Karkidakam, the Malayalam month that falls between Mid-July and Mid-August is known, not only
for the unending downpours but also for being the month of effective Ayurvedic treatments and
therapeutic health care regimens, as the body is considered highly receptive to Ayurveda treatments
during this period. Ayurveda therapies undergone helps an individual to go through the rest of the
year by having a rejuvenated and strengthened body & mind. The therapies during this season not
only neutralizes many diseases caused by the change in climatic conditions, but also helps in
avoiding health problems that spring from the modern way of life and faulty eating habits. Ayurvedic
oil therapies, those prescribed under the Panchakarma treatment and a therapeutic Ayurveda diet
are recommended during this season for cleansing the body system.
Karkidaka kanji (the medicinal porridge) is one of the special therapeutic Ayurvedic diets that is
prescribed during the Karkidakam season to overcome many diseases caused during the monsoon
and to improve the immunity of one’s body. The gruel not only cleans the body from the inside but
also aids in good digestion. It is also very effective for improving immunity if taken in a proper
manner.
It is recommended that one should have this ‘medicinal porridge’ continuously for 7 days or
multiplies of the week like 2 weeks (14 days), 3 weeks (21 days) etc. for optimum result.
Health Benefits
1. Good for diabetes
2. Reduces cholesterol
3. Good for arthritis
4. Aids digestion
5. Removes toxins from the body
6. Improves Immunity
7. Provides energy
Recipe
Ancient scriptures available does not suggest a strict guideline on the recipe of Karkidaka kanji,
depending on the health condition of an individual, other Ayurvedic ingredients like Drumstick
leaves, green-gram, Boerhavia etc. can be added to the basic recipe given below.
Ingredients
• 100gm Njavara rice
• 25gm fenugreek seeds
• 5gm dried ginger powder
• 5gm crushed pepper
• 5gm Jeera
• 5gm turmeric powder
• 5gm garlic
• 5gm carom seeds
• ¼ cup coconut milk
Preparation
1. Wash the rice and boil it in 1 litre water.
2. Add fenugreek seeds and continue boiling.
3. Once boiled, pour in the coconut milk, wait till it starts to boil again, and immediately take off the
flame.
4. Add the rest of the spices, mix-well and keep covered for a while.
5. Serve hot.
For Diabetics – Add Uluva and Cherupayar (Green-gram) to the above recipe.
For Hypertensive Patients – Add Thazuthamma (Boerhavia) and Muringila (Drumstick leaves)
to the above recipe.
For Asthma Patients – Add Putharichunda (Solanum trilobatum), Jirakam (Jeera), Kurunthotti
(Country Mallow), Chukku to the above recipe.
For Hyperlipidaemia Patients – Add Thazuthamma (Boerhavia), Curry leaves, Muthira (Horse
gram), Uluva to the above recipe.
For Patients with Renal Complaints – Add Thazuthamma (Boerhavia) to the above recipe.