The Malayalam month of Karkidakam begins today. This is a period when you need to focus on complete rejuvenation by healing your body and mind. Due to unique weather conditions, this is generally a season of flu and other viral infections. Your body also loses its strength and has poor digestion during Karkidakam. However, since the sunlight is not intense in this month and it rains often, it’s an ideal period for Ayurveda treatments. You can consume herbal concoctions like karkidaka kanji, and also give your body an oil bath. Here’s what you need to know about the Karkidaka-special health rejuvenation.
The special kanji
Marunnu kanji or herbal porridge and other ayurvedic therapies boost the body’s immunity while preserving the balance of the three ‘doshas’ or energies – vatha (rheumatic), pitta (fire) and kapha (water), according to Ayurveda. The ten herbs or dashapushpam are:
1) poovamkurunnila (little ironweed)
2) karuka (bermuda grass)
3)kayyonni (eclipta prostrate)
4) muyalcheviyan (lilac tasselflower)
5) vishnukranthi (evolvulus alsinoides)
6) cheroola (mountain knotgrass)
7) thiruthali (ipomoea sepiaria)
8) uzhinja (balloon vine)
9) mukkutti (little tree plant)
10) nilapana (euphoria thymifolia)
The extracts of dashapushpas are added in the karkidaka kanji. Photo: Manorama
Their extract is cooked with wheat, njavara rice (rose matta rice), yavam (diabeto rice), horsegram and herbs like panchakolam, cumin, ajwain and fenugreek to prepare the herbal porridge.
How to have karkidaka kanji
1) It’s best consumed in the evening
2) Have it hot and freshly prepared
3) One bowl is the right quantity per day
4) Do not mix it with oily, non-vegetarian or spicy foods
5) Have it for 14 days for the best results
What to include in diet
1) Green leafy vegetables
2) Tubers like yams and colocasia roots
3) Foods made of wheat, rice and barley
4) Lentils, green gram, cow’s ghee, lean meat
5) Sour and salted vegetable soups
6) Boiled and cooled water
7) Buttermilk
8) Pathila curry
Pathila curry
Pathila curry, a dish made with ten leaves, is consumed during Karkidakam to boost immunity. The leaves to be included in the curry are:
1) Thaalu (Colacasia stem)
2) Thakara (Cassia tora)
3) Kodithoova (Stinging nettle)
4) Koval (ivy guard leaves)
5) Pachacheera (Green amaranth)
6) Chembu (colacasia leaves)
7) Chena (yam leaves)
8) Payar (Bean leaves)
9) Mathan (Pumpkin leaves)
10) Thazhuthama (hogweed)
Here’s how to prepare the pathila curry
What foods to avoid
1) Curds, any food that takes a long time to digest
2) Drumstick leaves
3) Red meat
4) Oil, fried foods
5) Spicy foods
6) Cold foods and drinks
Gently massaging the body with herbal oil blends is essential to settle down vatha. Photo: iStock
Karkidaka-special massage
Gently massaging the body with herbal oil blends is essential to settle down vatha. Dhanwantharam oil, Prabajnavimardanam, and Kottamchukkadi are some of the oils that can be used during Karkidakam for an herbal bath. It is believed that you can enjoy good health and well-being throughout the year by following these Ayurvedic traditions in Karkidakam.