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The main distinguishing feature of the kalarippayattu master's medical
expertise from that of others are his psycho-physiological training as
a martial artist and his practical knowledge of the body's vital spots 'Marma'.
His psycho-physiological training gives him extraordinary control over his
body and thus control of the vital energy. The assumed efficacy of
treatments is in part based on his ability to control and channel this life
force in his body and limbs when giving various therapeutic modalities.
Usually the healthcare system includes, massages, external bandages, internal
medicines, splinting etc.
The Kalarippayattu therapies and other modalities are aiming at
the remodeling of the humors of the body environment. In which the main focus is
on canalizing the vata humor in its harmonized way and manner. It is
considered as the vata is the principle energy form in the living body,
which enables the other two energy forces to work in its manner. So the
channelizing this particular energy system will naturally balances the other
humors too. Adequate medicated oils of wide verities are used in the
therapies to aid the processes of healing.
Typical ailments taken care by the traditional Kalari guru is are closely
associated with the martial art practice or diseases affecting the
musculoskeletal system, including bone fractures, joint dislocations, general
bruises, major shocks to the body, major shocks to the vital spots of the
body, sprains of various kind, other bone and joint diseases. majority of the
ailments are attributed either to martial art related activities or
pathological conditions affecting one's ability to exercise.
Other main important factor in giving the massage therapy is the usage of
various kind of medicated oil preparation in the therapies. Basically the
oils or fats are categorized in a special group Sneha (The oleaginous
copounds). the main genre of the substances are Taila (Vegetable fat
especially sesame oil), Ghruta (ghee), Vasa (muscle fat), Majja (bone
marrow). These substances are used alone unprocessed or usually processed
with various medicaments. The usage of these medicated ones are in variety
of manner like. the medicated oil is used to apply over head, another
variety is used to apply allover the body and some oils are used to take
internally.
In Kalari way of disease management, most of the oils are prepared in a
unique complex way, in order to impart a faster medical results, because the
subject need to get rid of the pains rapidly. The medicinal combination are
usually differ from the classical Ayurvedic literatures and is confined to
the family traditions. The effectiveness of the oils used are briefed as the
kalari oils are basically to promote the harmony of the vata energy within
the channels of the living body by imparting the oleaginous nature to the
channels. The medicated oils are improves the quality of kapha principle
within the body, which is the aim ai to strengthen the body system. The oils
are usually heated prior to use it. Heat is the medium for transferring the
medicinal principle present in the oil to the body system.
The regimen for conducting the Kalari way of massaging includes various
considerations such as, The practitioner must consider the vitiation stages
of the body humor, the mutilation of tissues, physical and mental
strength of the patient, digestive power, the age of the patient, the sex of
the patient, food habituation etc. after considering all these factors
precisely, the physician is bound to chooses the therapy mode, which usually
differs in selecting the apt medicated oils, duration of the treatment,
giving right internal medicines, time of treatment, changes in the strokes
during the delivery of the treatment, if any. etc.
Ayurveda has always promoted seasonal exercises and massage appropriate
to ones constitution as a way of naturally establishing congruence among the
three humors. Usually the therapy is delivered by the feet of the masseur by
holding himself in a rope tied in the roof of the treatment room. The
therapy is also given by the hand of the physician, which depend on the
condition of the diseased. During the course of kalari massage the patient
is instructed to follow various food regimes and habits in daily life. As a
usual procedure the therapy is continued for seven days , fourteen days or
twenty-one days by considering the conditions.
The celestial form of healing practice is a godly given system to
the mankind, is itself enough to cure the diseases and make the harmony in
the body and mind.
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