Health Benefits Of Swedana Or Sudation Therapy
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Swedana Therapy
Swedana or Sudation Therapy is a classical Ayurvedic treatment in which artificially sweat is induced in the patient. It is a prerequisite for Panchakarma. It is also called steam therapy. Swedana Therapy is an effective treatment for Vata disorders like asthma, catarrh, hemiplegic, and many other diseases caused by Vata disorders. It also treated ailments like cough, running nose, sinusitis, flatulence, constipation, heaviness, stiffness, joint pain, musculoskeletal pain, spasticity, and various Vatavyadhi like paralysis, osteoarthritis, low backache, etc. It is very useful to cool down the body.
The sweat glands are one of the most important paths that eliminate toxins from the body. It also removes the toxins in the inner layers of the skin and muscles, getting rid of them. Thus it helps in detoxification and reestablishing the balance between Vata, Pitta, and Kapha in the body. It uses a closed steam chamber with a retractable lid where the patients are placed lying supine (lying on your back with your face facing upwards) and in head out position and is warmed with the help of steam soaked with Ayurvedic decoction flowing into the chamber.
The word Swedana originated from the Sanskrit word swid, which means sweat or perspire. It is the process of inducing sweat with the help of steam generated from medicated herbal decoctions. It is usually done as the last stage of Purvakarma after Pachana (Digestion Therapy) and Snehana (Oleation Therapy). Depending upon the patient’s condition, the duration of the therapy varies from one person to another. It is about 45-60 minutes for 7-14 consecutive days.
Indications Of Swedana Therapy
In Ayurveda, Swesdana therapy is an effective treatment to cure various types of diseases like:
- Kapha predominant diseases.
- Vata Disorders and Ama conditions.
- Muscular Stiffness.
- Joint sprain and arthritis.
- Backache.
- Neck pain.
- Spasmodic pain in the abdomen due to gas.
- Indigestion.
- Constipation.
- Paralysis and facial paralysis.
- Sinusitis.
- Cough.
- Asthma.
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.
Health Benefits Of Swedana Therapy
Swedana is one of the treatment procedures in Ayurveda. It is considered a pre-operative procedure for panchakarma treatment. The key health benefits are as follow:
- Swedana helps in detoxification following the re-establishment of the balance of doshas.
- It also helps to relieve stress and pain.
- Its expectorant actions improve metabolism and respiration.
- Swedana therapy eliminates toxins and relaxes the musculature.
- It is an effective treatment to reduce numbness in the body and increase joint mobility. .
- Swedana Therapy softens the skin.
- It helps to increase appetite.
- It also helps in weight management.
- It provides relief in case of menstrual pain.
- This treatment effectively cures allergies and Rheumatoid Arthritis. .
- Swedana practices revitalize and rejuvenate the skin.
- Swedana helps to increase energy levels.
- Swedana techniques improve circulation, and they may also promote relaxation. It leads to the improvement of overall body well-being.
Swedana Therapy detoxifies the body, balances the Vata and Kapha doshas, relieves stress and pain, improves metabolism and respiration, softens the skin, and increases appetite. It also helps with weight management, menstrual pain, allergies, revitalizing and rejuvenating the skin, increasing energy levels, improving circulation, and promoting relaxation.
Duration And Dosage Of Swedana Therapy
- Depending upon the patient’s condition, the duration of the therapy varies from one person to another.
- It is usually 45-60 minutes for 7-14 days in a row.
- Before undergoing these procedures, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination by an Ayurvedic physician.
Contraindications Of Swedana Therapy
Swedana is a procedure for stimulating your sweat glands to increase perspiration and circulation. You should not undergo swedana if you have the following health conditions:
- Dehydrated.
- Feeling thirsty and weak.
- Suffering from very dry skin.
- Dizziness.
- Ascites.
- Inflammation of the skin.
- Edema.
- Fever.
- Anemia and jaundice.
- After consumption of alcohol.
- During pregnancy and Menstruation.
Conclusion
All the information regarding the health benefits of Swedana therapy was obtained from various Ayurvedic resources. Always consult an Ayurvedic practitioner before starting any Ayurvedic procedures for swedana.
References
- Charaka Sutrasthana 14/20-24.
- Sushruta Samhita Chikitsa Sthana 32/10-11.
