Understanding Traditional Ayurvedic Products
Understanding Traditional Ayurvedic Products
There are two major schools of Ayurveda. We can call them the Northern Indian approach, which is more modern, and the Southern Indian approach, which is more traditional.
Each school uses different types of products and a different style of treatment. Understanding the difference helps you know what you are buying, how it is meant to be used, and why it works.
🌴 The Southern Indian Approach
दक्षिण · Traditional Kerala AyurvedaSouthern Ayurveda, centered in Kerala, is the more traditional and hands-on school. It is built around the process of Panchakarma and a wide range of classical preparations made from the ancient texts.
Panchakarma — The Five Actions
Panchakarma (पञ्चकर्म) means "five actions." It is a complete cleansing and rejuvenation process that removes accumulated doshas and toxins (ama) from the body, then rebuilds strength. It is done in three stages:
1. Purvakarmaपूर्वकर्म
Preparation. The body is oiled internally with medicated ghee and externally with Abhyanga (warm herbal oil massage), then Sveda (herbal steam) loosens the doshas and moves them toward the digestive tract for removal.
2. Pradhanakarmaप्रधानकर्म
The main cleansing. One or more of the five actions is chosen by the vaidya based on the patient's imbalance.
3. Paschatkarmaपश्चात्कर्म
Rebuilding. A gradual return to normal diet and routine, with rejuvenating herbs and products to restore strength and digestion.
The five main actions are:
Vamanaवमन
Therapeutic emesis, mainly for Kapha conditions.
Virechanaविरेचन
Therapeutic purgation, mainly for Pitta conditions.
Bastiबस्ति
Medicated enemas of herbal oils or decoctions, the primary treatment for Vata.
Nasyaनस्य
Herbal oils or preparations given through the nose for the head, sinuses, and senses.
Raktamokshanaरक्तमोक्षण
Purification of the blood, traditionally for certain skin and Pitta-blood conditions.
Kerala clinics are also known for special therapies such as Shirodhara (warm oil poured steadily over the forehead), Pizhichil (a full-body bath of warm medicated oil), and Kizhi (warm herbal or rice boluses applied to the body).
Southern Products
Southern Ayurveda combines several classical preparations, each made according to the ancient texts:
Thailamतैल
Herbal oils, cooked for hours with herbs and decoctions. Used for Abhyanga, Basti, Nasya, and Shirodhara.
Arishta & Asavaअरिष्ट
Herbal wines. Naturally fermented herbal preparations that are easy to digest, strengthen agni, and carry herbs deep into the tissues. They also keep for years.
Ghritaघृत
Herbal ghees. Ghee cooked with herbs carries their qualities into the deeper tissues and the mind. Also used for internal oleation before Panchakarma.
Kashayamकषाय
Decocted herbs, prepared to drink. Traditionally boiled down from whole herbs; today often supplied as a concentrated liquid to dilute with warm water.
Lehyamलेह
Herbal jams, cooked with jaggery, ghee, and honey. Rejuvenating formulas taken by the spoon.
The Southern Experience
In the South, it is best to go to the Ayurveda clinic and receive your treatment there. The treatment is hands-on: Abhyanga, Sveda, Basti (enema), Virechana, and other therapies. You can purchase the products in the South, but the treatment requires an Ayurvedic doctor (vaidya) and trained assistants to provide the Panchakarma. When the treatment is complete, you leave with your products to continue at home.
There are hundreds of these traditional products made by companies that are over a hundred years old, such as Arya Vaidya Sala Kottakkal and Vaidyaratnam. They make these products based on the ancient texts, following the classical recipes and methods.
🏔 The Northern Indian Approach
उत्तर · Modern Northern AyurvedaNorthern Ayurveda is the more modern approach. It relies mostly on powdered herbs and pills that the patient takes at home, and the visit is closer to a modern doctor's office.
Northern Products
Churnaचूर्ण
Powdered herbs. The main product of Northern Ayurveda. The patient prepares it at home, often as a decoction or mixed with an anupana.
Anupanaअनुपान
The carrier. A substance taken with the herbs to carry them into the body and direct their action, such as fruit juice, honey, milk, ghee, or warm water.
Bhasmaभस्म
Specially prepared metals and minerals, such as zinc, tin, gold, and silver (not heavy metals). They work as catalysts, making formulas more powerful.
About bhasmas: Bhasmas come from Rasa Shastra, the Ayurvedic science of minerals. The metal or mineral is purified and processed through repeated cleansing, grinding with herbs, and heating, until it becomes a very fine ash. Common examples include Swarna Bhasma (gold), Rajat Bhasma (silver), Yashad Bhasma (zinc), and Vanga Bhasma (tin).
The Northern Experience
In the North, you mostly go to see the doctor behind a desk. With a quick diagnosis using the pulse (Nadi Pariksha), skin, eyes, and questions, the doctor determines the doshic imbalance in each system (srotas) and which doshas are involved.
You are then given some diet guidelines and usually a lot of herbal products, mostly churnas, with instructions on when to take them, such as after meals twice a day or before bed. Oils, ghees, and other products may also be given. It is more like seeing a modern doctor.
🔷 What Both Systems Share
उभय · Common to BothVati & Gutikaवटी
Both systems use vati, herbs made into pills — not capsules. Pills are rolled from powdered herbs with herbal juices or decoctions, which is part of the classical preparation.
Herbal Teas
Some teas are used, but in minimal amounts, mostly combined with formulas and churnas rather than on their own.
North vs. South at a Glance
| 🌴 Southern | 🏔 Northern | |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Traditional, hands-on | More modern, consultation-based |
| Main treatment | Panchakarma at the clinic | Herbs taken at home |
| Main products | Thailam, Arishta, Ghrita, Kashayam | Churna, Bhasma, Vati |
| The visit | Vaidya and assistants perform therapies | Doctor behind a desk; pulse, skin, eyes, questions |
| You leave with | Products to continue after treatment | Diet guidelines and herbal formulas with instructions |
| Shared | Vati (herbal pills, not capsules) and a small use of herbal teas | |
