What is Podikizhi (poultice massage)?

Podikizhi, also known as Choorna Swedana or Powder Bolus Massage, is an Ayurvedic therapy that involves massaging the body with warm herbal powders bundled in cloth boluses. These boluses are typically dipped in herbal oil before being applied to the body and then heated to a tolerable temperature. The therapy includes rhythmic massage strokes using the boluses, focusing on specific areas or the entire body.

Benefits of Podikizhi

• Relieves Muscular Tension: The combination of warm herbal powders and massage techniques helps to relax tense muscles, reduce stiffness, and alleviate muscular pain and fatigue.
• Improves Circulation: Podikizhi promotes blood circulation in the body, enhancing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues while aiding in the removal of metabolic waste products.
• Detoxification: The heat generated during Podikizhi therapy induces sweating, which assists in the elimination of toxins and impurities from the body through the skin pores.
• Reduces Inflammation: The anti-inflammatory properties of the herbal powders used in Podikizhi help to reduce inflammation and swelling, making it beneficial for conditions such as arthritis, joint pain, and sports injuries.
• Promotes Weight Loss: Podikizhi can aid in weight loss by stimulating metabolism, promoting fat breakdown, and assisting in the elimination of toxins, thereby supporting detoxification and weight management.
• Enhances Skin Health: The exfoliating action of the herbal powders helps to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and improve skin texture, leaving the skin soft, smooth, and rejuvenated.
• Relieves Respiratory Disorders: Inhalation of the herbal steam produced during Podikizhi therapy can help to clear nasal congestion, alleviate respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis, and promote easier breathing.
• Boosts Immunity: Regular Podikizhi sessions can strengthen the immune system, making the body more resistant to infections and illnesses by enhancing overall health and vitality.
• Balances Doshas: Podikizhi helps to balance the doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) by promoting the flow of prana (life force energy) and restoring harmony to the body-mind complex.
• Relieves Stress and Promotes Relaxation: The soothing warmth and therapeutic touch of Podikizhi induce a deep sense of relaxation, calm the mind, and relieve stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue.

Overall, Podikizhi is a rejuvenating Ayurvedic therapy that offers a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional benefits, promoting holistic well-being and vitality. Speak to our inhouse doctors for a detailed consult and personalised treatment plan.

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