SNEHANAM: OLEATION THERAPY

SNEHANAM: OLEATION THERAPY
The procedure which produces softness and smoothness in the body is known as Snehana. The fatty substances used in this therapy are for the purpose of producing lubrication, anointing or oleating effect on the internal and external organs. This treatment has qualities like restfulness, strength, invigoration and cognition. This is mainly done with oil and ghee, the other two substances viz. Vasa and majja are rarely used these days.


Indications for Snehana:
Preliminary therapy before Panchakarma
1. To strengthen & improve the delicacy of the skin.
2. For intelligence, also to improve grasping power and memory.
3. Vata diseases or Vata pitta disorders.
4. After heavy work, or long journey
5. For all weak, exhausted, anemic persons and
6. As a rasayana therapy


Contra Indications for Snehanam
1. Obesity and Kapha predominance
2. Immediately after Panchakarma
3. Those suffering from diarrhoea and dysentery
4. When Jataragni is very weak
5. When the abdominal organs like liver spleen etc are enlarged.

Snehanam is of two types: a. Internal and b. External
Internal: It means oral use of oily substances.
The internal oleation has been further divided into 3 types depending upon the mixture of oleating substances. When two substances are mixed it is called as yamaka. When three are mixed it is known as Trivruta and when 4 or more are mixed together, it is called as Maha Sneham. Similarly if only one oleating substance is given, it is known as Achcha and when it is mixed with some other ingredients and given it is called as Vicharana. This vicharana according to Caraka and Sushruta are again divided into 24 types.

Ghee: Among the various oleating drugs, ghee is the best. It is usually used in those who have Pitta constitution and those who suffer from pitta or pitta vata disorders.
Oil, vasa (fat in the muscle), and majja (bone marrow) should be used in persons having vata constitution. Now-a-days vasa and majja are not used in practice.

Oil, generally Thila tailam (Sesame oil) should be given in the following conditions viz., 1. Kapha predominance 2. Predominance of fat 3. Vata diseases like Ekanga vata, Sarvanga vata etc., 4. Vata constitution 5. To reduce body weight 6. To increase muscle strength.

External Oleation
Application of oil and other fatty substances on the skin.
Types—

• Abhyanga – Oil massage of the body in the direction of hair growth.
  
• Udvartana – Massage of herbal powders in opposite direction of hair growth.
  
• Lepa – Application of an herbal paste which dries on the skin and is then removed.
  

• Mardana –Unmardana – Pressure massage. The application of warm oil to the body followed by a kneading type of massage.
  

• Pizhichal (Sarvangdhara) – Continuous pouring of warm medicated oil over the entire body for an extended period of time (one to two hours).
  

• Gandusha (Gargle) - Mouth should be filled with oil and then it should be retained for a period of time.
  

• Shirodhara – Pouring of warm oil on forehead region from a vessel hanging overhead.
  

• Shirovasti – Keeping oil on head with the help of special leather cap
  
• Tarpana – Keeping oil over the eyeballs, ears, vagina etc. by keeping cotton swab dipped in oil on these regions.
  

• Sneha avagahana – Taking a bath in a tub full of warm oil.
  

All these methods are practical and can be learned from expert Panchakarma Physician. Out of these ten types 1, 2, and 4 are types of abhyanga. The main purpose of massaging the body with oil is, to encourage the detachment of toxins (including vitiated doshas) from the deeper tissues and the subsequent movement of these toxins back to their origins in the gastrointestinal tract where they can be efficiently eliminated with the help of main purification procedures. Massage has an obvious added benefit in this regard namely the stimulation of the circulatory systems of the blood and lymph tissues.

Benefits of Abhyanga:
1. To delay old age 2. To release fatigue 3. For all vata diseases 4. To relieve pain in the body 5.To increase the capacity of eyes 6. Promotes all tissues and increases body strength 7.Adds years to life and life to years 8. Brings normal sleep 9. Strengthens and vitalizes skin 10. Protects skin from infection 11. Increases immunity 12. Beneficial to skin colour and complexion.