Varmam struggles to make a mark

While ayurveda has gained immense popularity as a branch of healing method, there exists another proven branch of alternative medicine that cries for attention.

Varmam is a branch of alternative medicine that centres around the way heat is released from the body.

According to Narayanankutty Menon, a Varmam practitioner, "this long-forgotten branch of medicine views the human body through the heat it generates. When dressing patterns prevent even distribution of heat in our body, the sudden cooling and overheating lead to various disorders and diseases."

Talking to Business Standard on the sidelines of a lecture demonstration organised for software professionals at the Centre for Development of Advance Computing (CDAC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Menon, who is also chairman of the Thrissur-based Amma Traditional Health Trust, says, "Most of the lifestyle diseases have their origin in the way one dresses, sits, walks or takes a bath. For instance, case studies have proved that ailments ranging from migraine to heart failures could be kept at bay if one alters the manner in which he takes bath."

The modern day way of dressing is itself a reason for many an ailment. Says Menon, "Covering the entire body with clothes and leaving no space whatsoever for sweat to vapourise results in heat being transmitted to the head, which serves as the central processing unit of the human body. The heat generated by the body is thereby unevenly transmitted, leading to lifestyle diseases."

A study on the manner in which people take bath itself is a fine example in explaining the Varmam healing method.

"In the days of yore, people used to go to ponds or rivers for bathing. And the part of the human body that used to get wet first was the feet and then upwards. Now a days, however, the bathroom is the preferred place. Here, one pours water first on the shoulders or on the head. This in turn leads to condensation of water inside the body resulting in accumulation of waste inside," he says

When water is poured on the body, a difference in temperature occurs inside the body and than outside. This leads to generation of condensed water particles just like those we see on the inside surface of a kettle lid when water is boiled. Such a mode of taking bath has proved to be the reason for many an ailment like spondylitis, spinal cord disorders, asthma and even tuberculosis, he explains.

"If you're a right-hander pouring water first on the left shoulder, you're increasing your chances of a heart attack. The best and natural way is to start your bath from feet and proceed upwards," Menon suggests.

L L Pankajakshan, director of Shantigram Holistic Health Care and Research Centre, agrees, "The Varmam branch of alternative healing believes in prevention and is against all medicines."

Varmam is today a subject in Siddha colleges in Tamil Nadu. Unique in clarity of healing techniques and prevention of ailments, Varmam might get its due recognition soon, practitioners hope.