Elakizhi for Athletes: Reducing Muscle Stiffness and Enhancing Performance

Posted on November 23, 2023
Elakizhi for Athletes: Reducing Muscle Stiffness and Enhancing Performance

Athletes often face the challenge of muscle soreness and restricted movement due to intense training. Elakizhi, a therapeutic treatment using herbal poultices, offers a natural solution for you. This ancient practice involves wrapping heated herbal bundles over the body, promoting blood circulation and easing muscle tension. In this blog, ‘Elakizhi for Athletes: Reducing Muscle Stiffness and Enhancing Performance’ we will discuss how it reduces stiffness and enhances flexibility, and athletes experience faster recovery and heightened performance.

So continue reading the blog to understand how Elakizhi treatment can be a game-changer for athletes seeking holistic ways to optimize their physical well-being and athletic abilities.

What is Elakizhi?

Elakizhi is an Ayurvedic treatment that includes a sweat-inducing method. Elakizhi is one best ayurvedic therapies for persons suffering from back pain, muscular pains & aches, and muscle spasms. This Ayurvedic Potli massage is extremely useful for athletes and can bring significant comfort to chronic sufferers.

This massage is also one of the Ayurvedic treatments advised for lower back pain, sciatica, and other problems. The process includes frying herbal leaves with medicated oil and the rest of the ingredients tied in a pot. Then it is dipped into a hot medicated oil and applied slowly all over the body or the affected areas.

How Elakizhi Helps with Athletic Performance

Elakizhi can do wonders for athletes and we’ve listed some of the ways the ayurvedic treatment helps athletes.

Muscle Relaxation

After intense workouts or sports activities, muscles can get tight and sore. Elakizhi's warm herbal bundles gently ease this tension, relaxing muscles and reducing stiffness, allowing athletes to move more freely.

Faster Recovery

Athletes often deal with muscle strains or fatigue. Elakizhi's natural herbs, when applied, can speed up the recovery process, helping athletes bounce back quicker after rigorous training. 

Pain Relief

Joint pains and muscle aches can negatively affect people, especially athletes. It affects their performance as well. Elakizhi's herbal treatment offers natural pain relief, soothing these aches without relying heavily on medications.

Enhanced Flexibility

Flexibility is quite essential for athletes. Regular Elakizhi sessions can boost flexibility, enabling athletes to achieve better movement and agility, which are crucial for excelling in sports.

Injury Assistance

Bouncing back from an injury is very important for every athlete and for this, elakizhi can be extremely beneficial. It promotes blood flow to the injured areas, aiding in the healing process and reducing swelling.

The Process of Elakizhi Treatment

  • The therapy begins with the selection of medicinal herbs, usually fresh leaves of various plants like Nirgundi, Vasa, and others. These herbs are collected, dried, and finely ground into a poultice mixture.

  • The herbal mixture is then tied into cloth bags, often shaped like small bags or bundles. These bundles are heated in herbal oils to a specific temperature.

  • The therapist massages the affected areas with warm herbal oils to open up the skin pores, enhancing the absorption of medicinal properties. Then, the heated herbal bundles are gently pressed onto the body.

  • The warmth from these herbal bundles helps to sweat and allows the medicinal properties of the herbs to penetrate deeply into the body tissues. The therapist continues to apply these bundles to different parts of the body, focusing on the areas with pain or stiffness.

  • The process typically lasts around 30 to 45 minutes, during which the therapist makes sure the right amount of pressure and heat is applied for maximum benefit.

  • After the therapy, the body may continue to sweat for a while. It's advisable to rest for some time and avoid immediate exposure to cold temperatures or drafts.

Ingredients used for Elakizhi massage

Aside from medicated oils, ayurvedic plant leaves are also used in the massage of lower back pain and many other conditions by the experts at Dr Jasna’s, the Best ayurvedic clinic in Dubai. The trained practitioner will be selecting the leaves for Dosha imbalance. They include : 

  • Eranda (castor plant) leaves

  • Arka leaves (Calotropis procera)

  • Nirgundi (Chaste tree) leaves

  • Tamarind leaves

  • Turmeric powder

  • Fenugreek

  • Rock salt

  • Castor oil

  • Lemon

  • Coconut scraping

Benefits of Elakizhi

Improves blood circulation - Elakizhi boosts blood flow, ensuring that oxygen and nutrients reach different body parts. This helps in better healing, vitality, and overall wellness by improving the body's circulation system.

Improves skin complexion - The treatment's herbal elements and improved blood circulation contribute to a healthier skin tone. Elakizhi can help remove toxins, giving the skin a radiant glow and reducing issues like dullness or uneven skin tone.

Increases muscle strength- Regular sessions of Elakizhi aid in relaxing muscles and reducing stiffness. This relaxation, combined with improved blood circulation, can gradually enhance muscle strength, making movements more effortless and reducing the risk of muscle-related injuries.

Relieves body pain and stiffness -The warm herbal bundles used in Elakizhi penetrate deep into the body, soothing muscles and joints. This natural therapy helps ease body pain, reducing stiffness, and promoting a more relaxed feeling throughout the body.

Anti-aging and rejuvenating - Elakizhi's revitalizing effects help in reducing the signs of aging. It promotes relaxation, improves blood circulation, and rejuvenates the body, it contributes to a more youthful appearance and vitality, offering a sense of renewal and freshness.

In conclusion, Elakizhi the ancient Ayurvedic therapy, offers a natural remedy for athletes and individuals seeking pain relief, improved flexibility, and enhanced performance. Its warm herbal bundles relax muscles, reduce stiffness, and promote overall well-being. With its numerous benefits, Elakizhi stands as a valuable holistic approach to wellness.