Sukha Chikitsa gets youths' attention

KOZHIKODE: The Malayalam month of Karkidakam is around the corner and  the Ayurveda treatment centres are  active across the state.   More Keralites leading a  sedentary lifestyle are going for Ayurveda treatment, compared to the foreigners, who were the regular customers so far. Ayurveda doctors say the traditional treatment (sukha chikitsa) has been becoming popular with Keralites during  the past five years, while they get the same foreign customers.

“We get regular foreign customers as well as  domestic tourists. But for the past four-five years, the customers have been mostly Malayalis, especially those leading a sedentary life. While earlier the Malayali customers were the elderly, nowadays, more youngsters are seeking ‘chikitsa’ (treatment), especially in the month of Karkidakam,” said Dr Jibi Goplakrishnan from Santhigiri Ayurveda and Sidhdha Hospital, Kozhikode. The hospital also supplies special Karkidaka kits for the customers.

The people also go to  the Kalaris, where the chief (Gurukkal) guides the treatment.  Certain food styles have  to be followed along with the treatment. Usually, the treatment period lasts  from seven to 14 days. “Natural food should be consumed. Cereals, tubers and leafy vegetables can be taken. There is no  timetable for taking food which can be consumed when hungry,” said Sudhakaran Gurukkal of CVN Kalari, Edakkad, Kozhikode.

People with high blood pressure, heart patients and menstruating women should avoid the treatment.  The stomach is also to be cleaned prior to the treatment. Karkidakam is chosen for the treatment as it has the shortest sun rays and the atmospheric temperature is also low. Gurukkal has been doing the ‘uzhichil’ (massage)  from his teenage days and had learnt it from the age of 11.

“Even now, the complicated cases we refer to the hospitals. The period after the massage is also crucial, as the body becomes tender.  If it is  prescribed for a week, the same period of rest has  to be taken. This is called ‘Nallirikkal.’   The period after that is called ‘Ilanallirikkal,’” said Gurukkal. He started Kalari from the chief disciple  C.V. Narayanan Nair, Gopalan Gurukkal. The disciples of Mr Nair started Kalaris in his name ‘CVN’ in different parts, though they are independent.