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THALAPOTICHIL
“Thalapotichil” is a unique method of drug delivery which is widely practiced among the physicians, especially in Kerala. The word ‘Thalapotichil’ comes from the Malayalam vocabulary. Literally it means
* Thala :- means head
* Potichil :- to cover
Hence the word thalapotichil means to cover the head. It can be defined as the treatment procedure where the prepared medicine is in the form of a semisolid paste is applied over the head. It is a modified form of Sirolepa. Some scholars opined that it has the same quality as that of Takradhara. The procedure is recommended more in Children, Jatroordwa rogas and in manasika rogas.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:-
1- Prepared medicine paste -250gm .
2- Medicine for talam (if necessary) Rasnadi choornam + tailam – Q.S
3- Water – Q.S
4- Fresh Lotus or Plantain leaves
5- Vessel – Earthen pot – 1
- Other vessels-3
6- Towels – 3
7- Cotton plugs- 2
8- Gauze piece- 2
PREPARATION OF MEDICINE :-
The semisolid medicinal paste can be prepared in many ways
a- The drug including Amalaki etc. can be boiled in buttermilk and made in to paste.
b- The dry drugs boiled and socked in buttermilk over night and made in to a paste.
c- The drugs simple socked in buttermilk over night and made in to paste.
d- Drugs having Swaras (eg. Mandukaparni) need not be socked but can be directly made in to paste by its juice.
COMMONLY USED MEDICINES:-
a- Dried Amalaki mixed with Panchagandha choornam.
b- Mustha,Raja,Useera,Vamsalochana,Hreebera,Tamarind leaf veins.
c-Samja sthapana gan oushadhas.
d-In Kaphanubandha, Rasnadi choorna can be mixed.
e-Instead of using takra as a medium, we can use taila in khara paka, swarasa(fresh)Kwatham Navaneetam, Ksheeram,Ghrutam,Coconut water according to the clinical condition of the patient.
The semisolid paste should be coarse. It should be properly mixed.
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