Navarakizhi is known as Salishashtikapinda sveda. This is one of the
methods of fomentation of the body parts. A special kind of rice called
navara is cooked along with decoction (usually made of Sida retusa) and
milk and rice cakes are made. These cakes are tied in cloth and
kizhi/potali (bags) are made. Oil is applied on the body before starting
the treatment. The bags are dipped into the mixture of milk and
decoction and made warm and massaged on the body. This is done for
30-45 minutes. Later body is wiped with a clean cloth and oil is applied
again. Warm water bath is taken later. This can be done on part of the
body or the whole body. Navara theppu is another method of application
of the navara rice paste on the whole body.
These are effective, mostly for vata type of disorders where there is
depletion of kapha. It is done especially for mamsa sosa (depletion of
muscle tissue). It is also used for different types of neurological
disorders, disused atrophy, degenerative conditions of the joints, burning
in the body, body weakness, sciatica and convalescence in different
diseases.
