Tropicana Jul-Aug 2018 #119 Hot Stuff

HEALTH | A WORLD OF WELLNESS
Keralan Pizhichil
Kerala is well known for its
holistic Ayurvedic practises.
Originating from the South
Indian state, Pizhichil,
sometimes referred as
Sarvangadhara, is a full body
massage treatment that uses
warmed-up herbal medicated
oil in a synchronised massage
administered by two to four
trained therapists. The head is
avoided but hands and cotton
cloths are used to rub in the
oils and stimulate the skin.
Historically enjoyed by royalty
and other upper echelons of
Keralan society, those who have
undergone this rejuvenating
massage have claimed to benefit
from improved muscle tone
and nourished nerve tissues,
and gained relief from digestive
disorders, depression, stress,
and even skin infections. Best
experienced on a regular basis,
Pizhichil is also supposed
to improve sleep patterns,
something we could all do with
more of.
Javanese Lulur
Ever heard of a body scrub
containing turmeric, pandan
leaves, yoghurt and rice
powder? Other than being used
in cooking, these ingredients
are the main elements in
traditional Javanese Lulur.
A practice that originated in
the royal palaces of Central
Java, lulur is the practice of
body exfoliation using paste
that is applied to the skin like
a masque, left to dry and then
vigorously rubbed off like a
scrub. Traditionally practised
by brides-to-be in the palace as
a pre-wedding ritual that takes
place over 40 consecutive days,
lulur is meant to leave the skin
refreshed and reinvigorated.
Each of the ingredients plays a
part – tumeric as an age-defying
antioxidant, rice powder as a
scrub, and yoghurt as a light
acid peel. Used together, the
practise removes dead skin to
reveal soft glowing skin below.
TM | JULY/AUGUST 2018 82