Nijavara Kazi

Navarak kizhi Kerala’s unique contribution to Ayurveda, involves fomentation of the body with a bolus of cooked rice. Shastika or navara, a particular kind of rice known for its nutritional value, is cooked in milk and a herbal decoction made of kurumthotti (sida rhombifolia). Four boluses are made of this cooked rice and tied up in linen bags.

The fomentation continues with the patient on his /her back on the droni. There is also another attendant who supplies new kizhis, which are cept ready in a decoction of warm milk. It is very important to keep the kizhis at a constant temperature. The treatment is over once fomentation has been carried out in all the seven standard positions.

In some cases, one of the three supine positions may be avoided and the patient is made to lie face down. After the specified duration of treatment, the paste is wiped off with palm leaf scrapers.