SWEDANA

Swedana also called sudation or fomentation therapy is the process of production of sweat or perspiration in the body through various methods. It is one of the major preparatory procedures of the Panchakarma therapy to open up the channels of the body to eliminate toxins effectively. The therapy is considered to relieve stiffness and heaviness in the body by inducing sweating. It is also recommended as the best treatment for diseases characterized by vitiation of vata and kapha doshas.

Benefits

• Corrects imbalances of vata dosha
• Reduces the stiffness and improves the flexibility of body parts
• Increases digestion as well as metabolism
• Nourishes and softens skin
• Improves the dermis
• Increases appetite
• Clears the body channels at all levels
• Improves activity of sense organs and reduces sleeps and drowsiness
• Relieves the stiffness in the joints and thus improves range of joint movement
• Provides quick relief from pain

Indications

Swedana is considered beneficial for the following conditions.

• Rhinitis
• Cough
• Heaviness of the body
• Headache
• Stiffness of the throat
• Constipation
• Body ache
• Cold sensations
• Fatigue   
• Numbness

Types of Swedana

There are different types of Swedana according to the various methods used for inducing perspiration. Following are the two primary types of Swedana performed before Panchakarma therapies.

Bashpa Sweda – It is the process of inducing sweat by making the person sit inside a chamber for a medicated steam bath. The process opens up the body channels, mobilizes the dosha and is helpful for arthritis.

Nadi Sweda – The steam generated from boiling medicinal decoctions in a pot is directed towards the desired part of the body through a pipe. It is beneficial for reducing pain, muscle spasm and rigidity in body parts.

SIRODHARA

SHIRODHARA

Shirodhara (Shiro – Head, Dhara – Flow) is considered as the most divine of all Ayurvedic therapies. In this wonderful relaxation process, the scalp and forehead is caressed with a thin stream of medicated lukewarm oil. Shirodhara is extremely relaxing, rejuvenating and enhances the functioning of the central nervous system. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions including eye diseases, sinusitis, and memory loss.

Procedure

A pot, with a hole and a yarn wick fitted to it, would be hung up over the forehead of the patient, who will be lying on the treatment table. The medicated liquid, which may be medicated oil or milk, would be poured into the pot and it would be gradually trickled onto the head. A band would be tied or a rolled towel is placed on the forehead to prevent the oil from dripping into the eyes of the patient. The treatment would be carried out for about 45 minutes in a day. This therapy helps to calm and restore the nerves, release stored emotions, purify the mind, remove fatigue, relieve from anxiety, insomnia, chronic headaches, nervousness, and so on.

Indications for the treatment:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders
• Insomnia
• Psoriasis
• Hypertension
• Chronic Headaches and Migraines
• Memory loss
• Tinnitus and Hearing losS

•  Benefits

• Stabilizes Nervous System
• Treats Insomnia
• Relieves Migraine Headaches
• Aids Mental Focus and Concentration
• Lowers High Blood Pressure
• Decreases Hair Loss and Fatigue
• Reduces Stress

According to the ancient Ayurvedic transcripts, the year is divided into six seasons and ‘Ritu’ denote season in Ayurveda. Each season or Ritu comprises of different climatic conditions that may have varied impacts on the body as well as on the surroundings. To avoid imbalance of the doshas owing to the season’s variations, Ayurveda prescribes a seasonal diet and routine called as ‘Ritucharya’ to preserve the Dosha balance. 

Six Ritus: 

•    Shishir (Late Winter) – Mid-January to Mid-March
•    Vasant (Spring) – Mid-March to Mid-May
•    Grishma (Summer) – Mid-May to Mid-July
•    Varsha (Rainy) – Mid-July to Mid-September
•    Sharad (Autumn) – Mid-September to Mid-November
•    Hemant (Dew) – Mid-November to Mid-January

Shishir – Ayurveda recommends consuming sour foods at this time. Avoid pungent, bitter and astringent foods. Going out in the cold, excessive walking and late night sleeping are best to be avoided. Practice regular oil massages and bathe with lukewarm water during this season. 

Vasant – Focus on eating easily digestible foods, preferably cereals, barley, wheat, rice etc. Eat foods that are bitter, pungent and astringent in nature. Foods that are hard to digest are to be avoided, also, avoid day-sleeping. 

Grishma - Foods that are easy to digest are heavily recommended. Drink plenty of water, buttermilk, fruit juices etc. Avoid pungent, sour and acidic foods. Stay in cool places and practice applying sandalwood and other aromatic oils on the body. Excessive hard work, exercise, and alcohol are not recommended. 

Varsha – Sour and Salty foods are recommended during this season. Adding a little honey to the drinking water would help aid digestion. Make time for regular baths and oil massages to ease stress and digestion. Do not indulge in daytime sleeping.  

Sharad - Consume more sweet, bitter and light foods this season. Rice, wheat, barley, cabbage, milk are recommended. Try to avoid hot, bitter, sweet and astringent foods. Remember to only eat when you are hungry. Avoid sunlight exposure, day sleeping and excessive eating. Water exposed to the sunlight for whole day and to the moonlight in the night is recommended to be used. 

Hemant - Avoid Vata aggravating foods such as cold and dry foods. Also avoid cold drinks during this season. Eat foods that are sweet, sour and salty. It is recommended to practice exercises and body massages regularly. Also, bathe with warm water only. 

AYURDHAM'S effectual Ayurvedic treatments  will shelter you making your body and mind fully equipped to handle the different seasons and its varied impacts on the body. 

For details on our treatments and procedures, kindly Whatsapp us at +91 9074444436 

Transforming SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) with SAD (Seasonal Ayurvedic Dina-Charya)

At some level we are all affected by the changes in the seasons. When the sun is shining we may feel warm and happy but with shorter days, longer evenings and colder climate closing in, many of us can suffer from the winter blues or a type of depression also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that can affect our daily life.

Symptoms of low mood can set in and is often coupled with the tendency for binge eating and cravings for highly sugared foods. As you start to notice the effects of these changes, you can make many adjustments to look after yourself during this autumn and winter period especially since the clocks went back recently.

Just as each one of us has a unique mind-body type (your constitution based on the 5 elements - ether, air, fire, water and earth), the seasons are also influenced by the same qualities, and these seasonal variations have an impact on our biological rhythms. As we move from summer to autumn, we move into the Vata season and then the Kapha season in the deeper winter months.

As the climate becomes cold, dry and windy, it encourages the Vata (space and air elements) within us to become increased, especially if we have a Vata dominant constitution. Vata is the energy force that governs all movement in the body including muscles, blood flow, breathing and blinking. It has qualities that are dry, cold, rough, light, subtle and mobile. When Vata is aggravated, symptoms such as dry skin/hair, flatulence, constipation, aching joints, restlessness, nervous disorders, anxiety and fear can start to surface.

Though you may be feeling ‘SAD’ we can turn it around with Ayurveda by embracing our ‘Seasonal Ayurvedic Dinacharya’. Dinacharya are daily health rituals and Ritucharya are our seasonal guidelines. Following these principles can help balance Vata and pacify its adverse symptoms during the autumn:

• Reduce intake of dry, light, cold and raw food as well as foods with excessively bitter pungent and astringent foods. E.g. leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes, popcorn and crackers
• Eat regular meals - do not skip meals. It’s a time to really listen and honour your hunger patterns
• Favour sweet, sour and salty foods. Eat well-cooked foods. Choose foods that are oily, unctuous, nourishing and warming. Foods choices can include wheat, oil, ghee, corn, mung beans, root vegetables, fresh seasonal fruits, soaked almonds, black gram and jaggery
• Drink warm herbal teas and warm milky drinks. Avoid excessive caffeine
• Vata likes regularity so stick to a regular routine when it comes to sleep, exercise, meals and work
• Stay out of the harsh cold and windy environment as your body slowly adjusts
• Gentle to moderate exercise if fine and is best to exercise early morning between 6am - 10am
• Vata needs mental grounding so engage with breathing exercises and meditation as a regular practice morning and evening
• Daily body and head massage with Vata balancing oil followed by a warm shower/bath
• Herbs such as help to balance Vata such as cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, ginger and cloves. Chyawanprash is a great herbal jam to take over this season to prepare winter health as it Triphala for our digestive care. Other herbs can also be suggested depending on your health concerns such as ashwagandha for stress and strength
• Get plenty of exposure to sunlight or a natural fire as an alternative

For more serious issues of anxiety, sleep and depression - please consult a qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner.

Ayurveda

What's So Unique About Ayurveda?

Over the last 10 years, my journey of Ayurveda has continued to evolve and grow. It’s both my passion and purpose and I feel truly blessed. Ever since I was a child I had been immersed in various diet and lifestyle practices and rituals that, at the time I didn’t know were rooted in Ayurvedic science. If you’re intrigued about how such an ancient science is more relevant today that ever before but feel it’s not ‘science’ or doesn’t have ‘evidence’ or too mystical, then read on for why it’s most profound system of medicine and healing in my eyes:

Ayurveda is not:

• A short-term fix to your health issues
• The next fad diet
• Too complicated and technical
• A one size fits all approach to your health
• A 10 minute assessment followed by a prescription
• A compartmentalised system of medicine
• Disease focussed
• Solely for those of Indian origin

Ayurveda is:

• 5000 year old sister science of yoga
• A science and a philosophy
• Rooted in ancient wisdom from the Indian Subcontinent
• A truly holistic system of medicine - Modern medicine has plenty positive research on isolated elements of Ayurveda but it’s not in the context of the complexities of real life
• Both curative and preventative
• An intuitive system of medicine
• A universal science for all of humanity 
• A system that allows the body to heal naturally and function optimally
• It is an integrative approach to health
• Based on a trusting patient - practitioner relationship
• Addressing the root cause of a health issue
• Complete and multifaceted - it looks at the total wellbeing of a patient (mind, body, emotions, spirit)
• We don't ask 'what is the disease?' but why & how the disease came to be
• Food as medicine - the food we eat transforms to become us
• Lifestyle as medicine - we are what we do, think and feel
• Nature & Nurture - genes, epigenetics and environment all play their role in our health
• All about the 5 elements (space, air, fire, water & earth)
• Aligned to the rhythm of nature
• About embracing daily rituals 
• A journey of wellness not a fix for an illness
• Diet and lifestyle based on your mind -body type
• The seasonal, environmental, age, strength, digestion and more are taken into consideration for the diagnosis
• Uses traditional diagnostics tools and values and uses modern methods too
• 100% personalised approach to health and wellbeing
• Ayurveda is focused on thriving not just surviving
• Get intimate with your gut health to understand the impact on your wellbeing
• Recognise the early sign and symptoms way earlier than conventional medicine Diet is based on taste and qualities and not calories
• Encompasses, diet, lifestyle, natural medicines, yoga deep cleansing processes, body treatments, breathing, meditation, energy healing and more.
• A faith based science - faith in your ability to heal. So much research now shows the impact of the placebo effect.
• Evolving with time - adaptable principles given to suit climates, location, stages or life and times of day,
• The science of LIFE & LONGEVITY