An Ayurvedic Road to Reduce Stress
We all are looking forward to reduce stress and increase our hour of sleep. But as we all know, our physical and mental health are integral to live a balanced, healthy life. But the question is, how do we find that balance? Shirodhara, an ancient and excellent Ayurvedic herapy, extremely beneficial for your body and mind. This curative and preventive wonder is a holistic health approach that originated in India thousands of years ago. It focuses on finding peace and harmony in your body itself.
What is Shirodhara?
Shirodhara, a combination of two Sanskrit words, ‘shira’ meaning head and ‘dhara’ meaning stream. It involves gently pouring of liquid, especially oil, on your head for a fixed duration of time. The liquids depend on what is being treated, they typically include herbal oils and medicated liquids like milk and buttermilk.
Types of Shirodhara
There are various types of Shirodhara treatments, depending on the health of the practitioner, as well as the treatment they are seeking. They are:
1. Sneha Dhara
Sneha Shara or Shirodhara uses herbal oils called tela or ghee. Lakshadi and Dhanwantaram are two such oils that are effective in treating Pitta and Vata disorders.
Warm oil is principally used in a predominance of Vata and Kapha imbalances, whereas cool oils (room temperature) and other liquids are used in Pitta imbalances.
Alternatively, lukewarm oil, such as Chandan Bala Lakshadi oil, can be used in Pitta disorders. Lukewarm herbal ghee or Saraswat ghee can be used for Shirodhara if the Pitta is accompanied by Vata vitiation.
2. Ksheer Dhara
Ksheer Dhara uses milk infused with herbs. The medicated milk is poured over the head from a specific height for a certain duration of time in a rhythmic manner.
This therapy is highly beneficial for Vata and Pitta predominant headaches, stress, insomnia, and anxiety.
3. Takra Dhara
Takra Dhara uses buttermilk infused with special herbs. It is an effective therapy for those with an aggravated Vata. How Does Shirodhara Work? Shirodhara stimulates the vital points on your head. Massaging the head allows the oil to pervade deep into the scalp layer, leaving behind a calming sensation.
In addition to the massage, it's the warm herbal oil utilized during the therapy that causes vasodilation of the blood vessels, leading to increased blood flow and a decrease in blood pressure.
In addition to the massage, it's the warm herbal oil utilized during the therapy that causes vasodilation of the blood vessels, leading to increased blood flow and a decrease in blood pressure.
Shirodhara: Procedure
1. The person lies down on the massage table with eyes closed and covered.
2. The Shirodhara process starts with pouring herbal oils or specially medicated liquids steadily in a stream on to the forehead in a gentle oscillating manner.
3. This procedure is often recommended with a gentle massage performed on the body alongside Shirodhara.
4. After performing Shirodhara, person is advised to take rest and have a hot water dip.
Benefits
There are countless benefits of this miraculous therapy.
1. Stress Reliever
Stress is something every person wants to get rid of. Stress impacts your physical and mental health as well.
Shirodhara effectively takes the edge off from stress helping you in making a stress free being. When an Ayurvedic practitioner pours warm oil and massages the head gently, it brings calmness, facilitates relaxation, and promotes tranquillity, thus the body enters a deep state of relaxation.
2. Shirodhara for Awakening Intuition
According to various Ayurvedic scriptures, the point between the eyebrows is the ‘third eye’. Hinduism considers the third eye to be the sixth chakra, which is the home of intuition. It often signifies a state of enlightenment.
By practicing Shirodhara, the healer helps open the third eye, which leads to the uninterrupted flow of 'prana' or 'life force.' The prana smoothly moves throughout the energy channels and removes the blocks in your mind during the process.
It also helps recall events lying deep in your past and seeing them accurately, which previously was inaccessible. The rundown of warm oils brings immense mental clarity, enabling you to move past unresolved traumas, pains, and unfavourable emotional experiences.
3. Shirodhara for Augmentation of Sleep
Today's fast-paced life unquestionably comes with some level of stress. Today's fast-paced life unquestionably comes with some level of stress. As a result, people often suffer from insomnia.
Being sleep-deprived can debilitate you and lead to exhaustion and lethargy. It brings a negative impact on your emotional and physical well-being. Shirodhara is effective in reducing cortisol, which is your body's primary stress hormone. Hence, it helps relieve stress and significantly improves your sleep quality.
4. Shirodhara For Pacifying Vata Dosha
A combination of space and air elements, excessive accumulation of Vata within the body, often leads to physical restlessness, chaotic thoughts, scattered attention, and short memory loss.
Ayurveda recommends Shirodhara as an excellent remedy to pacify abnormal Vata dosha in your body. With the help of herbal oils, Ayurvedic practitioners balance the Vata's light, cool, and fluctuating nature. In turn, it efficiently provides relief from many underlying symptoms of a Vata imbalance.
An Ayurvedic therapy to reduce stress,
After performing it, you will feel blessed!
