Shirodhara ( Oil Shower on head ) Part 1

Shirodhara  ( Oil Shower on head ) Part 1

On  Sunday  2 Jan  16

Shirodhara /Shiraseka

Introduction – Shirodhara is a type of Murdha Taila .Murdha means head .Fomentation by warm oil to head is called as Murdha Taila or Shira Tarpan .Vagbhata in Ah Hr. Sutra 22/23 has described 4 types of Murdha Taila – i) Shirobyanga ii) Shira Seka iii) Pichu iv) Shirobasti .In all these procedures oil is expected to retain in head region .In these procedures oil is acting on head in increasing time from Shirobhanga to Shirobasti .So naturally they are more beneficial in same ascending sequence

l Continuous pouring of decoction, oil or other liquids like milk or buttermilk  on forehead & then allowing it to flow over scalp using a specialized instrument dhara yantra is known as shiraseka, popularly known as shirodhara.

l Here pouring of oil is followed by Abhyanga ( Full body syncrone massage for 20 minutes) ,Facial massage

Indications: ( Referance – Charak Sutra 5 /78 to 80)

l Headache

l Hair fall ,Premature graying of hair

l Insomnia

l To increase the power of sensory & Motor organs

l To improve skin texture & complexion

l Mental stress

l Hypertension

l Dermatological conditions like eruptions, Psoriasis ( Takra dhara)

l Pediculosis

l Anxiety

l Psychological illness

Material

l  6 feet long & 4 feet wide cotton cloth for draping the body.

l Medicated  or plain oil or other liquids like milk,buttermilk or decoction

l Cotton pads to cover eyes

l Ribbon of gauze to tie on forehead ( to avoid oil to enter into eye)

Dhara table

l Depressed head portion to accommodate head  (approximately 45cm in diameter)

l A small hole of 1 cm diameter at the centre of the shallow depression,to drain oil  

                

Dhara yantra

l It consists of dhara pot, coconut shell a small stick ,size of little finger, & wick prepared from the cotton wool or gauze.

l Dhara pot – unique vessel of two liter capacity having hole of half cm diameter at the bottom of vessel

Preparation of dhara pot

l Plantain or coconut shell  is cut into a round, & the diameter of which should be lesser than that of dhara pot.

l Plantain or coconut shell is gently heated in a direct fire to reduce its stiffness.

l The nutshell is then placed in the vessel upside down

l Now the prepared dhara pot is mounted on a stand.

Utility of Specific Dhara Patra

l The coconut  shell placed upside down prevents the solid reaching the pore of Dhara patra & obstruction due to it.

l The wick helps in the steady stream of flow rather than turbulent flow of liquids.

Prof.Dr.R.R.Deshpande --- 9226810630

Dr.Sachin Sarpotdar -------- 9822795363

Dr,Mayura Shinde ---------- 7276866831