Materials required:

1. Leaves(chopped into pieces) – 1 kg
2. Grated coconut – 100g
3. Sliced lemon – 2
4. Cotton cloth (45 cm X 45cm): 4 pieces
5. Tags – 4
6. Vessels (for frying leaves and for heating pottalis) – 2
7. Oil-

• For frying leaves -100ml
• For heating pottalis – 250ml
• For abhyanga – 100 ml
• For talam – 10 ml

1. Rasnadi choorna – 5g
2. Towels – 2
3. Masseurs  -2
4. Attendant – 1
5. Saindhava -5-10 gms

Different medicinal powders can be added, if necessary.

Preparation of pottali:

The fresh leaves should be washed in water and chopped into small pieces. The leaves, grated coconut & sliced lemon should be mixed thoroughly and fried together in 100 ml of appropriate oil till coconut scrapings attain a brown tinge. It should be divided in to four equal parts and made into pottalis. (Average weight of a standard potali is 300-350 gm)

Pre operative measures:

The patient should be seated with leg extended over the droni facing to the East. Abhyanga should be performed with prescribed medicated oil all over the body for about 10 minutes. Talam with suitable oil / choorna should be applied.

Procedure:

The prepared pottali should be heated with suitable oil in a hot iron pan up to 42-46⁰ C. It should be applied after checking the temperature throughout the body with mild pressure in seven prescribed positions by two attendants standing on both sides of the droni. Care should be taken to maintain the temperature throughout the procedure by reheating the pottalis.

Post operative procedure:

Give Gandharvahasthadi kashayam after procedure. Wipe off the oil from the body using clean dry towel. Body is covered with thin blanket for 10-15minutes. Remove talam & apply Rasnadi choorna. Patient should be advised to take hot water bath after half an hour depending on disease.

Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Precautions:

1. Care should be taken to prevent charring while frying leaves and also while reheating the potalis.
2. Every time the therapist should ensure the temperature of the potali by placing it over their own dorsum of hand. Also enquire the patient whether the temperature is bearable.
3. If the patient feels any discomfort or attains good perspiration at any time during the treatment the therapy should be stopped.
4. Ideal time to perform the procedure is between 7 – 11 am & 3 – 6 pm.

Complications:

1. Burns
2. Fainting

Suitable measures should be taken.