Every treatment starts with a doctor’s assessment. Your doctor chooses the treatments that suit your condition, so you don’t need to pick one yourself. This page shows what each treatment involves and how long one session takes.
Back, joints and feet
Warm oil and herbal heat, applied where you feel pain or stiffness: the back, neck, knees, other joints and feet.
Upper back & shoulder care
Warm herbal oil massage worked into the upper back and shoulders to loosen tight, knotted muscles.Often chosen for: neck and back stiffness after long desk hours
Lower back care
Warm herbal oil massage for the lower back, easing stiffness from long hours of sitting or driving.Often chosen for: a lower back ache that keeps coming back
Kati Vasti
Warm medicated oil held over the lower back inside a ring of dough, for deeper warmth than massage alone.Often chosen for: a tight, stiff lower back after long hours
Janu Vasti
Warm medicated oil held over the knee joint inside a ring of dough, so the warmth stays where the knee needs it.Often chosen for: stiff, aching knees
Knee & joint care
Warm herbal oil massage focused on one painful joint, such as the knee.Often chosen for: a single stiff or aching joint
Tired feet relief
Warm oil foot massage to soothe aching heels, ease tight muscles and support healthy circulation.Often chosen for: sore, burning feet after a long day standing
Also in this group
- Greeva Vasti 30–45 minWarm oil held over the neck, for neck stiffness and discomfort.
- Focused Abhyanga, other areas 15–30 minOil massage for the neck, arm, hand, abdomen or another single area.
- Pattu (Lepa Chikitsa) 20–40 minWarm herbal paste applied over an affected joint or muscle to ease pain and swelling.
- Thaila Pichu 20–30 minA cotton pad soaked in medicated oil, placed over an affected joint or muscle.
- Pottali Sweda 15–30 minWarm herbal-powder poultices, oiled or dry, for stiffness in one area.
- Nadi Sweda 10–15 minWarm herbal-decoction steam directed at one area.
- Valuka Sweda 10 minHeat applied with heated sand and rock salt in cloth bundles.
Head, mind and sleep
Calming treatments for the head and scalp, often chosen for stress, tension headaches and poor sleep.
Head & stress care
Warm oil head and scalp massage to ease work pressure and tension headaches, and help you sleep better.Often chosen for: a heavy, overloaded head
Shirodhara
A continuous, gentle stream of warm oil poured over the forehead, traditionally used to calm the mind.Often chosen for: a racing mind that can’t switch off
Ksheeradhara
A stream of warm medicated milk, a softer variant of Shirodhara.Often chosen for: deep calm with an even gentler touch
Shiro Vasti
Warm medicated oil held on the head inside a fitted cap, for head and scalp concerns.Often chosen for: a heavy head and a tense scalp
Thalapodichil
A cooling herbal paste applied over the scalp after a light oil application.Often chosen for: a hot, tense scalp and a busy mind
Also in this group
- Takra Dhara 45–60 minThe same gentle stream using medicated buttermilk, often for scalp and skin comfort.
- Kashaya Dhara 45–60 minThe same gentle stream using a warm herbal decoction.
Eyes, ears, nose and mouth
Short classical treatments for the senses.
Akshi Tharpana
Warm medicated ghee gently held around the eyes inside a ring of dough, to soothe strain and dryness.Often chosen for: tired, dry eyes after long hours on screens
Karna Purana
Warm medicated oil dropped into the ear and held there briefly. A short, traditional treatment.Often chosen for: regular care for the ears
Nasya Karma
Medicated oil given through the nose after a face massage and steam. A classical treatment for the head and sinuses.Often chosen for: a heavy head and sinus discomfort
Also in this group
- Mukha Abhyanga 15–20 minGentle oil massage for the face.
- Kavala / Gandusha 10–15 minHolding warm medicated oil or a herbal decoction in the mouth, a traditional oral-care practice.
Whole-body treatments
Full-body treatments using warm oil, herbal poultices or herbal powder.
Pizhichil
Two therapists pour warm medicated oil over the whole body in a steady rhythm while they massage.Often chosen for: deep relaxation when the whole body feels tense
Patra Pinda Sweda
Warm poultices of herbal leaves massaged over the oiled body to ease stiffness.Often chosen for: waking up stiff and heavy
Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda
Warm boluses of rice cooked in medicated milk, massaged over the body to nourish and comfort muscles and nerves.Often chosen for: tired muscles that need more than rest
Udvartana
A brisk massage with dry herbal powder that supports circulation and leaves the skin feeling firmer.Often chosen for: a sluggish body and dull-looking skin
Also in this group
- Sarvanga Abhyanga 45–60 minFull-body warm oil massage, our foundational treatment for relaxation and for muscle and joint tension.
- Sarvanga Abhyanga, synchronised 45–60 minThe same massage given by two therapists in mirrored rhythm.
- Marma Abhyanga 30–45 minGentle oil massage over specific vital-point areas of the body.
- Bashpa Swedana 15–20 minFull-body herbal steam after an oil application.
Classical cleansing (Panchakarma)
The more involved classical procedures. Your doctor prescribes and doses each one individually, usually as part of a wider care plan. Nasya Karma, also a Panchakarma treatment, is listed under eyes, ears and nose.
- Matra Vasti 30–45 minA small, gentle oil-retention enema, usually part of a broader care plan.
- Anuvasana Vasti 30–45 minA standard therapeutic oil-retention enema, a core Panchakarma treatment.
- Niruha Vasti 45–60 minA larger, decoction-based retention enema for deeper internal cleansing.
- Rakthamokshana 30–60 minControlled therapeutic bloodletting, done only when the doctor specifically indicates it.
- Vamana & Virechana Several daysA supervised internal cleansing programme over several days, planned and dosed individually.
Also available
- Acupuncture By appointmentTraditional acupuncture, offered alongside Ayurvedic care where appropriate.
- Therapeutic Yoga By appointmentGuided yoga sessions. AyuLantra is an outpatient clinic, so sessions are by appointment, not a residential stay.
Your safety comes first
- Ayurvedic care is provided only after assessing its suitability and safety in relation to your health condition, existing illnesses and current medications.
- These services are not a substitute for emergency medical care, surgery, or prescribed medicines.
- Where emergency or specialist medical care is required, we refer patients to an appropriate specialist or hospital service.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
That is what the assessment is for. Tell us what you are experiencing and we will tell you honestly whether Ayurvedic care is appropriate, and refer you on if it is not. How long a course takes varies by condition and from one patient to the next.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9.00am–1.00pm and 4.00pm–9.00pm. Closed Mondays. By appointment, at the clinic in Anuradhapura or online.