Malayali befalls into a rejuvenation mode during ‘Karkidakam’, the last month of the Malayalam calendar. Religiously following the set Ayurveda routines prescribed by his family traditions, he prepares himself to face the New Year’s arrival.
Dwarfing the fat and meat of regular meals comes ‘karkidaka kanji’, a recuperative gruel made with ‘njavara’ rice and 24 medicinal herbs. But is ‘karkidaka kanji’ as therapeutic as commonly perceived? Is ‘Karkidakam’ the right month to undergo Ayurvedic treatments? City Express asks a few experts.
Dr Subash, a professor at Ayurveda College here, says: “When agriculture was the major occupation of Malayalis, they chose Karkidakam for their needed rest due to the unending rains. During Kumbham and Meenam they had to fight with diseases due to scorching heat, so in Karkidakam they revamped and prepared for the next year. Nevertheless, Karkidakam being a Malayali month, this has not much to do with Ayurveda. It is always better to undergo treatment when you are suffering from a disease rather than waiting till Karkidakam.”
Today, when Kerala has welcomed Karkidakam with all the age-old traditions, especially karkidaka kanji, the experts say that the Kanji mix available in the markets may not be the best for consumption.
“The so called ‘karkidaka kanji’ mixes available in the market may not be authentic. The business men have taken up Ayurveda in their hands and made it a thriving business. Karkidakam was just a time to repose for the hardworking farmers in the early days, so they did their treatments during this time, otherwise as generally perceived, Ayurveda and Karkidakam have nothing to do with each other. Even if you don’t consume karkidaka kanji during this time, nothing is going to go wrong,” says Dr Stanley Jones, Siddha Hospital.
According to Subash, there are many types of gruels in Ayurveda each doled out for a particular disease. When karkidaka kanji might heal those who are suffering from arthritis; there are possibilities of it being harmful to those who are suffering from other diseases. “I would say one should always consume a particular medicine after consulting with a physician. Self-medication, even if it is with a universally accepted medicine, will not do you much good if you don’t know what you are doing,” says Subash.
Consuming karkidaka kanji during Karkidakam has even become a fad as the mixes are available in various packets and quantities in the markets. Nonetheless, not many are aware of its negative consequences.
“I don’t think karkidaka kanji mixes available in the markets are of superior quality, but you do not require a prescription for consuming this gruel. As far as I know it only has healing prowess because of the various medicinal herbs included in it, however one cannot say whether these mixes are authentic. One can always make this medicinal gruel at home with easily available herbs like dry ginger, cardamom, coconut milk and many others,” says Dr Lakshmi Vijay, an Ayurveda practitioner.
Ayurveda practitioners advise ‘Rithu Charya’ (seasonal treatment) for its devotees. In ancient Ayurveda scriptures like Ashtang Hrudaya and Susrutha Samhitha, pertaining to each season, a list of diseases and its cures have been named. Hence, if you are a follower of Ayurveda, instead of practising a set of processes during Karkidakam, you can make it a lifestyle by ritually indulging in Rithu charya.
“Just imagine you have had karkidaka kanji all through Karkidakam but once the month ends continue living the way you used to with alcohol and cigarettes, what would be the effect? Most of our health problems arise from our food habits. Look at animals, their problems are far less than us humans. Now the domestic animals are facing more health troubles than the stray ones due to the food we give them,” says Dr Stanley.
Experts vouch for a healthy lifestyle all through one’s life than dedicating a month for the same.
