NAVARA

NAVARA - The Magical Rice of Kerala

Herbal healers quote Navara as “gold having aroma” and a paddy readily marketable at any season. Therefore it is being conserved largely as a homestead level crop with great sanctity and care. It is known as Shashtikam, Shashtikasali or Snighdathandulam in Ayurveda. Shashtikam denotes sixty days and this peculiar rice variety has a life cycle of sixty days. In Ashtangdridaya, Navara is quoted as the best among the Vrihi (grains having red kernel) grains. Navara with its Brihmana (nourishing) quality helps to increase the growth of muscles and stimulates nerve endings.

Experience the Healing Touch of Navara!

Kerala is the cradle of Ayurveda and traditional system of medicine and Navara is widely used in the traditionally much acclaimed herbal therapeutic systems since the time of Susruta, the ancient healer. Navara is renowned for its medicinal importance and popularly known in Ayurveda treatments.

Navara is widely used for internal consumption as an efficient health food as well as for external application under Panchakarma treatment. Ayurveda Physicians use Navara for a wide range of ailments including rheumatism, arthritis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, blood pressure and also for the relaxation and rejuvenation of weak muscles in aged.
Navarakizhi
It is the most popular treatment of Navara, widely used in Panchakarma chikitsa of Ayurveda. Navarakizhi is a kind of Pinda sweda – a warm sweating treatment- in which the body is gently massaged with a linen bag containing Navara grains cooked in milk and a herbal decoction of Bala (Sida rhombi folia) after through application of medicated oil all over the body. This treatment is very effective in muscle wasting, nerve weakness, rheumatic ailments and reinvigorating the body.
Navaratheppu
Navara rice cooked in milk and herbal decoction is applied as a paste on the body of the patients for a period of one or two hours. This treatment is used for patients who are weak and are not able to be exposed to Navarakizhi. It is highly recommended against tuberculosis.
Shashtika tailam
It is an oil prepared from Navara bran and is used in nervous diseases, body aches, numbness, spondylitis, and wasted muscles due to polio myletis, myopathies and motor neuron diseases.

Suitable alternative Rice for Health for all

Navara is widely used at household level for a broad range of health concerns.
• A cure for hemorrhoids
• A cure for urinary complaints
• A cure for stomach ulcer
• A cure for polio
• A muscle builder
• An aphrodisiac

According to traditional beliefs and experiences Navara rice is very nutritious, balanced and safe diet for people of all ages and is considered as a natural energizer.

Marunnukanjhi
It is a rice gruel made of made of Navara along with few spices like fenugreek and medicinal herbs such a mukkutti, kadaladi, karuka, vishukranti, uzhinja, and nilappana and is considered as the best dish to prevent various diseases during the monsoon season. Navara rice is also recommended as a safe food for diabetic patients.