-by Sheela Rani Chunkath
There is a wonderful tailam that we can use for body aches and pains called Prabhanjana vimardana tailam. Many people who complained about the debilitating aches and pains of Chikungunya, especially knee pain have found that systematic application of the tailam has helped them in alleviating their pains.
The details regarding this tailam is given in the Sahasrayogam's Taila Prakarana, the bible of Kerala's ayurvedic practitioners.
This tailam is made using sesame oil, curds, milk and sour kanji (fermented rice starch) to which is added about 30 other herbs. These are the roots of Sida cordifolia, asparagus, Calotropis, castor, yellow nail dye plant, Withania somnifera, those of the greater panchamula and the barks of the drumstick tree, the three-leaved caper tree, Pongamia and the field bindweed. A decoction with water is made from about 100 grams each of these herbs. A soft paste is made with about 10 grams of Indian Valerian, cedar wood, cardamom, dried ginger, mustard, round zedoary, dill seeds, Costus roots, rock salt, lesser galangal, fenugreek seeds, sweet flag, leadwort roots, nardus roots, pinewood and picrorrhiza. This soft paste and the decoction is added to about 1.5 litres of sesame oil and 3 litres each of curds, milk and sour kanji. The tailam is then processed.
Tailams are most effective when used in the beginning of the pain episode. This tailam is very effective for all types of nervous disorders and is even used for the treatment of paralysis. The tailam is applied externally to the regions affected by pain. Some vaidyars prescribe it for internal consumption as well. About 5 to 15 ml is given with hot milk. Internal consumption should be done after consulting a vaidyar. This tailam is considered a heating tailam and is usually used for those who have a more kapha prakriti.
For the panchakarma treatment called pizhicchal where you are practically 'bathed' in quantities of tailam, Prabhanjana tailam and Dhanavantaram tailam are often used. In pizhicchal treatment the selected oil is systematically applied in large quantities on the person so that the body absorbs the maximum amount of medicated oil through the skin. The emphasis is not on massage but on the absorption of the oil by the body.
Since there are about 30 herbs in this preparation, I thought I would touch on the properties of a few of them. The properties of many of the other herbs have been dealt with in my previous articles. The wonderful thing about these herbs is that they are used for different ailments keeping in mind their dosha classification.
Indian valerian for example called tagara is often used to treat anxiety, tremors and insomnia.
While castor oil is often used as a mild laxative, the roots are shown to have an analgesic activity and has therfore probably been included as one of the ingredients in this tailam.
The bark and roots of the three-leaved caper tree called varuna in Sanskrit and maavilangam in Tamil is said to have anti-inflammatory properties in addition to being a lithotriptic agent in that it helps break and expel kidney stones.
Ayurvedic herbs are a wonderful resource. It is unfortunate that we still have not systematically and scientifically documented their properties and uses. More government resources for popularizing our effective health traditions can greatly improve the health status of our people.
--- The writer was earlier Health Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and is currently Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman & Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/