Ayurvedic treatments
When you need relaxation backed by results
Ayurvedic treatments and massages in Sri Lanka
Our Ayurvedic treatments and massages in Sri Lanka are not simply relaxation rituals – they are the building blocks of the healing programs that our resident Ayurvedic doctor designs for you. We work with warm herbal oils, herbal steam, poultices of rice and herbs, and a stream of oil poured over the forehead. Treatments last 45 to 90 minutes and are performed by our Ayurvedic therapists at the resort in the hills above Kandy.
How it works: at your first consultation the doctor determines your constitution and, depending on the goal of your program, selects the treatments, oils and their sequence. The foundation is usually Abhyanga, a full-body oil massage often followed by herbal steam. Shirodhara is used to calm the mind and nervous system, while treatments such as Kativasthi for the lower back or Akshitarpana for tired eyes focus on specific concerns. Afterwards there is time to rest – you let the oil work and drink warm water or herbal tea.
All treatments are included in our Ayurvedic programs, together with accommodation, meals and doctor consultations. For each treatment below you will find how it works, who it is for and when we advise against it.
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Ayurvedic treatments FAQ
How our treatments work, who they are for and what to bring.
At Yasmin Hill, Shirodhara with head massage lasts 60 minutes, including 30–40 minutes of warm herbal oil flowing over the forehead. It is one of the treatments our doctor uses to build our Ayurvedic programs, and the program price (from USD 1,284 for 7 days) covers treatments, accommodation and meals. We do not publish a price for individual treatments – contact us and we will be happy to send it.
Prices vary widely depending on whether you book a single spa massage or a doctor-led program. At Yasmin Hill, Ayurvedic massages are primarily part of our programs: the 7-day Metabolic Kickstart, from USD 1,284, includes a daily full-body massage with herbal steam, plus accommodation, meals and doctor consultations (as of October 2026); a private airport transfer is available on request for a fee. For a single treatment, please ask us.
The most common Ayurvedic massage, Abhyanga, begins with a full-body massage using warm herbal oil that penetrates the tissues. An optional herbal powder scrub can follow. You then spend 15–20 minutes in a wooden herbal steam cabinet, with your head kept cool outside. Finally, you cool down slowly. The whole treatment takes 90 minutes. Afterwards, drink warm water and avoid cold showers for at least an hour.
Shirodhara is a treatment in which a thin, continuous stream of warm herbal oil flows over the centre of the forehead, after a head and neck massage. It is traditionally used to calm the mind – for stress, exhaustion, poor sleep or an overloaded head. It is not recommended with sinusitis, fever or flu, or straight after a heavy meal. Keep your head covered for at least two hours afterwards.
We postpone treatments during fever, acute inflammation or infection. Heat and steam treatments are not suitable with high blood pressure, heart disease, severe varicose veins or during pregnancy, and we skip Shirodhara with sinusitis. Our doctor decides at your first consultation, so please tell us about your diagnoses and medication in advance. Ayurveda can complement, but does not replace, treatment prescribed by your physician.
