Shirodhara - A Unique ayurvedic procedure
In the Indian Panchakarma, there is a whole complex of procedures aimed at restoring bodily and spiritual health, improving the psycho-emotional state. One of the most famous ayurvedic procedures is Shirodhara, also known as Shirodhara. In India, they say that this method of healing, rejuvenation, and relaxation was shared by Tibetan monks, famous for their longevity.
This kind of Ayurvedic massage is unique. It helps with various physiological disorders, diseases, chronic fatigue and a depressed state. How exactly the procedure is carried out and what is its healing power, we learn further.
Features of Shirodhara
Shirodhara is, perhaps, one of the most popular types of Ayurvedic massage, which is known not only in Asian countries but all over the world. The birthplace of this procedure Panchakarma, as well as most Ayurveda, is India. Its primary goal is to save a person from bodily diseases, to balance the state of mind, to activate the inner strength of a person, helping to stay young and cheerful longer.
Shirodhara benefits in the fact that warm oil is poured into the special points on the forehead in a thin stream, including the region of the Ajna-chakra (the "third eye"). The person must be in a horizontal position. In parallel with this, a light massage of the scalp is performed.
The uniqueness of the procedure is that it not only aims at healing and relaxation but also effectively rejuvenates, therefore it is also used as a cosmetic procedure. Although this is an Indian Shirodhara massage procedure, people from the Western world are increasingly turning to Shirodhara, as a large number of psychological problems are piling on a person in pursuit of meeting the standards dictated by modern society.
Constant stress and emotional stress are the true companions of modern civilization, which provoke the development of many diseases. Ayurveda helps not only in their prevention but also in treatment.
For each person, different mixtures of oils are used. The oil supply technique can also be different. Everything depends on the patient's disease and individual characteristics. Therefore, before getting to the massage table, the patient is carefully examined by an Ayurvedic doctor who will determine which oils will help, what equipment and what points it should be poured on.
The Shirodar's procedure itself is an average of one to two hours. The room where Shirodhara is performed should be free of extraneous distracting sounds. For more relaxation, aromatherapy and the sound of easy unobtrusive music can be used in parallel. Simultaneously with oil spillage, in some cases, a head massage is shown.
Shirodhara Benefits
Ayurveda Shirodhara massage has the following effects:
- full pacification;
- physical and mental relaxation, getting rid of emotional tension;
- removal of facial clamps;
- care for the skin of the face, head, and hair due to the use composition of massage oils;
- restoring the balance of the body, mind, consciousness;
- bringing in the balance of the doshas;
- improved sleep;
- the general strengthening of the human body.
Indications for the application of Shirodhara are a whole lot. Especially effective procedure to eliminate:
- headaches, including painful migraines;
- high blood pressure;
- memory impairment problems;
- CNS diseases (epilepsy, neuroses, Parkinson's disease);
- mental stress accumulated physical and emotional fatigue;
- heart and vascular diseases;
- diseases of the thyroid gland;
- Gastrointestinal diseases;
- eye diseases;
- sleep disorders, weakness, dizziness;
- problems of scalp and hair, including dandruff, graying, baldness.
But there are some contraindications, which, most likely, will become a hindrance to the procedure:
- colds, acute respiratory infections, influenza;
- Infectious or inflammatory diseases (eg, sinusitis);
- tumors of oncological character;
To Shirodhara was the most effective, it is advisable to conduct a whole course, which should last from 7 to 14 days. In India, there are many Ayurvedic clinics that offer this procedure.
The Process of Shirodhara
The Shirodhara procedure assumes, first of all, the use of a special oil that has healing properties. For each patient, a specialist in Ayurvedic medicine should choose a "special" oil. The doctor conducts diagnostics of the patient's health condition, determines its psychophysiological type according to Indian Ayurveda (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and, based on the results obtained, selects oil for Shirodhara. It is designed to restore the balance of primary elements. Balancing and harmony of the primary elements is health and longevity.
For Shirodhara, mixtures of different oils are usually used. The most popular component of the composition for massage is sesame oil (sesame). Also often add sweet almond oil, canola, sunflower.
When the oil is already selected, you can proceed to the procedure itself. Standard operating procedure:
- The steam bath warms up the oil.
- The entire body of the patient (except the head) is covered with a sheet or a towel.
- You can cover your eyes with a damp patch.
- The patient is put in the course of the case regarding the procedure.
- When the patient is comfortably placed on his back and relaxed, the process of spilling the oil begins. The atmosphere of calmness should reign around: the light is muffled, silent relaxing music sounds.
- On the head can be applied special masks based on herbal formulations. Often the procedure is combined with a gentle massage of the head.
- After the procedure, the oil should be washed off the scalp.
The most favorable time for Shirodhara is the period from 7:00 to 10:00 and from 15:30 to 17:00. It should be noted that after a session, a desire to sleep may overwhelm you.
Those who have experienced Shirodhar's procedure on their own often compare it with a full sleep during wakefulness. It seems that you are not asleep, but the feeling is as if you completely "disconnect" from reality. We also recommend reading about oil massage in India.
Surprisingly, after the message, you feel rested and full of energy, which sometimes cannot be achieved even after a long sleep.
