Every therapy name you are likely to meet, explained simply — what happens, and which tradition it comes from.
Last reviewed · Massvaa Care Wellness editorial teamA full-body massage with warm herbal oil chosen for your constitution, often by two therapists in rhythm, followed by steam.
Firm pressure applied with the fingers to specific points on the body.
Herbal decoctions or oils given as an enema, usually as a course. Considered central to Panchakarma.
Unani massage, from gentle to vigorous, chosen according to your temperament.
Seated meditation — breath awareness, mantra or silent attention — taught step by step.
Boluses of fresh herbal leaves, fried in oil and pressed rhythmically over the body.
Therapeutic bathing with warm water and steam, part of the Unani regimenal therapies.
Cupping therapy, dry or wet, performed by a registered practitioner with single-use equipment.
A warm cloth compress of herbs and oil applied to specific points on the body.
Baths, packs, compresses and steam at different temperatures: hip bath, spinal bath, foot bath and more.
A cleansing practice from Hatha Yoga: rinsing the nose with warm salt water from a small pot.
A foot massage using a small bowl made of kansa, a bronze alloy, rubbed over the soles with oil or ghee.
A Hatha Yoga cleansing breath with short, active exhalations. Taught carefully; not suitable for everyone.
Warm herbal oil gently poured into the ear and held for a few minutes, after a head massage.
Warm oil held in a ring of dough over the lower back, knee or neck for a set time.
Himalayan massage: oil application, kneading and removal of the oil with herbal powders.
A paste of herbs applied to part of the body and left to dry before being removed.
Bathing in water infused with medicinal Himalayan herbs.
Gentle pressure on the body’s 107 marma points described in the classical texts.
Cool mud packs on the eyes or abdomen, or a full mud bath, followed by rest and a wash.
A gentle face, neck and shoulder massage with warm herbal oil, sometimes with steam.
Herbal oils or preparations administered through the nose, after a face massage and steam. One of the five actions of Panchakarma.
Medicated ghee held over the eyes in a dough ring while you blink slowly.
Cloth boluses of Njavara rice cooked in milk and herbal decoction, massaged over the body while warm.
A warm-oil massage of the feet and lower legs, often at the end of the day.
A thick pad of cotton soaked in warm oil and placed on the head or another part of the body.
Warm medicated oil poured continuously over the body while therapists massage in rhythm. A Kerala speciality.
Boluses of warmed herbal powders applied to the body, with or without oil.
Breathing practices such as Nadi Shodhana (alternate-nostril breathing) and Bhramari (humming breath).
Warm oil massaged into the scalp, head, neck and shoulders.
A continuous stream of warm oil poured across the forehead while you lie still. Takradhara (buttermilk) and Ksheeradhara (milk) are variations.
Short, gentle exposure to morning sunlight, sometimes after an oil massage.
Short juice, soup or water fasts — only when the naturopath advises it, and always supervised.
A flowing sequence of twelve postures linked with the breath, traditionally practised facing the rising sun.
Herbal steam, in a steam box or over parts of the body, usually after oil massage.
Warm or cold compresses, dry or moist, applied to the body.
A variation of Shirodhara using medicated buttermilk instead of oil.
The classical application of medicinal leeches, performed only by a registered practitioner with strict hygiene.
A cooling herbal paste applied to the scalp and covered with leaves, then washed off.
A family of Siddha massage techniques — kneading, pressing, tapping and more.
A concentration practice: gazing steadily at a candle flame or a point, then with eyes closed.
A brisk, upward massage with dry herbal powders, often used in weight and metabolism programmes.
A Tamil pressure-point therapy, linked with traditional martial arts, practised by trained Siddha physicians.
Therapeutic purgation with herbal preparations, planned by the physician within Panchakarma.
A guided practice of deep, conscious relaxation, lying down, usually 20 to 45 minutes.
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Descriptions explain what happens in each therapy. They are not medical claims: a qualified practitioner decides what is suitable for you.
Official sources
Rules, registrations and visa terms change. Where this page and an official source differ, the official source applies.
