Ayurvedic treatment is a multidisciplinary approach, unlike Allopathic treatment where the main stress is on medicines.
Methods of treatment: According to Ayurveda, there are different methods of treatment for any disease or disorder.
1. Palliative treatment: Palliative treatment refers to means for reduction of increased doshas for curing the disease or decreasing its symptoms. It consists of following measures:-
a) Sneha Karma or use of oily substances externally for massage etc. or internally.
b) Sweda Karma or fomentation
c) Exercise
d) Exposure to sun .
e) Exposure to fresh air
f) Taking medicines which increase digestion
g) Taking medicines which destroy toxins
2. Purification treatment: Purification refers to removal of accumulated toxins or doshas from the body. This is done by 5 methods known as Panchakarma. They are as follows:
a) Vamana or induced vomiting
b) Virechana or induced purgation
c) Basti or enema
d) Nasya or nasal medication
e) Rakta mokshana or blood-letting.
In Ayurveda, the types of medicines based on the source from which they are obtained, are classified as follows:
1. Herbal medicines—which are extracted from plants & herbs.
2. Mineral (metal) medicines—which are extracted from minerals, gems and jewels.
3. Herbomineral preparations—which are a combination of both herbs and minerals. A few of the above treatment procedures, herbs and metals are discussed in detail below.
1. OIL MASSAGE OR SNEHA KARMA
Avurveda, the all-time healing system, has some specialised therapeutic procedures of its own. Among them, sneha karma is one. It is a therapy, which is usually employed as B pre-operative procedure to panchakarma. This procedure produces snigdhata suppleness) in the body. Ayurvedic texts compare the exhausted human body with a iry stick, which breaks easily. Application of oil to the body makes it supple. This therapy can be employed either by administering oily substances internally or by using them t :ernally in the form of oil massage. This article throws light on abhyanga and mardhana—a specialised oil massage therapy of Ayurveda.
Charaka Samhita, the Ayurvedic treatise, advocates oil massage as a regular health care measure in maintaining positive health. Massage preserves the body energy. It improves die blood circulation and helps in excreting toxins out of the body through sweat, urine and mucous; thus rejuvenating and relaxing the body. It protects against the vitiation and aggravation of vaata and kapha doshas. Massaging oil into the body makes it strong and helps the skin become smooth, says Ashtaanga Hridaya, another Ayurvedic treatise. So, one can expect good results from massage in treating skin disorders like eczema, blisters, scabies, seborrhoea and other conditions like neurasthenia, headaches, sleeplessness, gouty arthritis, polio, obesity and mental disorders.
Massage increases physical stamina and mental alertness apart from sexual vitality.
SCIENTIFIC VALIDITY
The Ayurvedic system of medicine calls the lymph system as the kapha or mucous carrying system. Lymph contains most of the elements in blood i.e. plasma, amino acids, glucose, fats, hormones, enzymes, salts and lymphocytes which fight infection. It acts as a transport medium between cells and the blood stream. It also aids circulation by maintaining the balance of the fluids in the body. The massage technique is pointed towards increasing lymph flow in the body by applying pressure at the marma (vital) points as described in the Sushruta Samhita. Increasing the kapha activity by massage is purported to increase the nourishment of the body and give proper stimulation to joints and body tissues.
If lymph flow is increased by massage, then there are several likely processes, which may be involved. Lymph possesses a relatively large amount of the amino acid— tryptophan. This subsequently causes a parallel increase in the neurotransmitter (chemical between nerve endings), serotonin. Serotonin has been implicated in several psychiatric diseases with low levels of its metabolite found by researchers in depression, hallucinations, headaches, anxiety and irritability. So, massage is beneficial in treating these conditions. Another interesting point is that lymph contains approximately 30 times as much histaminase (an enzyme which breaks the allergy and acidity causing histamine) as in blood. So, the pathological conditions where histamine is involved, like painful and swollen tissue areas, gastric irritation, headaches, skin allergies, can be treated with lymphatic massage in order to provide increased supply of histaminase.
POINTERS ON AYURVEDIC OIL MASSAGE
• The effects of massage vary with the time of day. During the day it relaxes and refreshes, giving increased energy. In the evening it is more tranquillising.
• To be a good masseur, one needs to look at the formation and function of the musculature. One who follows the natural contours and flows of the body ensures the most effective massage.
• In cold seasons, hot or warm oil should be used and in the hot seasons it is vice-versa. The easiest way is to put the oil into a plastic squeeze bottle and then hold it submerged in hot or cold water until it is pleasantly warm or cool according to the situation.
• Oil should be applied at the joints or marma points in a circular manner, in a clockwise direction. And, on the other body parts, against the direction of the hair growth. This will direct the lymph towards the heart.
• Before the massage, just relax. Take some deep breaths, and then rub your palms together until they feel warm. This charges the hands with energy and makes them pleasant to touch.
• If we take the body to be an inverted tree, the brain is the root, the spine is the trunk, and limbs are the branches. So for maximum benefit, massage should commence from the upper leg. It should be massaged first on the outside and then inside. The lower part of the legs should be massaged followed by a foot massage. After this, the hips and sides should be worked with and the lower back should be massaged, moving upwards, covering the upper back. Then the chest and the arms should be massaged. The head should always be massaged last.
• If daily massage of the whole body is not possible, at least the feet should be massaged every night before sleeping and the head could be given a massage every third day.
A wide range of oils is available for massage. Simple oils that are advised for general massage are sesame oil and mustard oil. Olive oil is also good. But it is too costly to use in our country.
Sesame oil is hot, heavy and sweet. It works on all the three doshas by removing swellings of all muscles, strengthening the skin texture and preventing rremature aging. The shape of breasts can be improved by massaging them regularly with this oil. Oil of black sesame seeds is recommended in Ayurveda to keep the hair in good condition.
Sesame oil is usually preferred to mustard oil, which may sometimes irritate tender skin recause it is pungent and bitter, while sesame oil is neutral.
Apart from this, there are specific oils for specific conditions. For example, Brahmi oil induces sleep. Mahaanarayana taila can be used to treat muscle pains and arthritic renditions. Aswagandhaadi taila can be used in muscle atrophy. In the same way Mahaamarichyaadi taila can be used specifically for controlling itching.
These oils can be used on the advice of an Ayurvedic physician.
2. FOMENTATION OR SWEDA KARMA
Heat therapy relaxes you; loosens muscles and ligaments; dilates blood vessels; boosts circulation; increases metabolic processes; warms* the skin and, of course, makes you sweat. So, heat therapy in Ayurveda is called sweda karma (sweda means sweat). This is :ne of the prerequisites for Ayurvedic Panchakarma Therapies.
Heat works to promote wound healing. When applied to a wound, heat raises the rrerabolic rate. The resulting increased blood flow carries away waste products and provides a greater supply of nutrients and infection fighters to the affected area. It helps reduce the pain of arthritis and sore muscles. It is also used for treating cancerous tumours.
Ayurvedic classics have described a wide range of fomentation procedures, which are classified into different categories depending upon various factors:
1. Whether it involves agni (fire) or not. (agni sweda or niragni sweda).
2. Is it used for a specific part of the body (ekaanga sweda) or the whole body (sarvaanga sweda). Generally, locally applied heat as in hot packs can be better for wounds, muscle and skeletal injuries; heat therapy for the whole body is generally for relaxation.
3 Whether the fomentation is wet (snigdha) or dry (rooksha). Moist heat is thought to penetrate deeper than dry heat and so may be better for sore muscles or injured ligaments. Some skin ailments may benefit from less penetrating dry heat.
Ayurveda recommends heat application in all Vaata, Kapha and Aama disorders. Heat can be effective supporting therapy in case of many diseases like bronchial asthma, cough, catarrh, hiccups, bloated belly, inactivity, catch in waist, sides and back, painful urination, urinary stones, tumours, paralysis of the limbs, loss of sense in the limbs, etc.
However, for those with poor blood circulation, diabetes or heart disease, heat therapy should be used only under a doctor’s supervision. It is not for expectant mothers, children and aged persons.
Ayurveda has restricted its usage in case of bleeding disorders, diarrhoea, debility and indigestion. Also fomentation will not give the desired results if you are mentally disturbed by emotions like fear, sorrow or anger.
Heat application in the pubic region should be milder than for other regions. Testicles, eyes and chest must be covered properly while taking this heat therapy. Among the wide range of fomentation procedures, some of the important ones are described below.
UPANAAHA SWEDAM (POULTICE)
This is the hot application of a paste of drugs such as kola (Zizyphus jujuba), kulattha (Dolichos biflorus), suradaaru (Cedrus deodara), raasna (Pluchea lanceolata), maasha (Phaseolus radiatus), fruits of eranda (Recinus communis) etc.
If you are suffering from Vaata disorders (skeleto-muscular pains), powder and mix these drugs in sour buttermilk or wine along with salt. This is to be applied while it is still hot, over the affected parts, covered with cloth or castor leaves or other leaves. A poultice that has been tied in the morning must be removed in the night or if it has been tied in the night, it should be removed the next morning.
OOSHMA SWEDAM (STEAM BATH)
Inducing sweat by means of steam is called ooshma swedam. For generating steam, ordinary plain water is boiled or sometimes medicated decoction may be used. The steam so generated is directed to the whole body or any particular part.
For this you need not go to any health spa or health centre. You can sit or lie on a rope cot or chair and cover yourself with a blanket. Place the steaming decoction below the cot. The decoction should be frequently stirred.
AVAGAAHA SWEDAM (SITZ BATH)
In this therapy, the patient undergoing treatment gets into a tub filled with prescribed herbal decoction. When it is comfortably hot, the patient is covered with a blanket to preserve the heat. As the decoction loses heat, it should be replaced time to time with hot decoction. The rule is that medicated oils selected according to the ailment must be added to the decoction.
This procedure is especially suited in generalised body pains, painful or obstructed urination, pelvic inflammatory diseases and hernia. The drugs for preparing the decoction are the leaves of drumstick, castor, karanja (Pongamia pinnata), holy basil, black basil, sireesha (Albizzia lebbek), vacha (Acorus calamus) and fish meat.
If the whole body is to be subjected to fomentation then the patient should immerse up to the neck in the decoction. Otherwise, immersing the patient up to the naval region is sufficient. The patient and the tub should be covered fully with a thick blanket.
KAMBALA SWEDAM (USING A BLANKET TO PROMOTE SWEATING)
This is a simple and yet effective method. Take a blanket and immerse it in hot decoction. Ensure that it is comfortably warm. Cover the patient with it after squeezing the extra fluid from it. You can repeat the process if desired or you can use two blankets, one after the other for continuous fomentation.
TAAPA SWEDAM (DRY SWEATING)
In this therapy, sweat is induced by rubbing or pressing the body with a heated stone, tile, hot water bottle or similar material. It is more suited in inflammatory swellings with discharge. This effect can also be achieved with an electric room heater. You can get hot air from it by placing a table fan behind it. This is advantageous over the moist heat in some aspects. The primary disadvantage of steam heat is that your body can’t dissipate heat as effectively as in a hot-air bath because heat evaporates more readily in dry air. In i steam room, the sweat lingering on the skin creates a stifling effect that increases the skin temperature, even though a steam room is kept at a comparative low temperature.
NAADI SWEDAM (USING A TUBE TO INDUCE SWEATING)
This is very convenient if a particular area is to be subjected to fomentation. Fill a pressure cooker with plain water or prescribed drugs and water. Remove its weight and attach a f as stove pipe to its nozzle. Generate steam and direct it to the desired area. This procedure has to be done carefully as the steam is capable of scalding the exposed part.
There are other procedures like pinda sweda, bhaashpa sweda, etc., which need p rofessional supervision and help for conducting the act.
Heat therapy is a pre-pancha karma procedure. To start with, usage of medicated oils externally and internally loosens up the accumulated doshas in the body. With heat therapy, they melt and the flow is directed into the bowels. It is then easy to expel them with vamana (emesis) or virechana (purgation).
Thus sweating is essential before any cleansing process. This concept is exclusive to Ayurveda.