Ayurveda considers the human body as an inverted tree wherein the roots are at the top and the branches pointing downwards. If the human body is considered to be a tree – – The head of the human body will be considered to be the roots of this tree, – The central portion of the body made up of thorax and abdomen is said to be the trunk of this tree and – The limbs (upper and lower) are considered to be the branches of this tree.
shirodhara
‘Shiro’ in Sanskrit means ‘head’ and ‘dhara’ means to ‘flow’. So, according to Ayurveda, the flow of oil on the head is known as Shirodhara.
In this treatment, warm oil falls in a continuous flow on the forehead from a pot positioned above the head. The substance used could be medicated oil, buttermilk or some herbal decoction. The individual is made to lie on his back below a pot hung at a specific height.
This rhythm of the flow of oil on the forehead relaxes the mind; releases pent up stress and eliminate toxins. The person experiences a blissful state of total peace and serenity. This treatment lasts for thirty to forty minutes.
Shirodhara is advised for people with mental stress. It offers natural and therapeutic relief for all neurological disorders. The simplicity of the therapy is that it treats the disease at the root level and rejuvenates the person. The entire process culminates in the person feeling a profound sense of peace and calm.
Shirodhara has been used to treat a variety of conditions including eye diseases, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, hair loss, greying of hair, neurological disorders, memory loss, insomnia, hearing impairment, tinnitus, vertigo, Meniere’s disease and certain types of skin diseases like psoriasis. Studies report that Ayurvedic Shirodhara is a safe option to improve sleep quality among people who have sleep problems.
Shirodhara is also effective in treating mental conditions such as anxiety, and mental stress. The calming effect produced by Shirodhara is similar to that obtained with meditation. There are specialized forms of Shirodhara called Ksheeradhara, Thakradhara, Taildhara and Jaladhara.
Shirodhara involves pouring of warm herbal oils on the head. However, it may begin with a full body massage known as Abhyangam. Shirodhara also involves a head massage. Shirodhara is thought to work by relaxing the hypothalamus in the brain. It can also normalize the functions of hormones that regulate sleep and emotions.
Shirodhara is a treatment in which the medicated liquids are poured in streams over the head of the patient (healthy people can also undergo) for a stipulated amount of time. The treatment is carried out for 2-3 weeks (depending on the condition of the disease and diseased).
What would be the effect of stream pouring of medicated fluids over the head of the patient?
Yes! Shirodhara is a highly effective treatment from the leafs of Ayurvedic wisdom which makes the person undergoing it strong and immune, physically and mentally such that he or she can tolerate the extremes of life including diseases, stress etc, can overcome their health related issues, remain ageless, fell-good, look-good and obtain the armor of prevention to many psycho-somatic illnesses.
What is Shirodhara?
Shirodhara or Shiro Dhara is a word comprising of 2 terms, Shiro meaning head, Dhara meaning pouring in stream or sprinkling. Thus ShiroDhara means pouring the liquid medicines in stream over the head of the patient (or healthy person) for a stipulated amount of time.