Njavarakkizhi, also known as Pindasweda is the most important of the sudation or sweating procedures in Panchakarma treatments. Njavarakkizhi is considered to be an effective treatment of hemiplegia. A bundle of linen filled with a bolus of Shastika or Navara (a variety of rice) that has been cooked in a milk and herbal decoction and dipped in a warm medicated Kuzhambu (ointment) is used for the fomentation. In this therapy the whole body of the patient is made to perspire by the external application of medicated rice packs in the form of boluses tied in muslin bags (Kizhi).
Njavarakkizhi treatment is used for wasting of muscles, curing rheumatism, sports injuries, pain in the joints, emaciation of the body or parts of the body and also for certain kinds of skin diseases.
