Ayurvedic Detox & De-Addiction Retreat in Kerala, India

Mekosha runs this as a combined detoxification and rehabilitation package, which means the Ayurvedic cleansing and the addiction support happen together rather than as two separate things. On the first day you sit down with the resident doctor for a full assessment. He asks about your lifestyle, diet, personal and professional situation, medical history and current problems, then determines your constitution, the balance of your doshas, the state of your tissues (dhatus), your digestive fire (agni), immunity (ojas) and mental state (sattva). That assessment decides everything that follows.

The bodywork is prescribed from that diagnosis. Typical therapies include herbal oil massages, Dhara (including Shirodhara), Njavarakizhi, Thailam and herbal steam baths, with the specific herbs and oils chosen to pacify whichever dosha is out of balance — excess vata, for example, calls for a sesame oil massage. Internal medicines are given at the same time to support the detoxification from the inside. Once you are stabilised, you go through Panchakarma, the full cleansing process.

Food is treated as part of the treatment rather than an amenity. Meals follow eight principles the clinic sets out: regional and seasonal ingredients rather than imported ones, heavier food in winter and lighter food in summer, lunch as the main meal, organic produce with nothing processed, no incompatible combinations (ghee with honey, for instance), sensible portions, cooked rather than raw food, and eating in a designated dining area without rushing. The tri-doshic diet is designed to reduce cravings and dependency. You can ask the chef to teach you recipes before you leave.

Yoga here is taught alongside the medical treatment, not as a separate activity. Classes cover pranayama (breath control), asanas for circulation and flexibility, and savasana for relaxation between and at the end of sessions. The teaching follows Ayurvedic principles, so what you are given depends on your constitution. Sessions are combined with meditation, relaxation techniques, nature walks, prayer sessions and visits to local temples — the clinic's stated aim being to make sattva (clarity and harmony) the dominant state of mind.

The property itself is laid out to support this. There are open walkways and quiet corners where you can sit alone, and staff are described as being closely involved with guests throughout. The minimum recommended stay is 14 nights, longer if needed. It is not a quick fix and it is not pitched as one.

What's included

- Minimum 14 nights residential stay at Mekosha - Initial Ayurvedic diagnosis with the resident doctor (constitution, doshas, dhatus, agni, ojas, sattva) - Individually prescribed treatment plan - Herbal oil massages - Dhara / Shirodhara therapy - Njavarakizhi therapy - Thailam applications - Herbal steam baths - Internal herbal medicines - Panchakarma detoxification process - Daily yoga therapy (pranayama, asanas, savasana) - Meditation and relaxation sessions - Tri-doshic Ayurvedic meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Nature walks - Prayer sessions - Organised temple visits and temple ceremonies - Substitution of chemical household and personal care products with natural alternatives

What's not included

- Travel to and from Mekosha - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Medical consultations or withdrawal medication outside the Ayurvedic programme - Any treatment, therapy or extension not prescribed in your individual plan - Optional extras requested during your stay