Rheumatoid Arthritis: One of the common types, presents itself with pain and swelling at any joint, spreading gradually to others. Morning stiffness, feverishness, skin rashes, redness (erythema) over joints etc., may be associated.

Treatment  at Heritage Kerala includes anti-arthritic herbal medicines, therapeutic massages to set the joints free and advice on diet and habits to prevent recurrence.

Osteo - Arthritis: Mostly appear on knee joints, causing progressive degenerative changes on joint facets and the cartilage cushioning in between.

Treatment at Heritage Kerala aims at nourishing the bones, arrests further depreciation, increase bone density and flush out inflammations. This brings out quite good recovery without any pain - killers.

Being a progressive disease, treatment at earlier stages yields better results.

Degenerative changes on vertebral segments and inter-vertebral discs mark spondylosis. These may in turn cause a variety of symptoms like neck / back pain, radiating pains on limbs, numbness, tingling sensation, burning feeling, muscle spasm, recurrent reeling, head ache etc.

Treatments at Heritage Kerala arrest the progressive degeneration, improve bone density, ease nerve-root compression, tone up skeletal muscles, repair the bulged discs, if any, and re-establish normal nerve and muscle functions through a series of well-planned procedures and herbal medications.

Paralysis (Hemiplegia) occurs due to damage to brain tissue. This happens mostly because of bleeding in the brain or due to blocks (infarcts) developed in the arteries supplying blood to the brain.

The patient loses movements in one half of the body. The face may also get affected (Facial Palsy). Speech may be slurred, or absent as per the extent of damage. Incontinence of urine and motion is commonly associated. Symptoms vary with the areas affected in brain.

Treatment at Heritage Kerala yields the maximum percent of recovery, especially when treated within one month of onset. Procedures such as Sirodhara, Nasyam, Thalam, Podikizhi, Elakizhi, Njavarakizhi, Pizhichil, Ksheeradhoomam etc., are of immense benefit. Special oral medicines too are administered, without interfering with the patient's routine medicines, if any.(eg: drugs for high BP, diabetes etc.)

Psoriasis is a non-infectious skin disease. It is characterized by reddish plaque-like lesions which are elevated, palpable and topped by grayish white scales. There may be severe itching and sometimes pinpoint bleeding. Psoriatic lesions appear at any part of the skin. Scalp, elbows, knees and low back are mostly involved. The lesions may temporarily vanish with allopathic medicines but re-occur.

Detoxifying techniques in Ayurveda such as Vamana, Virechana and Rakthamoksha along with specially developed oils and medications at Heritage Kerala have proved to be very effective. 'Thakradhara' is a relaxant and healing procedure which speeds up recovery. Without any adverse effect, psoriasis can be healed with no recurrence if in the initial stages, and totally controlled in chronic cases.

Diabetes Mellitus can be well controlled in the natural way with pancreatic stimulation. Treatment with Ayurvedic drugs improve the production of insulin in the body, thus bringing down the sugar level as well as the diabetic tendency itself. This approach differs from the anti-diabetic tablets/ insulin injections which substitute the insulin deficit, but have no positive impact on pancreas.

The Ayurvedic drugs to a great extend prevent complications such as neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, skin abscess etc.

Therapeutic massages at Heritage Kerala are seen beneficient in diabetic neuropathy to arrest the progression and to improve mobility.

Cerebral palsy is a neuromuscular disorder in children with manifestations varying from minor incapability to total handicap. Milestones are delayed or not achieved. Mental retardation is common.

These may be due to disordered development and structure of brain or injury to the brain because of trauma, deficiency in oxygen supply to the brain (eg: delayed 'first cry'), metabolic disturbances or infection. Pre-natal reasons include genetic disorders, maternal metabolic diseases/ anaemia / exposure to radiation/ bleeding/ toxemia/ trauma, intra-uterine infections and pre-natal drugs.

Specially designed Kerala Ayurvedic therapies and brain stimulant herbal medicines are helpful in improving the overall functions in the child. At Heritage Kerala, the percentage of recovery is seen more with children below 4 years of age.

Oligospermia is referred to as the fall in sperm count, which is one of the major causes of male infertility. Treatment at Heritage Kerala not only elevates the counts to normal range, but also improves the motility and quality of sperm within the span of a few months.

Post Delivery Care

The New Indian Express - Tuesday, April 23, 2002
Dr. Reji Thomas

During pregnancy, the mother's body undergoes a series of structural and functional variations. These natural adaptations aim at the safe and healthy development of the foetus, as well as facilitating the process of normal labour. After delivery, she needs good care and attention to regain normalcy and to prevent post-natal complications which may sometimes sustain for long.

Ayurveda is a way of life than just a system of medicine. It offers guidance on diet, habits and medicines for 'soothika'. (The mother is termed soothika till the 45th day of delivery or till the onset of menstrual periods again)

• Prevention of infection and incidence of excessive bleeding.

• Relief in body pains and weakness.

• Supporting the process of 'involution' of uterus (by which the uterus regain almost its shape and size, after delivery)

• Enhancing the production of breast milk.

• Correcting digestion troubles.

• Over-all repair and toning up of muscles.

• A little of finely powdered Yavaksharam mixed with cow's ghee or in warm water may be given to relieve body pains.

• Panchakola choornam with cow's ghee', mixed with slightly warm rice porridge (kanji), brings back appetite and ease the discomfort in abdomen and pelvis.

• An evening dose of Asokarishtam or Panchakolasavam, on Ayurvedic doctor's advice. For drinking purpose, boil water with jaggery or coriander seeds.

• Gently apply medicated oil over belly and bandage with thick cloth.

• For bath, boil water with Nalpamara Choornam.

• Normal vegetarian diet, to be taken warm.

• If appetite is good, it is recommended to prepare rice porridge in water, earlier boiled with medicines constituting Vidaryadi Kwath. This may be given with cow's ghee.

• Apply medicated oils all over the body and massage gently for 10-15 minutes. After an hour, give bath in warm water, preferably boiled with Nalpamara Choornam.

Medicines like Dhanwantaram Kwath, Dasamoolarishtam, Abhayarishtam, Jeerakarishtam, Mandooravatakam, Ashtachoornam, Asokarishtam, Vidaryadi lehyam, Drakshadi Rasayanam may be used on doctor's advice.

Do not expose to cold, or hot Sun. Avoid consuming ice-cold water/food and spicy food. No non-veg items up to 2 weeks after delivery.

Abstain from physical exertion, strain and sex.

These modalities are applicable up to a minimum of 45 days and sometimes may be extended to 90 days. Now, modified herbal massages by trained masseurs are widely recommended for better results.

After-care for Caesarean section:

Caesarean operations being common these days the routine for care is relevantly modified and recommended as below:

Up to 3 days:
Deepyakadi Choornam/ Panchakola Choornam may be given with rice-porridge. (These medicines generally do not interact with anti-biotics or analgesics)

From 4th to 7th day:
Light food with cow's ghee. Evening dose of Panchakolasavam/Asokarishtam as per advice.

8th to 15th day:
Prepare rice-porridge with milk and Vathahara drugs (eg.Dhanwantaram)

From 16th to 25th day:
Normal diet with soup.

After 30 days:
Medicated oil applications, gentle massage and bath in warm water up to the next 3 months.

Many may wonder how relevant are these good old pieces of advice today. Young mothers may even plead for the food of their liking within a few days of delivery, quite ignorant of their body system's helplessness.

We should remember that this 'Veda of living' helped our grannies, who gave birth to at least half-a-dozen children, worked hard for livelihood without prolapsed uterus, nagging back pain or bleeding and never heard of hysterectomy and incisional hernea.

Though lifestyle has changed a lot, these concepts are still practical with healthy alterations on the advice of a qualified Ayurvedic physician.