Pizhichil can be classified into the category of Abhayanga or Ayurvedic oil therapy or Ayurvedic massage therapy. In the full body massage procedure of pizhichil, the masseurs let the person lie own a specially designed ennathoni, a wooden plank designed to retain oil. There can be four masseurs massaging the body below neck.

A masseur spreads warm medicated oil all over the body (below neck) from a lump of cloth soaked in medicated oil. Shirodhara (application of medicated oil to the head) sometimes accompanies pizhichil.

The kings and aristocrats that ruled the country used to undergo pizhichil therapy and the treatment is called aristocratic therapy.

The whole procedure can end in less than an hour or can continue for 90 minutes. The duration is determined by the physician according to the physical capabilities of the person taking this therapy. It can also continue for seven, 14 or 28 days.

Pizhichil is unique to Kerala Ayurveda practices and is very beneficial in conditions like arthritis, paralysis, nervous disorders, joint pain, muscle cramps, etc. It also improves blood circulation, muscle reflexes, nervous system, relaxes full body and mind, enhances sexual ability and brings general sense of well being to the person.

The massage mainly aims at alleviating imbalances caused to Vayu. Imbalances occurred to vayu due to stress and tensions associated with lifestyle activities. An imbalance to Vayu dosha can disturb the balance of other two doshas of tridosha – pitta and kapha. The oil massage releases the elements of imbalance from the system, thereby facilitating a scheme of complete balance, both for body and mind.

The choice of medicated oils and procedures requires elaborate diagnosis by a knowledgeable Ayurvedic physician. The masseurs also should be well trained in massage therapy. Though a royal treatment, a person must always make sure that he or she goes to a knowledgeable physician who has the assistance of knowledgeable hands.

Other spellings for pizhichil can be pishichil, pizichil, pizhicil, pilichil, pizhi, pizhiyal, and moreÂ…

Mukhalepam or mukhalepanam is a simple Ayurvedic skin care therapy which includes the application of freshly prepared facial creams and massaging them off after 30-45 minutes. Mukham in Malayalam means face and lepa, lepana or lepanam means application of a paste. The herbal pack contains different herbs made into a paste. It prevents aging of skin, avoids wrinkles and gives a good skin tone. It avoids pigmentation or discoloration of facial skin, and is beneficial in treating sun burn related conditions. The herbal combination is chosen after assessing the skin type of the person and the specific requirements.

Kizhi or njavarakizhi is another special Ayurvedic full-body massage therapy. Boluses of njavara rice, which is boiled and medicated is wrapped in hand-size cotton bags. Kizhi is such a bag of any cloth made by wrapping something inside and tying on side to keep the wrapped items safe.

In the massage program, the kizhi (boluses of njavara made into a handheld bag) is dipped in warm decoctions. There can be two or four masseurs applying kizhi to the whole body of the person. This makes the body of the person perspire and this method provides direct nourishment to soft tissues near the skin.

The therapy can last for up to an hour a day and continues for 14 days. Persons suffering from joint pains, rheumatism, bad cholesterol, weak and underdeveloped limbs, and certain skin disorders can take an appropriate njavarakkizhi therapy or simply kizhi therapy.

Kizhi or njavarakkizhi therapy is associated with steam bath with medicated herbs, and abhayanga or specialized medicated oil therapy.

The possible spellings for kizhi or njavarakizhi can be navarakizhi, navarakkizhi, njavarakkizhi, njavarakizi, njavarakkizi, kihzi, etc.

Kizhi literally means a small bag of cloth formed by wrapping something inside and tying a not to keep the thing (anything) inside.

Kizhi therapy like Njavarakizhi includes taking the medicinal powder, oil, decoctions, or anything in a kizhi and applying it over the body of a person.

Ila kizhi or ela kizhi has medicinal leaves wrapped in the bag and applying all over the body, podi kizhi has herbal medicinal powders in the bag, while njavarakizhi has special njavara rice boiled with medicines.

All these kizhi are useful for different conditions like problems to bone – rheumatism, arthritis, muscle pain, joint pains, sports injury, etc.

Dhara is an Ayurvedic treatment method, which includes the application of a continuous stream of mildly warm oil to the body parts.

Shirodhara, or the dhara treatment given to head is most common.

Dhanyamla dhara is dhara over different body parts other than head.

The name of dhara varies with the kind of material used for the dhara.

Oil – sneha dhara, Taila Dhara
Butter milk – takra dhara
Milk – ksheeradhara

Dhanyamla dhara is a special kind of Ayurvedic massage therapy, which includes pouring of medicinal liquid over different body parts. This therapy continues for 45 to 60 minutes a day and lasts for 7 to 12 days. Luke warm medicinal liquid is let fall over the body on a rhythmic fashion from a hung vessel.

It is used for a variety of conditions like spinal disorders, rheumatism, arthritis, asthma, neurological disorders, spondylosis, etc.

Tharpanam in Ayurveda has a meaning different from that of a Hindu religious performance. Ayurvedic tharpanam or tharpan means retention of medicines over the eyes for up to 30 minutes or more a day for treating strain to the eyes, improve eye sight, strengthen the optic nerve and to prevent different eye diseases. It is basically an eye-cleansing process. It gives a cooling effect to eyes. The medicated oil is retained over the eye bordered with a thick herbal combination.

Another therapy associated with tharpanam is pudapakam or pudapakom, with similar procedures.