients, they cure diseases and increases immunity.
Ayurvedic medicines can be divided into two groups:Irrespective of the above there are single herb therapy, which is unique to Ayurveda.
Traditional Ayurvedic knowledge from the family refined to meet hygine and quality with no compromise on quality of Ayurvedic herbal preparations.
Just as an axis of wheel is made strong and durable by applying grease around it, the human body becomes strong and lubricated by oil application. Based upon individual body constitution special oils are used, which will stimulate the lymphatic system. This assists in the flow of nutrients in body and removes toxins from the cells. It prevents aging and has a rejuvenating effect. Induces sleep, improves complexion and strength and prolongs life. As a proverb says 'The money that you pay to the physician may as well be paid to the oilman'.
In India, development and growth of such a body of knowledge known as Ayurveda, meaning science of life, was coeval with the growth and evolution of Indian civilization and culture. Vedas, which are considered to be the repositories of recorded Indian culture, have mention of this knowledge both in theoretical and practical form. In other ancient works there is mention of such current medical subject like anatomy, physiology, aetiology, pathology, treatment and environmental factors. This medical knowledge has been the work of ages. It is the out-come of the great power of observation, generalisation and analysis combined with patient labour of hundred of investigators spread over thousand of years. This knowledge has played so important a part in the development of Indian culture that it has been documented in an integrated form in the Vedas which are considered to have been originated from Gods.
Life in Ayurveda is conceived as the union of body, senses, mind and soul. The living man is a conglomeration of three humours (Vata, Pitta &Kapha), seven basic tissues (Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda, Asthi, Majja & Shukra) and the waste products of the body such as faeces, urine and sweat. Thus the total body matrix comprises of the humours, the tissues and the waste products of the body. The growth and decay of this body matrix and its constituents revolve around food, which gets processed into humours, tissues and wastes. Ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and metabolism of food have an interplay in health and disease which are significantly affected by psychological mechanisms as well as by bio- fire (Agni).
According to Ayurveda all objects in the universe including human body are composed of five basic elements (Panchamahabhutas) namely, earth, water, fire, air and vacuum (ether). There is a balanced condensation of these elements in different proportions to suit the needs and requirements of different structures and functions of the body matrix and its parts. The growth and development of the body matrix depends on its nutrition, i.e. on food. The food, in turn, is composed of the above five elements, which replenish or nourish the like elements of the body after the action of bio-fire (Agni). The tissues of the body are the structural whereas humours are physiological entities, derived from different combinations and permutations of Panchamahabhutas.
Health or sickness depends on the presence or absence of a balanced state of the total body matrix including the balance between its different constituents. Both the intrinsic and extrinsic factors can cause disturbance in the natural equilibrium giving rise to disease. This loss of equilibrium can happen by dietary indiscrimination, undesirable habits and non-observance of rules of healthy living. Seasonal abnormalities, improper exercise or erratic application of sense organs and incompatible actions of the body and mind can also result in creating disturbance of the existing normal balance. The treatment consists of restoring the balance of disturbed body-mind matrix through regulating diet, correcting life-routine and behaviour, administration of drugs and resorting to preventive Panchakarma and Rasayana therapy.
Treatment of the disease consists in avoiding causative factors responsible for disequilibria of the body matrix or of any of its constituent parts through the use of Panchkarma procedures, medicines, suitable diet, activity and regimen for restoring the balance and strengthening the body mechanisms to prevent or minimize future occurrence of the disease.
Normally treatment measures involve use of medicines, specific diet and prescribed daily and seasonal regimens.
The four different needs that are needed for better treatment is as below.
The Physician
The Medicaments
The Nursing Personnel
The Patient
The physician, who comes first, must possess technical skill, scientific knowledge, purity and human understanding. The physician should use his knowledge with humility, wisdom and in the service of humanity. Next comes food and drugs, which are supposed to be of high quality, wide application, grown and prepared following approved procedures and should be available adequately. The third component of every successful treatment is the role of nursing personnel who should have good knowledge of nursing, must know the skills of their art and be affectionate, sympathetic, intelligent, neat & clean and resourceful. The fourth component is the patient himself who should be cooperative and obedient to follow instructions of the physician, able to describe ailments and ready to provide all that may be needed for treatment.
Ayurveda says the different paths that take place since the causative factors commence to operate till the final manifestation of disease. By this we will be able to know the onset of disease very much before itself. This very much enhances the preventive role of ayurveda by making it possible to take proper and effective steps in advance. Ayurveda says that it is always better to avoid walking through mud and after going for wash than not to touch mud.
The treatment of disease can broadly be classified as
Shodhana therapy(Purification Treatment)
Shamana therapy(Palliative Treatment)
Pathya Apathya(Prescription of Diet and Activity – Do’s and don’ts)
Nidana Parivarjanam(Avoidance of Disease causing and Aggravating factors)
Satvavajaya(Psychotherapy)
Rasayana therapy(Use of Immunomodulators and Rejuvenation Medicines)
AYURVEDA, the traditional Indian system of medicine, offers a range of traditional therapies and herbal medicines to balance the bodily principles and to integrate body, mind and spirit. These therapies can be used for both to cure various ailments as well as to improve general health (Rejuvenation). The effect of therapies differs with the oil and other ingredients used.
This is the basic Ayurveda massage. Experts massage lukewarm Ayurvedic oil on the head and body. Enhances proper blood circulation and relaxes mind.
This full body massage is done with medicated herbal oils by two therapists in a synchronized manner. This massage is indicated daily to prevent ageing and degeneration process. This therapy will treat the whole body physically, mentally and emotionally while balancing the doshas and helps to relieve joints and muscles from stiffness and makes all body movements free. This stimulating treatment increases blood circulation, provides relief to diseases such as anxiety, fatigue, circulatory disorders, rheumatic and arthritic problems, backaches and injuries.
Synchronized massage is also beneficial in preventing wrinkles and scales, curing Spondylosis, Sleep disorders, Paralysis, improving physical consistency, inducing sound sleep, increasing general sense of well being and life span. It improves the complexion and texture of the skin.
The whole body is subjected to streams of lukewarm medicated oil with simultaneous soft massage. This therapy protects the body from illnesses and builds up immunity for a healthy life. It is very useful for rheumatic diseases, arthritis, paralysis, sexual weakness, neurological disorders, blood pressure, nervous weakness and helps to arrest the aging process.
In this massage, navara rice(medicinal rice) is cooked in milk and a herbal decoction. First the whole body is massaged with herbal oil, followed by massage with warm navara rice bags dipped in the warm mixture of milk and herbal decoction. This procedure is highly rejuvenating, nourishing. It strengthens the nervous system and improves the overall appearance of the skin. This is a strengthening fomentation employed in neurological disorders, rheumatism, arthritis and malnutrition of limbs. This massage nourishes tissues, softens the skin, enhances complexion, strengthens body muscles, cures the stiffness of the joints and improves digestive power.
This is one of the most relaxing and refreshing massage that ayurveda have. This therapy begins with the application of suitable medicated oil to the entire body. The body is then subjected to exude profusely through a massage with bags of chopped and fried leaves of some specific medicinal herbs after dipping in particular medicated oils. This therapy is effective for various kinds of arthritis, Spondylosis, back pain, sports injuries and for all other soft tissue inflammations especially join pains. This massage enhances peripheral blood circulation, cleanses the channels of circulation and expels toxins through the sweat.
This is a typical dry massage using herbal powders followed by a light herbal oil massage. This massage stimulates hair follicles and subcutaneous fat tissue to break down subcutaneous fat storage. The dry powder massage reduces blood cholesterol, obesity, skin problems, imparts mobility to the joints, strengthens muscles and refreshes the body. The most promising effect is the slimming of the body and weight reduction. This prepares the body for further treatments.
The body is subjected to exude profusely after a thorough massage with warm bags of herbal powders tied up in cotton cloth. This therapy helps in curing of arthritis, back pain, paralysis, muscular pains etc.
This therapy begins with the application of suitable medicated oil to the entire body. A special self fermented warm medicinal preparation made out of various kinds of grains, lemon, horse gram, etc. is poured continuously on to the whole body. This therapy is very effective in conditions of arthritis, paralysis, obesity, muscular pains and widely used in inflammatory disorders.
Luke warm herbal oil is poured in a continuous stream onto the forehead, while receiving a gentle massage on the head. This therapy relieves stress and strain related problems, slows the aging process, improves memory and is known to have a curative effect for paralysis, insomnia, depression, anxiety, hypertention and other neurological malfunctions. It calms the body and mind.
In this treatment, medicated milk is poured over the forehead or over the whole body. This treatment is good for Insomnia and mental tension. This treatment also improves the complexion of the skin and has most of the benefits of Navarakizhi.
Specially prepared warm herbal oil is poured over the lower back and retained inside the bund formed byblack gram. Kativasthi alleviates lower back conditions like Lumber Spondylosis, Inter vertebral disc prolepses, Lumbago (low back ache), and Sciatica.
Mixture specially prepared warm herbal oil is poured over the chest and retained inside a bund formed by black gram paste. This is a stimulating and therapeutic treatment for muscular chest pain
Specially prepared warm herbal oil is poured over the neck and retained inside the black gram paste boundary for the required duration. Greevavasthi alleviates neck and upper back conditions like Cervical Spondylosis, stiff neck, pain due to over strain, etc.
Luke warm medicinal herbal oil is poured into a cap fitted on the head. This treatment is for paralysis, insomnia, depression, etc.
This therapy is done by using medicated buttermilk poured onto the forehead. This helps to relieve insomnia, depression and other stress related problems, reduces headaches, increases digestive power and alleviates anorexia. Also very good for skin related problems.
Medicated ghee is retained in a bund made over the eyes with black gram paste. This relieves eyestrain, improves eyesight and other eye related problems.
This therapy involves the gargling of medicated oil or decoction in the mouth. This therapy brings glow to the face, improve lines and wrinkles, tone the skin and assist with any kind of mouth, voice or teeth disorders.
This process will induce therapeutic vomiting. This is a very beneficial treatment for Kapha predominating disorders such as asthma, cough, psoriasis and skin disorders.
Virechana is performed by administering purgative medicine in milk or warm water preparation. This therapy is extremely beneficial in Pitta disorders such as dermatitis, heartburn, jaundice, etc. This helps in cleaning the body to eliminate the toxins.
This is indicated in Vata disorders. Vasti, (the medicated oil enema), is the main therapy for all Vata disorders such as constipation, neurological ailments, paralysis, flatulence, lower backache, gout and rheumatism.
This therapy is normally done after a course of Sneha Vasti. This is a cleansing enema where a combination of honey, oil, herbal paste, herbal decoction, etc. is administered through anal route. This treats disorders such as arthritis, constipation, neurological ailments, paralysis, flatulence, lower backache, gout and rheumatism.
In this treatment, the face, shoulders and chest are massaged with specific herbal oil and made to perspire. The Herbal oil administered into the nostrils, while inhaling. After this process, the area around the nose, palms and foot are massaged vigorously. This cures headaches, sinusitis, migraine and rhinitis, etc. Also good for diseases like frozen shoulder.
Is administration of Medicated Ghee. The selected ghee is given according to the digestive power of the patient. This is done manly in degenerative diseases and skin diseases.
This therapy is done by application of herbal paste over the affected area, covering the applied paste with herbal. This treatment is very effective in Osteo-arthritis, joint injuries and localized pain and swelling
In this treatment, warm medicated oil soaked in cotton wool is applied over the affected area. This is very effective for degenerative and painful problems like Back pain, Osteo-arthritis, Spondylosis, injuries, etc.
This is the application of herbal paste externally over the affected area. Very effective in Pimples, Marks on skin, pigmentation, Arthritis with swelling & pain, injuries and skin infections.
This is the application of suitable medicated oil on the face, neck and chest followed by profuse steam generated from a combination of cow's milk and herbal decoctions. This therapy is good for facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, pimples and other skin problems.
This includes:
Assessment of your health and Advise on your lifestyle and diet by the Ayurveda doctor
Elakkizhi – Duration: 75 minutes (In the morning)
Ayurveda Herbal Tea
Sirodhara – 75 minutes (In the evening)
This includes the combination of traditional massages; Herbal Soothe, Tranquility, Body Revive along with time tested herbal teas for the total refreshment of body and mind.
5 days, 7 Days, 14 Days, 21 Days
This treatment includes detoxification and rejuvenation of body by herbal oils and medicines, which nourishes the body tissues. This therapy increases the health span by improving the quality and purity of structural components. Major benefits of this treatment are improved memory and intelligence, perfect health, youthfulness, physical endurance, strong sense organs, perfection in speech and sexual powers.
5 days, 7 Days, 14 Days, 21 Days
From the perspective of Ayurveda, losing weight is not about starving or suppressing the appetite. It is about balancing your fat metabolism. You don't have to starve yourself or exercise until you drop. Balance is the key and with a therapy which is tailor made to suit your constitution. Treatments include body massage by special herbal powders and internal herbal medicine. There can be a possible weight reduction of around 2-3 kilos in 1 week.
5 days, 7 Days, 14 Days, 21 Days
This special program is for improving the complexion and toning up of the body. This includes special detoxification program and beautification therapies. Cures skin diseases like psoriasis, eczema, scabies, dermatitis, folliculitis, premature graying and hair falling etc. This includes special herbal face packs, etc.
5 days, 7 Days, 14 Days, 21 Days
An effective and prominent treatment for the release of day-to-day strain and stress. It calms your mood, brings relaxation of the body and mind, It slows down the pace.
5 days, 7 Days, 14 Days, 21 Days
Experience the healing touch of Ayurveda for various ailments like Arthritis, Asthma, Allergic respiratory disorders, Diabetes, Hypertension, Spine and neck problems, Headache, Gastro-intestinal disorders, Gynecological problems, depression etc.
14 Days, 21 Days, 28 Days
A five-fold treatment, which includes different massages, internal herbal teas and treatments like Nasyam (Nasal drops), Virechanam (purgation), Vasthy (Enema therapy) etc. This is for the mental and physical well being - tones the body, mind, breath, nerves and purifies the blood. It takes a minimum of 14 up to 28 days for the treatments.
According to Ayurveda “Inner peace brings outer beauty “and it suggests that when persons have high self worth or see the divine within they radiate true beauty. Thus outer beauty is a reflection of inner beauty. Ayurveda advocates time-tested treatments to improve complexion and color. This program includes face massage, herbal face packs, nasal drops, intake of herbal recipes etc.
This program includes special treatments for neck pain and low back pain due to various conditions like muscular conditions, Spondylosis, Spondylitis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Disc problems etc. The treatment includes traditional massages with special herbs from Kerala, Nasal drops, medicated steam, medicated spinal baths and internal medications.
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