“When do you have dinner?” is the first question Valarmathi Jayaraman asks when I walk into Parrinam Ayurveda. “An early dinner, by 7.30 p.m., is the first step towards healthy living,” she stresses. “Then your food is already partly digested when you go to bed. This ensures that you get sound sleep, good bowel moment, and a healthy appetite. All this goes for a toss when you have a late dinner.”
Valarmathi has been an Ayurvedic physician for 11 years. She examines the patient and then recommends a treatment with medicated oils and a course of internal medicines, which includes a series of arishtams and kashayams based on the individual’s agni (digestive capacity).
For me, she recommends a rejuvenation massage to de-stress the body and mind and ensure sound sleep. “This massage is great for insomnia. It improves skin tone and refreshes the body. It activates your agni , blood circulation, and enhances cognitive powers, and memory.”
My therapist gives me a good head massage after which I lie on a massage table, called pathy or droni , made from vengai wood. She makes me sit, uses warm dhanwantri thailam and applies pressure on the hands. It relieves your aches instantly. Then, I lie face down and she gives extra thrust on the back muscles on request. As she works on the muscles on the back of each leg, I doze off. There are six positions for the massage — where you sit, lie face up, two lateral positions, lie face up, and then back to the sitting position — and it works great for the tired muscles. The 35-minute massage leaves me feeling good and happy.
Valarmathi says the rejuvenation oil massage is akin to the traditional weekend oil bath ritual, but done in a scientific way. “It has therapeutic effect on the body and mind,” she adds.
For men, A.S. Dhandapani, varma specialist for 30 years, combines the rejuvenation massage with activation of varma points.
The physician explains that Ayurveda considers nidana parivarjanam or avoiding the cause, as the primary step in treatment. “Anything in excess — be it food intake, travel, exercise, exposure to wind and sunlight — is a problem for the body. A late dinner is the root cause for many ailments, be it knee pain or indigestion. People in the IT sector keep adding calories and there’s no physical activity to burn them off. This leads to stress, indigestion and many suffer from spinal problems too.”
Before starting any Ayurvedic treatment, the body needs a de-tox. "An external massage over a week brings the toxins accumulated in the body to the alimentary canal. Then we give internal medicines to remove them. After this, we start the treatment. Ayurveda is all about prevention and any treatment is long-term. Lifestyle changes are vital to be healthy and fit,” Valarmathi says.
Quick tips
Instead of three big meals, frequent light meals improve digestion, control calorie intake and help you stay fit.
Breakfast: Have something nutritious, well-balanced and healthy like millet dosa or idli, upma, oats porridge and fresh fruits.
Mid-morning: At 11 a.m. have liquids like butter milk, fruit juices, or soups with green leafy vegetables or tomato.
Lunch: Moderate with rotis and sabzis, a cup of rice, and boiled vegetables tossed in pepper and jeera. Avoid deep-fried and oily stuff.
Evening: At 4.30 p.m. have green gram sundal, cucumber or carrot slices and a cup of tea.
Dinner: Go for millet-based porridges, wheat porridge or raagi koozh — anything light and digested easily. Have two glasses of warm water and a mild walk.
Bedtime: A glass of cow’s milk without sugar or with palm sugar
Parrinam Ayurveda Healer is located at Trichy Road, (opposite All India Radio), Ramanathapuram
For details, call: 94434-84515/ 0422-2322264. Book in advance for rejuvenation massage. It can be once a fortnight.
Open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (Monday to Saturday).
