Svedana- Sudation

Svedana in Vedic Age

There has been attempts dealing with various methods to avert pain ever since mankind was civilised. Fomentation and Sudation are ancient methods to ward off pain or at least lessen the suffering due to pain.Application of heat by various methods at a diseased site or th

Sudation according to Ayurveda is subdivided to four:

•  Taapa (Application of dry heat)

• Upanaaha (Poultice, Stupe)

• Uushma (Steam fomentation)

• Drava (Heat transmitted through liquids)

Sudation or fomentation induces a thermal challenge in the body, the event is a thermal discomfort, a thermal eustress. This heat precipitates a decrease in cardiac output which sends messages to medullary cerebro vascular control centre which in turn effect muscle and skin vasoconstriction.  This increases the internal circulation by which the cardiac output is optimised. Thermal comfort rests primarily upon the following six factors- Air velocity, Air humidity, Mean radiant heat, Metabolism, Insulation and Air temperature. These thermal comfort factors are individually or severally manipulated by svedana to effect thermal eustress.

The primary requirement of Svedana (Sudation) is to alleviate pain and stiffness. However, in practice, both Snehana by external means and Svedana are employed together in conjunction with light to firm massage in procedures like Abhyanga, Elakizhi etc. Sneha-Sweda is employed in tandem  with massage in diverse conditions.

Swedana can also be considered as a means of removing toxins from the body, the entire wastes to be eliminated may be divided to two: Water-Soluble and Fat-Soluble, by resorting to sudation water soluble wastes of the body (especially in Amavastha) are dissolved in water (Extra cellular body fluids), propelled by the heat and brought to the nearest port of elimination. In the process of elimination of water soluble wastes, the role of unction is much less appreciated. On the contrary, unction may be detromental as it may prevent dissolution of water-soluble wastes. In the case of fat-soluble wastes on the other hand, Sneha dissolves the wastes in fat medium, these are again propelled by sweda to the nearest port of elimination. Dissolution of wastes and toxins in fat is slower, hence it is not a once-for-all programme and has to be repeated daily till the desired effects are achieved. This is another reason for the therapeutic strategy of 7-14 and 21 days in the Abhyanga and Poultice massage practices.

Accurate scientific data regarding the analgesic effect of massage when done along with Sneha and Sveda are still lacking. Nevertheless, ongoing studies with regards to the pain pathways, neurotransmitters like Substance-P, and Glutamate, Analgesia pathway, Gate control theory (Projected by Patrick Wall Gate et al., 1965) and its subsequent implications in the release of endogenous pain relievers etc, are to be revisited in the backdrop of massage with Sneha-Sveda. The efficiency of human skin as the most sensitive 'Touch Screen' working by 'Touch-flow softwares' is a million times more sophisticated than the present day 'Resistive' and 'Capacitive' touch screens or 'Displax Skin' screens involving the most advanced nano-wire technology on polymer films.

Compiled from Ashtanga Hrudaya 

(Comments Dr. TSK)

Sneha- Fats, Oils

Ayurveda gives much importance to Fats both as food and as medicine. It is considered as the foremost medicine for ,  (Sesame Oil) and Pitta (Ghee). It can also be used in conditions where kapha is predominant in processed form with herbs which acts against Kapha.

According to Ayurveda: "Snehasaaro Ayam Purusha:"-meaning the human body is rich in fats.

No biochemical or any cell function would ever occur in the body in the absence of fats and hence, they are necessary for the very existence of life. In order to remove accumulated wastes also, fats are used-to dissolve the wastes and toxins in it and aided with the help of increased temperature of sudation, to melt and transport them to the nearest port of GI tract and thus in eliminating them. The ability to dissolve these wastes are specific to fats. Once the purification is over, all the procedures done like rejuvenative procedures or even palliative medicines will get many fold efficacy, as all the pathways are open.

As we all know rather should know that many vitamins are fat soluble, many of the biochemical reactions happen in our body with the help or mediated by fats; though for energy yield, our body resorts to carbohydrate metabolism. The functions of nervous system are primarily based on fats. recent research have shown light on the fact that herbal extracts acting on the nervous system can influence the brain, only if they are administered through a fat medium. Fats also convey medicinal action of some preparations to the cardiac muscle group. Hence fats are an excellent vehicle to drugs, which can otherwise have no access to some of the tissues of the body, if given without fats.

Fats can be given in therapeutic dosage, or as food. It can be used as it is or can be processed with suitable medicines. Besides these versatile uses, it acts as a preparatory base before all eliminatory procedures, in conjunction with sudation. It acts as a solvent to absorb the deranged dosha's with the toxins inherent in them, and to transport them to the GI tract, with the help of sudation, for elimination.

Oils and Fats-When used externally?

The physico-chemical properties of a drug in a topical dosage form affect that drug's trans-dermal delivery (per-cutaneous) absorption and topical bio-availability. The molecules of the formulation, after penetrating through the stratum corneum and thence, into viable epidermis and dermis, produces its characteristic pharmacological response through receptors even before the blood or lymph circulation removes it, in which case it may set in a cascade of systemic effects. 

Though the horny layer of the skin is impermeable to most chemicals contributing the rate limiting step in trans-dermal absorption because of its high diffusional resistance, providing a small fractional area of 0.1% only as permeable appendageal shunt route, it is not an efficient heat insulator- the penetration rate of material through human skin can change tenfold for a large temperature variation, as the diffusion coefficient varies according to temperature changes. Besides the appendageal shunt route, the drug molecule may penetrate through the hair follicles and sebaceous glands or through the sweat ducts also. Various physicochemical factors other than temperature also seem to be involved like skin hydration (water opens up the compact part of the horny layer), pH etc., not forgetting the roles of drug concentration, molecular size and shape, diffusion co-efficient etc. The methods of enhancing bio-availability of trans-dermal drug application recently followed, like ultrasound (phonophoresis) and electrical driving of charged molecules (iontophoresis) is replaced in Ayurveda by the increased temperature that induces sudation, hydration through enhanced sweating and by massage for effecting a manual type of iontophoresis. Even external use of Sneha alone slightly increase body temperature, which in turn favours production of sweat by sweat glands. Though this sweat is not excreted at the moment because of partial closure of sweat pores by the film of fat, subsequent application of heat releases the barricade of fat to effect full fledged sudation. This helps increase metabolism of the drug and of the local tissue. This is the importance of Sneha used in conjunction with Sweda in Ayurveda.

It provides both hydration and temperature increase. Application of a dry powder onto the skin in room temprature without massage would not effect any systemic changes, if the powder is not allergic to the patient. Thus Ayurveda has its own concept of a rich tradition of transdermal therapeutic system, it is convenient, effective, eliminates variables that influence gut absorption, it enters the systemic circulation directly, by passing the 'first-pass' effect of enzymes in the gut and the liver; it provides a controlled, constant drug administration, displaying a single pharmacological effect, it is patient compliant as it eliminatesthe effect of taste or gastric irritations. Little wonder that when the world still in experimental stages by introducing topically acting counterirritants, NSAIDS, Steroids and transdermal clinical patches of oestradiol, clonidine, nitroglycerine, testosterone etc. 

Ayurveda has addressed transdermal use of medicines in versatile conditions from neurological affections to rheumatological condtions and also skin ailments in various modes and methods, around more than 5000 years ago. Snehana done externally is only one example.

Types of Snehana: Abhyanga (Full body massage), Pizhichil (Local or Full body flow of the oil), Sirodhara, Elakizhi etc are some of the examples of external snehana.

Courtesy:

Commentary from 

Ashtanga Hrudaya

Prof. Dr. T Sreekumar BAMS MD. 

HoD, Dept of Kriya Sareera, Physiology

Disclaimer: This information is based on Ayurvedic scriptures. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, this should not be used for any self diagnosis or treatments. Please do contact your GP for any impending conditions

Treatments

Abhyanga.

An Ayurvedic procedure of application/anointing the body with oil. This is an endearing experience and rejuvenate's one's health and render it for withstanding the wear and tear of daily life.

Who can do this?

Anyone can do this on his own body, but to give this as a service on someone else, it is recommended to have undergone a valid Panchakarma therapy course from accredited clinics, hospitals and places who provides such facilities.

Who benefits from it?

Any person benefits from this, if you know how to use this and when you could do

How can we do this?

It could be done by one on his own, by one other person or by two other people, The latter is the most beneficial compared to the earliest.

What do we use for this?

Ideally we use oils according to the needs of the body, i.e., for a sports person "Murivena - name of an Oil" is highly recommended. Murivena helps in reducing the lactic acid accumulation, hastens the general reparatory function of the muscles. Reduces the inflammations of the joints muscles etc

Daily application of Sesame oil is highly recommended for all.

Disclaimer: * This information is based only on Ayurvedic Medicine Scriptures. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, this should not be used for any self treatments