This therapy
- Removes the stiffness of the body
- Makes body lighter
- Controls cold (sheeta)
- Improves elasticity of the body
- Improves joint flexibility and luster of the skin
- Increase Agni and generates appetite
- Supports Sroto Suddhi (detoxifying the srotas – channels)
Facts
- It is Vata Kapha pacifying in general.
- There are 13 types of Svedana
- 2 main types: with fire (sauna, steam, warm sand etc.) and without fire (hot house, hunger, heavy blanket, anger, sunbath etc.)
- 2 types of herbs: Oily (Snigdha) like Oil and Dry (Ruksha) like stone, sand etc.
- Can be performed at Ekang (one part of the body/ locally) or Sarvang (full body)
- One or more types of Svedana can be combined for the purpose of balance.
- Common herbs for Svedana:
Sesame, Eranda(castor), Barley, Ajwain, Dasmool, Rasnadi Kwath, Manjisthadi kwath, garlic, ginger, basil etc. - The selection of herbs, dose and time limit will be different in each person. It depends on current health condition, season, age, person’s strength, country / location of therapy, day or night etc.
Benefited in such conditions like
- Any type of joint pain, Back pain, Muscular pain, Pelvic pain, Sciatica
- Fatigue, stiffness and stress
- Indigestion
FAQs
Can I have this therapy by itself or with any other therapy?
It depends upon your current health condition. We encourage you to have an Ayurvedic Consultation with our practitioner to avoid any future side effects before your booking.’
What type of therapy do you provide?
To enhance the therapeutic benefits, we provide wet or dry Svedana at local or whole body in conjunction with Abhyanga and / or Shirodhara after seeing the patient’s current condition in Ayurvedic Consultation.
Can I do it at home?
Yes/ No.
Some therapy needs direct supervision, and some are good to do by yourself with extra care. Please discuss it with the practitioner during your consultation.
Are there any contra indications of it?
Yes.
- Conditions with predominance of Pitta / pitta Prakriti(constitution)
- Conditions like bleeding disorders, diarrhea, diabetes mellitus, rectal prolapse etc.
- Those who regularly consume alcohol and astringents
- During hunger, anger, depression
- Pregnant ladies
- Weak, extremely emaciated, immune-compromised and unconscious persons
Do I need to take care anything extra for this therapy?
Yes.
Exposure to direct wind shall be avoided during Therapy
After fomentation you should take rest by covering the body with a blanket.
Warm water shall be used for bath after therapy
The 13 Types of Svedana.
- Sankar Svedana
Definition: Medicinal herbs tied in cotton ball/ a bag
Herbs: Rice, Sesame, Milk, Meat juice, oils etc.
Dry: (good for Aama condition) sand, small stones, Neem, Castor leaves dry kwath
Popular therapy: Valuka(sand), Shasti Shali pinda, Pinda
- Prastar Sveda
Definition: on a stone bed with warm, cooked medicinal herbs
Herbs: warm herbal paste or khichri (rice and lentil)
It is not much in practice. Caution: need to be careful with the temperature / burns
- Nadi sveda
Definition: Nadi=Tube, steam using by tube for local effect
Herbs: common herbs depend upon condition.
Popular therapy known as Bashpa Sveda (steam cabins available) that is work for whole body too.
- Parisek
Definition: Parishek = pouring over/ sprinkling
Herbs: medicated oil
Popular therapy known as Sarvang Dhara or Pizichili
- Avgah Sveda
Definition: Avgah means to dive in. It is done in a bathtub.
Herbs: can be used oil, ghee, milk or decoction in a bathtub.
It is not a very cost-friendly therapy for patients, so it is very rare in use.
- Jentak Sveda
Definition: Jentak means dry heated chamber/ round room.
Method: selected herbs/ woods in fireplace in the center of the room and benches next to the wall.
It is very rare in Ayurveda practice.
- Ashmaghna Sveda:
Definition: Ashma means stone ghna means breaking. Making a bed from stone
Method: Make a stone bed warm with herbs or wood. Once the stones become warm remove herbs/ wood cover the bed with silk cloth and patients need to lie down/ sit on it.
It is very rare in modern times.
- Karshu Sveda:
Definition: Karshu means A pit
Method: Create a fire by using wood / coal in a pit without flame. Cover the fire with a container with holes in it. The container needs to be covered with silk cloth. Patient needs to sit / lie down on it.
It is hardly seen in practice in modern days.
- Kuti Sveda:
Definition: Kuti means a hut.
Method: Herbal paste made with cow dang and other anti-inflammatory herbs. applied on to the wall from inside. Heaters are kept in all corners of the hut and patients need to sit in the center of the hut.
Not in demand and very rare in use.
- Bhu Sveda:
Definition: Bhu means Land
Method: same as Ashmaghna- instead of stone bed Svedana done on a clean land
- Kumbhi Sveda:
Definition: Kumbhi means a Pot
Method: On a clean land make a pit and fix the pot in it. Fill the pot with the herbs and decoctions. A patient sits on a chair which is fixed a little higher than the pot. A hot iron ball is dipped into a pot, so the smoke comes out from the decoctions.
It is not really practical to have it in practice, so it is very rare.
- Kup Sveda:
Definition: Kup means a well.
Method: It is Similar like Karshu. A very deep well is needed for the process.
- Holak Sveda:
Definition: Holak means coal fired under the bed.
Method: A patient lie down on a bed and cover entirely along with bed.
It is used as postnatal therapy. No ore in use or very rare.
In current clinical practice, Svedana therapy is done through three different forms:
- Application of heated bolus (pottali)
- Application of vapour/steam
- Application of hot liquid