Classification Of Swedana Therapy

Swedana Therapy is divided into six forms. They are as follow:

• Pinda Sweda or Navarakizhi

  Navarakizhi or Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda is a form of sweat-inducing massage treatment. It is used to improve muscle strength, rejuvenate and re-energize the body. Milk and rice are mainly used for this treatment.

• Ooshma Sweda or Bashpa Sweda

  In this therapy, the entire body is given a medicated steam bath by making the patient sit inside a steam chamber with only the head exposed until there is sweating.

• Avagaha Sweda

  Avagaha Sweda is a type of sudation therapy where the patient is made to sit or lie in fluid-like decoction, warm water, etc to produce fomentation to the body.

• Nali Sweda

  Nali is a tube nozzle. A Nali is used in Nali Sweda to focus medicated steam on the diseased body part. The continuous stream of steam gradually opens the pores on the skin and gently directs the excess doshas accumulated in the system to a central location for expulsion. It can help with Vata and Kapha imbalances. It is very effective in the treatment of backaches and muscle spasms.

• Upanaha Sweda

  The term ‘Upanaha’ is derived from Upanahana, which means bandage in Sanskrit. It is the process of applying a warm herbal paste to the affected body parts, which is followed by bandaging.

• Patrasweda or Ilakkizhi

  Patra Pinda Sweda, also known as Ela Kizhi, is an Ayurvedic therapy for bone, muscle, and nerve diseases. Patra Pinda Sweda involves wrapping leaves of medicinal plants and other drugs in cloth and applying them to the body while heating it frequently.

Different types of swedana therapy are Pinda Sweda, Ooshma Sweda, Avagaha Sweda, Nali Sweda, Upanaha Sweda and Patrasweda. In all these Swedanas the sweat-inducing agent is carefully directed along the surface of the body. This movement gently dislocates the toxins inside and channels them to specific sites.