Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
That means of Talapothichil
‘Talapothichil’ is a Malayalam phrase which might be cut up as Tala + Pothichil.
Tala – means head
Pothichil – means protecting
Notice – Thalaphothichil or Thalapothichil or Talapothichil – it may be written in all methods. They’re one and the identical.
Introduction
Talapothichil is an Ayurveda remedy which is popularly practiced in Kerala. It’s an efficient remedy for a lot of ailments. Principally it’s a variant of Shiro-Lepa which implies utility of medicines over the scalp of the pinnacle and leaving it in place for a sure time period by protecting and tying it in place with the assistance of some medicinal leaves. In trendy phrases it’s a remedy which correlates to ‘medicinal head pack’ and consists of anointing the pinnacle. Although Talapothichil originates from Kerala, the Shiro-Lepa was by no means new for Ayurveda.
Precept of remedy
In Talapothichil, a thick layer of medicinal natural paste, ready and customised with herbs particular for the ailments that are being handled, is utilized over your entire head (scalp). Principally the remedy is cooling in nature and is nice for the pinnacle, nerves and sense organs. It’s also good for scalp and hairs.
Shira / Tala – is taken into account as Uttamanga – greatest organ – in Ayurveda. Remedies carried out on the pinnacle (like Murdni Taila, Shiro-Lepa or Talapothichil and many others) not solely have their constructive well being influence on head, mind, nerves and sense organs, additionally they have systemic motion. They achieve this by balancing the dosha fluctuations within the head, primarily Prana Vayu, Sadhaka Pitta, Tarpaka Kapha and Alochaka Pitta. These doshas, as we all know, have their very own inside community. All dosha subtypes are functionally linked by a loop. If one is addressed, the others too reply.
Talapotichil, is very efficient within the remedy of many psychosomatic, neurological and scalp associated problems.
Process of Doing Talapothichil
Like another Ayurveda remedy, Talapothichil too shall be carried out methodically and the process contains three steps.
- Purva Karma – preparation and preliminary setting
- Pradhana Karma – the remedy correct (Talapothichil on this case)
- Paschat Karma – the post-treatment measures, speedy and late follow-ups
Purva Karma – preparation of the affected person, medicines and required equipments
Analyzing the illness and diseased – The illness or situation for which the remedy is being carried out must be examined and completely analyzed. The doctor ought to shortlist the affected person and contemplate his or her eligibility for the remedy in query (Talapothichil). The affected person too shall be completely examined. Detailed case historical past shall be documented.
Assortment of components and equipments wanted for remedy
- Powder of Amalaki – must be taken in a amount which might suffice for making ready paste sufficient to be utilized on your entire scalp of the affected person being handled.
- Different Churnas – As per want and relying on the situation being dealt with, powders of Brahmi, Bhringaraja or Chandana may additionally be used instead of Amalaki. The doctor can even customise the powder by mixing 2 or extra powders which aren’t mutually contradictory in properties.
- TAKRA – Buttermilk – adequate sufficient to soak the Amalaki Churna.
- Patra – Leaves – banana or lotus leaves for protecting and packing up.
- Good seating association – a cushty seating association shall be made for the affected person to sit down to endure the remedy.
- Taila – oil for head therapeutic massage must be stored prepared.
- Sukhoshna Udaka – heat water for wiping the pinnacle / head wash additionally shall be stored prepared.
Conserving the affected person prepared for the remedy – The affected person is requested to evacuate his bowel and bladder and sit on the chair / seat offered to him comfortably.
Preparation of medicinal paste – Delicate Amalaki powder is stored immersed in buttermilk and left in a single day. Ideally, a mud pot could also be used for storing buttermilk soaked with Amalaki powder. Subsequent morning, the soaked powder is correctly grinded and its paste ready. The identical process is adopted even when different natural powders personalized for Talapothichil are chosen.
Now, we’re able to go forward and do the remedy.
Pradhana Karma – the primary process of conducting Talapothichil
Seating the affected person – The affected person / one that is about to endure Talapothichil remedy must be made to sit down comfortably on an assigned / pre-designed seat.
Shiro Abhyanga – A delicate head therapeutic massage with particular (advisable) oil or natural oil is given by an skilled and educated therapist.
Shiro Lepa – Software of medicinal paste – The medicinal paste is utilized over the scalp. It must be roughly 0.5-1 cm. It must be of uniform thickness alongside your entire scalp. A small pit is made on the centre of the utilized paste, coinciding with the purpose over the crown. On this pit, heat medicated oil is crammed.
Protecting the layer of paste – Now, banana or lotus leaf / leaves and material (bandage) are coated over the scalp, protecting the utilized paste. The pit by which the oil is crammed must be left uncovered, not protecting it with the leaf / material. After this, to maintain the protecting of leaves intact, they’re tied in place with a sterile bandage material.
Length of utility – The utilized paste is left in place, over the scalp of the pinnacle for roughly 30-60 minutes.
Paschat Karma – follow-up procedures
After protecting the medicinal paste in place for a stipulated time period, the doctor / therapist ought to gently take away the bandage material, after which the leaves. After this, the utilized paste must be gently eliminated.
Shiro Abhyanga – Head therapeutic massage must be given with medicated oil. As an prolonged half, neck and shoulder therapeutic massage may also be given.
Head Wash – Following head-wash, the affected person must be given a head-wash with lukewarm water.
Relaxation – The affected person is suggested to relaxation for some time, particularly if the affected person has taken remedy on an out-patient foundation and if there’s a plan of discharge. For the reason that remedy is calming, one could also be drowsy after the remedy. It isn’t good for the affected person to instantly drive dwelling in such a situation. The affected person can be suggested to not get instantly uncovered to warmth or breeze. In case of in-patient method, the affected person might chill out in his or her ward.
Observe-up notes – Observe up prescription of medicines, dietetic advises and lifestyle-change advises shall be given to the affected person. She or he shall even be given the date for subsequent follow-up session or subsequent schedule of Talapothichil if wanted.
Advantages of Talapothichil
Doshic Motion – Calms Pitta and is very useful in coping with inflammatory ailments of the pinnacle and sense organs, & inflammatory systemic ailments.
Good for nerves and thoughts – Since Talapothichil is principally a cooling remedy, it has a relaxing impact on the nervous system and thoughts. Other than this, it is vitally a lot helpful in treating problems like nervousness and melancholy, dementia and different kinds of psychological imbalances. It additionally retains the nervous system and thoughts in a wholesome state.
Relieves nervousness and stress and associated problems – Because of its thoughts calming and cooling influence, it soothes the nerve discharges and helps in reducing cortisol ranges. It acts as a tranquilizer, stress-reliever and a potent sedative. It’s also useful in nervousness problems.
Good treatment for insomnia – Calming the thoughts and balancing the pinnacle doshas, Talapothichil induces good sleep and therefore is a treatment for sleep deprivation and insomnia.
Good for hair, head and scalp well being – Talapothichil has a constructive influence on hair and scalp well being. It’s a good treatment for untimely graying of hairs, hair-fall, dandruff and infections of scalp. It additionally strengthens the hair roots and permits progress of wholesome hairs. It makes the hair easy and enticing. The remedy additionally relaxes and rejuvenates the pinnacle and neck areas. It additionally balances moisture ranges within the scalp.
Helpful treatment for complications – Complications of Pitta or Pitta-Vata origin and Migraines might be managed nicely by administering Talapotichil. This remedy might be successfully mixed with Nasya, Virechana and Vasti for higher outcomes. This remedy can be efficient for individuals who are experiencing extreme warmth within the head and eyes.
Dosha Stability – Talapothichil is very efficient in opposition to Pitta. It helps in combating excessive pitta situations not solely pertaining to the pinnacle, but in addition systemic pitta situations. We all know that the therapies carried out on the pinnacle, like Murdni Taila, Shirolepa and many others have large-spectrum of motion and will not be restricted to the ailments of the pinnacle. When doshas are managed within the head, the influence is systemic. The opposite manner can be true. By controlling the pitta, the remedy is also a best-shot treatment for a lot of inflammatory situations.
Useful to bestow reminiscence, focus and psychological readability – Talapothichil will nourish the mind. The mind features will enhance with the remedy. With this, the reminiscence, focus, focus, psychological readability and cognitive features would enhance and get higher. The influence of pitta-calming natural pastes utilized within the remedy, would cut back irritation, extreme warmth within the head and irritability. The remedy stimulates the thoughts and makes it sharp and lively. The remedy additionally restores emotional stability.
Stimulates and prompts Marmas – Talapothichil and the procedures of utility of paste, head therapeutic massage – would activate and stimulate the Marmas of the pinnacle and neck, primarily Adhipati Marma. For the reason that remedy is finished over the pinnacle / scalp, there’s a constructive useful influence on the opposite head marmas. The prana power is balanced and so are the three doshas positioned within the head – Prana Vayu, Sadhaka and Alochaka Pitta and Tarpaka Kapha. The ailments attributable to the imbalance of those doshas are additionally addressed in the long term.
Indications for Talapothichil
The indications for Talapothichil might be all these situations talked about above within the context of advantages of the remedy. To sum up, these situations are –
– Illnesses of the pinnacle,
– Extreme head head and pitta aggravation within the head and sense organs
– Burning sensation within the head and physique
– Excessive pitta problems affecting head, neck and sense organs
– Inflammatory ailments of the pinnacle and neck together with related systemic inflammatory problems (trigger or impact)
– Complications and migraine
– Sleep problems / insomnia / sleep deprivation
– Illnesses like dermatitis, dandruff – affecting the scalp
– Illnesses of hairs – hair loss, untimely graying of hairs
– Psychological problems – stress, nervousness, lack of focus and focus, reminiscence problems, unmada, apasmara
– Hypertension and many others.
Contraindications for Talapothichil
Talapothichil shouldn’t be administered within the beneath talked about situations –
– Extreme / persistent chilly and congestion
– Extreme sinusitis
– Acute and extreme respiratory ailments
– Fever
Possible Mode of Motion of Talapothichil
The principle ideas on which the mode of motion of Talapothichil is predicated upon are
– The motion and impact of medicinal properties of the components of the paste used for Talapothichil
– The strain administered throughout Abhyanga – earlier than and after the remedy and the impact of properties of medicated oil used therein.
– Dosha balancing impact of Talapothichil paste, primarily inflicting pitta stability (or vata and kapha additionally, relying on the skilful choice of the doctor and customization of the medicines on the idea of dosha predominance)
– Attainable absorption of medicinal properties by the Siras on the scalp or influence of the identical on them. The richest blood provide in your entire physique is discovered within the dense subcutaneous connective tissue current amongst the scalp layers. When the sneha is utilized or when the pastes utilized on the scalp have sneha as an ingredient, the sneha crosses the cell membranes of the scalp and the lively medicinal compounds contained in them are straight absorbed into the blood circulation or may need therapeutic impact on the cutaneous tissue and blood vessels.
– Activation of nerves and enhancing blood circulation
– Activation of Marma factors positioned on the pinnacle – primarily Adhipati and Simanta Marmas. This Marma additionally has a wealthy blood provide.
– Mixed impact of Vasodilatation and Vasoconstriction – Abhyanga carried out initially would trigger vasodilatation and improve blood circulation within the siras. Then again, the cooling Kalkas utilized as part of Pradhana Karma of Talapothichil would trigger vasoconstriction which might chill out the nerves.
– Pitta alleviation – The cooling pastes utilized would alleviate pitta aggravation within the head and thus deal with irritation.
– Chakra influence – Talapothichil would have a constructive influence on the Sahasrara Chakra – positioned across the crown of the pinnacle, which might in flip assist in balancing the associated energies and likewise the doshic imbalances occurring within the head (mind). Whereas the remedy works on the Head Marmas and Chakras, it could herald psychological readability and emotional stability.
– The strain and mild motions utilized whereas massaging and making use of paste to the scalp throughout Talapothichil would promote absorption and penetration of medicinal properties whereas offering leisure. The mixed impact additionally stimulates the scalp and improves blood circulation therein. The hair follicles are additionally nourished within the course of.
– Swedana – offered throughout Thalapothichil additionally provides to the therapeutic impact. It opens up the pores within the scalp and permits medicinal absorption. It additionally brings about lightness. It could additionally contribute in the direction of scalp and hair well being.
Ought to Thalapothichil be carried out just for Excessive Pitta situations?
As per observe, it’s popularly carried out to fight excessive pitta situations and contains cooling components to result in coolant impact within the head and therefore in your entire physique. This occurs because of the stability of your entire pitta ecosystem within the physique as soon as pitta is balanced within the head. It’s extremely efficient in inflammatory situations of the pinnacle, sense organs and your entire physique since irritation is attributable to excessive pitta. Due to this fact, Thalapothichil, as a remedy, isn’t just restricted to ‘controlling pitta imbalances’ within the head.
Thalapothichil, is a variant and adopted observe of Shiro Lepa. Shiro Lepa, although has not been elaborately defined in Ayurveda treatises, the scattered references don’t specify or prohibit its utilization in ‘solely pitta’ imbalances and associated problems.
Thalapothichil remedy and its utilization might be prolonged for bringing about vata and kapha stability additionally and is finished by choosing dosha particular medicines / herbs and utilizing their pastes as per want.
The ailments attributable to aggravated Rakta – blood can be taken care of by the identical medicines utilized in pitta predominant situations.
Instance –
To stability Vata – herbs like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and Bala (Sida cordifolia) shall be used. The bottom oil shall be Tila Taila, Bala Taila, Ksheerabala Taila or Dhanwantaram Taila. Thalapothichil with these herbs won’t solely stability Vata but in addition would treatment complications of vata origin, stress and nervousness and associated problems, psychological fatigue, insomnia and problems of Vata origin. Rasnadi Churna too shall even be used for Vata situations.
To stability Pitta – Amalaki Churna, as described earlier, shall be used together with Takra – buttermilk. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) and Nimba (Azadirachta indica) may additionally be used. The bottom oil right here shall be Nalikera Taila – coconut oil. Chandanadi Taila may additionally be used. Complications of pitta origin and excessive pitta situations shall be handled with these recipes. The identical shall be used to deal with situations attributable to Rakta aggravation.
To stability Kapha – Musta Churna (Cyperus rotundus), Vacha Churna (Acorus calamus) or Shunti Churna (ginger) must be used for the remedy. Natural decoctions meant for mitigating Kapha or diluted buttermilk shall be used because the medium for preparation of paste. It helps in relieving heaviness of the pinnacle, complications of kapha origin, calm the thoughts and to deal with ailments with cognitive dysfunctions.
