Ayurveda and panchakarma in Kerala
Ayurveda in Kerala. Planned around your stay.
MedPanda helps people from the UK and Kenya plan a panchakarma stay at a hospital Ayurveda centre in Kerala. We help with the e-Ayush visa, travel and your stay, and keep your records together for your doctor at home.
*No obligations. Truly free.
Plan a panchakarma stay in Kerala from about £700 for 14 days
An indicative 14-day programme (about US$930) usually includes treatments, doctor consultations, your room and meals. Medicines to take home are often charged separately.
Explore MedPanda Ayurveda Care
PANCHAKARMA PROGRAMME
"Panchakarma" means "five actions": a set of traditional Ayurvedic procedures done over a planned stay, with oil treatments, a set diet and rest. Not everyone has every procedure: the Ayurveda doctor decides after seeing you.
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A stay has three stages: preparation, the main procedures on set days, then recovery with a planned diet that starts with very light food.
Few well-designed studies have looked at Ayurveda, so we describe panchakarma as a traditional practice, not as a treatment for any illness.
OIL MASSAGE AND STEAM (ABHYANGA AND SWEDANA)
The preparation stage often lasts three to seven days, with daily oil massage, sometimes with oil poured over the body or head, and steam or sweating treatment, often in a wooden steam box or with warm herbal bundles.
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VAMANA AND VIRECHANA
Vomiting (vamana) or purging (virechana) brought on with medicines, under supervision. Vamana usually takes two to three hours.
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BASTI
An enema made from a herbal decoction (niruha basti) or with medicated oil (anuvasana basti).
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POSTNATAL CARE PROGRAMME
Many Kerala families follow a traditional routine in the weeks after birth, called sutika paricharya: rest, warm oil massage, warm baths and a diet that starts light. We describe it as a cultural tradition, not a health treatment.
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Medical Trust Hospital, Kochi lists a 7-day or 14-day postnatal programme. Keep your postnatal check 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, and your baby's check, or book them for when you get home.
Your baby needs their own passport and their own e-Visa. Ask your own doctor or midwife when it is safe for you to fly after giving birth.
How MedPanda helps
- Free consultationSend us your scans and doctors' reports. We talk you through your options at no cost and with no obligation.
- Your written plan and quote, explainedWith your consent, the Ayurveda doctors at our partner hospital centre review your health details and send a written plan and quote. We set it out clearly for you: the Ayurveda doctor, each stage of treatment, what the price includes and the facilities, so you know exactly what you are paying for.
- Visa, travel and stayWe help with the hospital letter for your visa, flights, airport pick-up and a place to stay nearby.
- Aftercare at homeYour reports are kept in your Lifetime Health Passport, and we stay in touch once you are home.
Cost
Panchakarma cost in Kerala
An indicative starting price for a hospital-based programme in Kerala. There is no like-for-like UK price, so we do not show a saving.
| Programme | India price (from) | Usually included |
|---|---|---|
| 14-day panchakarma programme | £700 US$930 (approx.) | Treatments, doctor consultations, room and meals |
Indicative starting price from publicly available price guides, October 2026. The centre sets your final price after reviewing your health details. Medicines to take home, flights, visas and insurance are extra.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does panchakarma take?
Kerala's tourism department says panchakarma is usually done over 21 days, adjusted to the person, and some stays are shorter or last months. Plan for at least two to three weeks in Kerala, plus travel days. A typical day includes a check with the Ayurveda doctor, one or two treatment sessions, simple meals and plenty of rest.
Should I talk to my doctor before panchakarma?
Yes, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have kidney or liver problems, or take prescribed medicines. Never stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor. Some Ayurvedic preparations have been found to contain lead, mercury or arsenic, so ask the centre for a written list of everything you are given, and tell every health professional who treats you.
Is panchakarma available on the NHS?
No. The NHS says herbal medicines and complementary therapies are not tested in the same way as standard medicines, and they are not available on the NHS.
Which visa do I need for Ayurveda treatment, including from Kenya?
India's e-Visa site lists the e-Medical visa for e-Ayush purpose, and a family member can come on an e-Ayush Attendant visa. UK and Kenyan passport holders apply online. You need a letter from the hospital on its letterhead with your admission date, and the e-Tourist visa does not cover treatment. India asks travellers arriving from Kenya for an original yellow fever certificate. See our Indian medical visa guide.
Can I bring Ayurvedic medicines home?
Check with your GP or pharmacist before you bring products home or buy remedies online, and keep the centre's written list of what each one contains.
Which Ayurveda centre does MedPanda work with?
Medical Trust Hospital in Kochi has an Ayurveda centre that lists panchakarma treatments. Before you choose any centre, ask whether it is accredited by NABH or registered with a government body.
Partner hospital with an Ayurveda centre
- Medical Trust Hospital, Kochi
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We respect your privacy. We don’t spam, your information is kept confidential and shared only with your consent.Checked by Dr Sreeraj K.V (MBBS, DNB), Reg. No. 93547, on 21 October 2026.
MedPanda is a care-coordination service. We don't diagnose or give medical advice. Your treating doctor decides what treatment, if any, is right for you.
Sources
- NCCIH (US National Institutes of Health): Ayurvedic medicine, in depth. nccih.nih.gov
- NHS: Herbal medicines and complementary therapies. nhs.uk
- National Institute of Ayurveda (Ministry of Ayush): Department of Panchakarma. nia.nic.in
- Kerala Tourism: Panchakarma therapy (June 2023). keralatourism.org
- Press Information Bureau, Government of India: Ayush visa (10 December 2024). pib.gov.in
- NHS: Your 6-week postnatal check. nhs.uk
- Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, Jamnagar: Sutika Paricharya.
- India price: indicative starting price from publicly available price guides, October 2026. Final prices are set by the centre.
- Government of India: e-Visa and e-Medical visa. indianvisaonline.gov.in
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India: advisory for travellers from yellow fever countries. mohfw.gov.in
- High Commission of India, Nairobi. hcinairobi.gov.in
