Pizhichil

Pizhichil, also known as Ayurvedic oil bath, is a treatment where a continuous flow of herbalised oil is squeezed and massaged over the body. It has a soothing and relaxing effect while also removing toxins from the body.

This treatment begins by massaging warm herbalised oils into the body to prepare for the Pizhichil.

Pizhichil means ‘to squeeze’ in Malayalam (the language of Kerala in South India). During Pizhichil, warm herbal oil is squeezed over the body in a constant rhythmic stream. The oil is lightly massaged into the body throughout the treatment. When the oil is applied over the body, it may be over a specific area or the entire body.

The external application of warm herbalised oil plays a major role in Ayurvedic treatment. Herbal oil is a transport mechanism for delivering herbs into the deeper tissues. When the warmed herbal oils are applied in a treatment, the pores of the skin are opened due to the warmth. This allows the healing properties of the herbs to more deeply penetrate the affected tissues. When herbs are used in this manner, they also help to pull impurities out of the body.

One of the most important tools in Ayurvedic treatments is the treatment table itself. Known as a Droni it is hand-carved from a single piece of medicinal wood (such as the neem tree).

The table’s unique design allows for treatments with an abundance of Ayurvedic herbal oil to be performed. Over time these oils become absorbed by the table, and thus the table itself is part of the healing process.

Udvartana is a treatment in Ayurveda in which specially prepared herbal paste or herbal powder is massaged over the body. It is a treatment used to support weight loss or detoxification programs.