The return of an old Indian massage used in Ayurveda: how to have a DIY potli massage using poultice bags

The potli massage using herbal poultice bags has been popular in India for centuries. Ayurvedic practitioners use it for rashes, arthritis and inflammation

With the closure of spas and Ayurveda centres in the wake of the pandemic, potlis have been all the rage in Indian households once again as a DIY therapy

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With the closure of spas and Ayurveda centres in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, potlis (poultice bags filled with herbs) have been all the rage in Indian households once again as a do-it-yourself therapy. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Published: 5:15pm, 12 Jan 2021Updated: 5:17pm, 12 Jan 2021

As a teenager, I remember looking forward to a Sunday ritual my grandmother indulged me in – a potli (poultice bag) massage. After six days of school, homework and exhausting extracurricular activities, Granny’s rejuvenating rubdown with warm oils and a velvety potli was a welcome treat.

The potli or kizhi massage, an ancient type of rub involving poultice bags and used in traditional Indian medicine, or Ayurveda, has been popular in India for centuries for relaxation and rejuvenation. Ayurvedic practitioners and therapists use it to address a raft of ailments – including skin rashes, arthritis, inflammation – and as a weight-loss aid.

With the closure of spas and Ayurveda centres in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, potlis have been all the rage in Indian households once again as a do-it-yourself therapy. They are providing succour to harried housewives juggling endless chores without hired help, busy professionals working long hours from home, and to those plagued by niggling aches and pains who won’t visit hospitals for fear of catching the virus.

These treatments are also popular in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia, Laos and Thailand. They are simple enough that just about anyone, anywhere can make a poultice bag for DIY stress relief in these testing times.

The potli or kizhi massage is an ancient type of rub used in traditional Indian medicine, or Ayurveda. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

“Potlis are easy to make, leverage easily available, kitchen-sourced ingredients, and are cheap and effective. What’s not to love?” asks Neha Ahuja, the founder of Kaashi Wellness, a wellness consultancy in the north Indian city of Varanasi.