Karkidaka Chikitsa Ayurvedic Treatment

What is Karkidaka Chikilsa?

Karkidaka chikilsa is a traditional seasonal purification therapy in Kerala Ayurveda. It is done during monsoon (Karkidaka), that usually falls in July- August when heavy rains occur in Kerala. Rainy season is notorious for various infectious diseases (like common cold, fever, jaundice etc) due to increased humidity, polluted water reservoirs, poor drainage systems etc and a sudden change from extreme atmospheric temperature (March- May) to a lower one. The immune power also becomes the least during this time, owing to several diseases, and hence the aim of Karkidaka chikilsa is to regain normal health by maintaining dosha (vata-pitta- kapha) and dhatu (tissue) balance as well as boosting the immunity.

What Happens to Body in Karkidaka?

As per Ayurveda, Varsha rtu (rainy season) is the time when body’s immune power weakens the most, dhatu (tissues) become most debilitated, vata aggravates, and agni (digestive power) reduces and it vitiates pitta and kapha. All these factors cumulatively deteriorate health. Karkidaka chikilsa is thus meant for improving agni and maintain tridosha balance, and thereby bring back the health.

What Are the Procedures in Karkidaka Chikilsa?

Karkidaka chikilsa means shodhana (purification) therapy itself. As vata is the major dosha that has been vitiated during varsha rtu (rainy season), vasthi (enema therapy) is the primary treatment. Prior to that, preparatory procedures like snehana (oil massage), swedana (sudation therapy like steam bath, kizhi etc), nasya (nasal administration of suitable medicine), vamana (emetic therapy) and virechana (purgation) are to be done. All these procedures pacify the vitiated vata, pitta and kapha. Agni (digestive fire) improves, bodily channels open-up, and the tissues become rejuvenated. Certain dietary modifications are also ascertained along with these procedures.

Dietary Modifications During Karkidaka Chikilsa

Take very light food that digest easily, and having liquid or semi-solid consistency. Include more whole grains, green vegetables, soups of green gram/ horse gram etc, white meat/ soup, buttermilk etc in diet added with adequate amounts of salt and spices. Avoid the consumption of heavy and oily food items, fried items, curd, fish etc during this period. Use boiled and cooled water for drinking.

Who Are Eligible for Karkidaka Treatment?

Karkidaka chikilsa can be done for any adult person provided they have a strong body and not debilitated by aging process. In women, it is contraindicated during menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation.

What Are the Health Benefits of Karkidaka Chikilsa?

In healthy individuals, Karkidaka chikilsa offers improved immunity, healthy body and mind, detoxification, rejuvenation, improved digestive power and youthfulness. It enhances a person’s ability to prevent diseases.

Karkidaka chikilsa in people with certain diseases, provides curative effects by improving the immunity, removing the blockage in channels, enhancing agni and balancing tridosha and dhatu.