Thailam, Thaila, Taila - Ayurvedic Medicine

Thaila, medicinal oil, is mainly prepared using sesame oil. Coconut, Castor or Neem oils are also used. Sometimes Mustard or Chaul Moogra oil forms the base.
 
Thaila is always used for external application and are powerful stimulants and good counter irritants. It is also cooling and sedative in nature. Taila is significant in Ayurvedic oil massages.

Rasayana (Rasayana therapy) - Ayurvedic Medicine

Rasayana is made up of two words – rasa meaning nourishment and ayana meaning travel. Rasayana therapy enhances the life force and immunity of a person and rejuvenates the cells and tissues in his body. This therapy is believed to hold old age and related infirmities at bay. It is held that the rasayanas are the secret of the long, healthy, energetic lives of the sages of yore.

Rasayana means the augmentation of 'rasa,' the vital fluid produced by the digestion of food. The rasa flowing in the body sustains life. Rasayana therapy maintains the rasa in the body. Rasa also means a herbal medicine, which maintains the life and health of the individual, keeping him physically and mentally fit.

Herbs and medicinal plants such as amalaki, haritiki, triphala, bhringaraja, ashwagandha, punarnava, chitraka are used in the preparation of the rasayanas. The Rasayana therapy is administered in two different ways, by ' Kutipravesika' and ' Vatatapika' or 'indoor' and 'outdoor' therapy.

Lehyam / Lehya - Ayurvedic Medicine

Lehyam is a semisolid or thickened extract prepared in a medium of sugar or jaggery. It is curative for respiratory ailments and digestive troubles. It is prepared by using powdered drugs and pulp of fruits in the sugar medium of jaggery, sugar, sugar candy or honey in an aqueous medium of water.


Some of the significant Lehyas are Agasthya Rasayanam, Abhayamritha Rasayanam, Amrasara Rasayanam, Brahma Rasayanam and Aswagandhadi Leham.

Kuzhambu (Kuzhampu) - Ayurvedic Medicine

Kuzhampu are ointments quite similar to Thailams. Unlike Thailam, Kuzhampu is viscous in appearance. It is chiefly used in sports medicine to cure the injuries. In addition to this, it is also used to treat people having pain in the body or joints and for certain beauty therapies.

Elaneer Kuzhampu, Sahacharadi Kuzhampu, Prabhanjanam Kuzhampu, Panchavalkadi Kuzhampu, Panchasneham Kuzhampu,Nalpamaradi Kuzhampu,Laakshaadi Kuzhampu are popular

Kashayam / Kashaya

Kashaya, a decoction, is prepared by boiling sliced or powdered herbal materials like bark, roots, leaves, fruits and flowers. The powder must be coarse. One part of the powder is boiled in four, eight or sixteen parts of water and reduced to a quarter. Earthen or chemically inactive vessels like stainless steel must be used.

Gulika - Ayurvedic Medicine

Gulika is a medicated tablet in Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, no other medicine is as good as Karpooradi Gulika for raktatisaram and grahani (malabsorption).

Dhanwantharam Gulika is a curative for vayukshobam (vata imbalance due to shock), kshayam (TB), kaasam (cough), swaasam (respiratory diseases), hiccup and vomiting.

Grita (Ghritham) - Ayurvedic Medicine

Grita (Ghritham) is ghee medicated with ayurvedic herbs. The word 'Grita' means ghee. It is usually consumed by mixing with hot milk. Digestive power of the patient is looked into before prescribing this medicine.Ghrithams are also used as an external application, especially for ulcers and wounds.

Ashwagandhadi Ghrita, Mahatriphala Ghrita, Saraswatha Ghrita are some of the Ghritas. It is prescribed for several diseases including anaemia, indigestion, piles and skin diseases.

Choornams - Ayurvedic medicine

Choornams are the powder of a single herb or a mixture of two or more herbs. Mixture herbs are powdered separately before being mixed together. Choorna usually lasts a maximum of one year from the date of preparation. It is preferably stored in airtight glass bottles or any packing that prevents moisture.

Asava / Asavams - Ayurvedic medicine

Asava is a fermented medicine in Ayurveda. It is prepared by soaking herbal drugs in unboiled water along with the specific ingredients. It is then fermented and filtered. Natural alcohol extracted from herbs is sometimes used to accelerate the speed of fermentation, and efficacy.

Asavams and Arishta depict similar properties. Asavas are made from juices while Arishtas are from the decoction of drugs.

Arishta or Arishtams - Ayurvedic Medicine

Arishta (Arishtams) is a naturally fermented herbal supplement. It is a medicinal wine obtained after decoction of raw drugs. Arishta is fermented for retaining effectiveness over a long period.

It tastes sweetish but with slight acidity and a nice aroma. Arishta works directly on the dysfunction of the digestive system.

Ayurveda (Ayurvedic) Medicines

Ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to the Indian subcontinent and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine.It is one of the world's oldest medical systems that still has great value today.

• Arishtams
• Asavams
• Choornam
• Ghritham