Chapter 17: Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /

Sweating We are explaining Swedana procedure in this chapter. Swedana refers to sweating or sweating therapy. The term sweda means sweat. The patient is made to sweat on purpose. Usually this procedure is done after doing the oleation therapy (Snehakarma), that we studied in the last chapter.

Kinds of sweating treatments – Swedana Prakara वेद तापोपनोहो म वभेदा चतु वधः 1. Tapa- fermentation, 2. Upanaha- warm poultice, 3. Ushma- warm steam and 4. Drava – pouring of warm liquid.

Tapa Sweda तापोअि नत त वसनफालह ततला द भः Tapa Sweda is done by touching the affected part of the body with heated cloth, metal plate, forhead, Palm of the hand etc. 1 Upanaha Sweda उपनाहो वचा क वशताहवादे वदा भः धा यैः सम तैः ग धै च रा ना एर ड जटा मषैः Upanaha Sweda is application of poultice prepared from Vacha (Acorus calamus), Kinva-yeast, Shatahva (Dill), Devadaru – (Himalayan cedar (bark) – Cedrus deodara) etc. any kind of grains, all substances having pleasant smell, roots of Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata) and Castor (Eranda); or meat; उ

तलवणैः

नेहचु त पयः लुतैः

केवले पवने , ले मसं ु टे सरु सा द भः

प तेन प का यै तु सा वणा यैः पुनः पुनः

each one added with more of salt, fats-oil ghee etc. Chukra- Vinegar, Takra-Buttermilk and milk. in increase of vata associated with sleshma / kapha drugs of सुरसा द / surasaadi gana, in increase of vata associated with pitta drugs of padmakadi / प का द

gana

It is preferred in people with Vata imbalance–poultice are known as Salvana upanaha and should be applied often. 2-3 ि न धो ण वीय म ृद ु भ चम प ै रपू त भः

अलाभे वतिज प कौशेया वकशाटकैः

After applying the poultice, the part of the body should be bandaged with soft piece of leather which does not have bad smell, which has been oiled; it should be slightly warmed and tied; If leather is not available, leaves of plants which balance Vata, silk cloth, or woolen cloth may be used; ब धं रा ौ दवा मु चे मु चे ा ौ दवाकृतम ् poultice tied during night should be removed during day and that tied during day should be removed during night.4-5

Ushma Swedaऊ मा तू का रकालो ट कपालोपलपांसु भः

प भ गेन धा येन कर ष सकतातष ु ैः

अनेकोपायस त तैः

यो यो दे शकालतः

Here the steam of the hot substance is directed towards the body part. Steam may be obtained by Utkarika- (boiling grains, pulses, seeds etc). Stones, pebbles, mud, leaves pieces, grains, dried dung of animals like cow, Sheep, Goat etc, Sand, Husk etc are also used for this purpose. 6-7 a

Drava Sweda – श व ु ारणकैर डकर जसरु साजकात ्

शर षवासांवशाक मालती द घव ृ ततः

प ंम गैवचा यै च मांसै चानूपवा रजैः

दशमूलेन च प ृथक् स हतेवा यथामलम ् नेहव

ः सुराशु तवा र ीरा दसा धतैः

कु भीगल तीनाडीवा पूर य वा

जा दतंम ्

वाससा अ छा दतं गा ं ि न धं स चे यथासुखम ् Warm liquid is prepared by boiling bits of leaves of drumstick, Varanaka ,Eranda – (Castor – Ricinus communis), Karanja, Surasa, Arjaka, Shireesa, Vasa , Vamsha, Arka, Malati (Jasmine) or Dirghvrinta, with drugs of vachadigana – vide chapter 15, meat of animals of Marshy land and of those living in water, drugs of Dashamula, each one separately or all together, mixed with fats –

oil, ghee etc. appropriate to the Dosha; Sura- beer, Sukta- fermented gruel, water and milk. This medicated liquid should be filled into pot, jug with spout, or a tube and poured slowly and steadily over the painful part covered with cloth. 7b-10 तैरेव वा

वैः पूण कु डं सवा गे अ नले

अवगा य आतुरि त ठे दशः कृ

ाद

च

In case of Vata affecting the entire body, the same- medicated water may be filled into tub and the patient made to sit in it, this method can be adopted in piles, Dysuria etc.11

Swedavidhi – procedure of Sweating therapy:नवाते अ तब ह ि न धो जीणा नः

वेदमाचरे त ्

वेदमाचरे त ्

Sweating should be administered to him who has been given Snehana- both internally- by drinking fats and externally- anointing oil over the body, who is staying in a room devoid of breeze and after his meal has been completely digested. 12 a या ध या धतदे स ऋतु वशान ् म

वरावरम ्

Sweating may be mild, moderate or strong depending upon the condition of the disease, Patient, habitat and season. 12b कफात

णं

ो,

Person suffering from diseases of Kapha should be given sweating treatment in dry conditionwithout the use of fat internally and externally and with dry liquid – without addition of fats; ः ि न धं कफा नले In case of Kapha and Vata- increased together the patient should be in dry condition and liquid mixed fats – should be used for sweating. 13 a आमाशयगते वायौ कफे प वाशया पूव तथा

नेहपूव

ते

थानानुरो धतः

When vata is localized in the Amashaya- stomach dry sweating should be given. When Kapha is localized in Pakvasaya- (intestines), oil-sweating should be given. 13b-14 a अ पं व

णायोः

व पं

क् मु क

दये न वा

Sweating should be very mild / nil over the groins and also on the eye, scrotum and heart. 14b

Benefits of sweating treatment – care to be taken - Swedana phala and Upacana –:शीत शूल

ये ि व नो जाते अ गानां च मादवे

यात ् शनैः म ृ दतः

नात ततः

नेह व धं भजेत ् १५

Diminution of cold and pain and softness of the organ accrue from Sweating. After wards the body should be massaged slowly, given bath –in warm water and allowed comfort s as prescribed in lubrication therapy.15

Ati Swedana phala – effects of excess Sweating :प ता कोप त ृ मू छा

सं धपीडा

वरा ग सदन

माः

वरः यावर त म डल दशनम ् १६

Aggravation of Pitta and vitiation of blood, thirst, loss of consciousness, weakness of voice and body, Bhrama – Delusion, Dizziness Sandhipeeda – pain in the joints , Jvara – fever, appearance of black- blue, red patches on the skin, and vomiting are produced by excess of Sweating therapy; For that , Stambhana treatment should be done. It is the same procedure, useful in diarrhoea and bleeding disorders.

Treatment of AtiSwedana : वेदा तयोगात ् छ द च, त

त

त भनमौषधि वष

त भनमौषधम ्

ाराि न अ तसार छ द मोहातरु े षु च

Withholding, stopping, hindering of elimination is the treatment, so also for patients suffering from poison, caustic Alkali and Barding by free; Diarroea, vomiting and unconsciousness 16-17

Qualities of Svedana and Stambhana Dravyas: वेदनं गु

ती णो णं

वि थरसरि न ध

ायः, त भनम यथा सू मं च भेषजम ्

वेदनं , त भनं ल णं

सू म सर वंम ्

ायि त तं कषायं च मधरु ं च समासतः

Generally substances which are heavy, penetrating and hot in potency are used Swedana therapy. Substances of opposite are used in Sthambhana (withholding ,hindrances to elimination) Drugs which are liquid, sthira – static, mobile, unctous, dry and penetrating bring about sweating. Those which are smooth, dry, thin, mobile and liquid, bitter, Astringent and sweet in taste are generally Stambhana 18-19

ति भतः

या बले ल धे यथो तामयस

यात ्

Stambhana is useful in diarrhoea and bleeding disorders therapy, With this treatment, the person gains Strength and gets relieved of symptoms of excess sweating disappear. 20a

Symptoms of excess Sthambana – त भ वक्

नायुस कोच क प त ् वा हनु हैः

पदौ ट व करैः यावैः अ त ति भतमा दशे त ्

Contraction of skin and tendons, tremors, stiffness of region of heart, choking of voice, locked jaw, black discoloration of the feet, lips, skin and hands. 20-21a

ASwedayah – persons Unsuitable for Sweating:न

वेदयेत ् अ त थूल

द ुबलमूि छतान ्

त भनीय त ीण ामम य वका रणः त मरोदरवीसपकु ठशोषाढयरो गणः

पीतद ु धद ध नेहमधून ् कृ त वरे चनान ्

टद धगुद ला न ोधशोकभया दतान ्

ु त ृ णाकामलापा डुमे हनः प तपी डतान ्

ग भणी पुि पतां सूतां , म ृद ु च अ य यके गदे Atishoola Atirooksha – highly dry Durbala – weak, debilitated Murchita – fainted, unconscious Those who are fit for Sthambhana treatment, Kshataksheena – wounded, injured Patients with Ama condition, Madyavikari – chronic alcoholics Night blindness, Visarpa – herpes Kushta Shosha – emaciated who have recently consumed milk, curds, fat, Who have just undergone Virechana treatment Who are burnt, Who are tired, suffering from anger, grief, fear, excess tirst, hunger, Kamala – liver diseases Pandu – anemia Meha – urinary disorders People with Pitta imbalance.

women who are pregnant, menstruating – during periods and delivered – recently . in case of emergency diseases , it should be done mildly – for the above. 21-24

Persons who deserve Swedana – Svedyahवासकास त याय ह मा मान वबि धषु वरभेदा नल या ध ले माम त भगौरवे

अ गमदकट पा वप ृ ठकु

हनु हे

मह वे मु कयोः ख यामायामे वातक टके मू ाकृ

ाबुद ि थशु ाघाताढयमा ते

वेदं यथायथं कुयात ् तदौषध वभागतः

Shwasa – dysnoea, COPD, Asthma Kasa – cough, Pratishyaya – running nose, allergic rhinitis Hidhma – hiccup, Adhmana – bloating Vibandha – constipation Svarabheda – altered voice, hoarseness Vatavyadi – diseases of Vata imbalance Angamarda – bodyache stiffness in lower back, flanks, back, abdomen and jaws enlargement of the scrotum, contractions of toes and fingers, tetanus sprains, dysuria, Malignant tumor- cancer, bening tumor, obstruction to the flow of semen and urine, and AdhyamarutaThigh stiffness. 25-27

Anagni Sweda – Sweating without fire source – वेदो हतः तु अना नेय ो वाते मेदः कफाव ृते

नवातं ग ृहमायासो गु

ावरणं भयम ्

उपनाहहव ोधो भू रपानं

ुधा आतपः

Sweating without source of fire is suitable in diseases of vata enveloped by Medas and Kapha. Nivata sadana – Staying in air tight room, Ayasa – stressful physical activity, Gurupravarana – covering oneself with thick blankets Bhaya – fear, Upanaha – bandaging wrapping with cloth etc. Fighting, wrestling Krodha – anger Bhuripana – excess drinking of water Kshudha – withholding hunger Atapa – Sun exposure – 28-29a

Sweda phala – Effects of Sweating :नेहि ल नाः को ठगा धातुगा वा

दोषाः

वे दै ते

ोतोल ना ये च शाखाि थसं था

वीकृ य को ठं नीताः स यक् शु

भः नि नय ते

Doshas which have been lubricated by oleation therapy, residing either in the alimentary tract, tissues, or lurking in the channels of the extremities bones etc are liquefied by Sweating therapy, brought into the alimenantray canal to be eliminated out of the body completely, by appropriate purification therapies. So, sweating is done after oleation, but before elimination of Doshas by Panchakarma. 30

Thus ends the chapter Swedavidhi- the Seventeenth of Sutrasthana of Astangahrdaya Samhita.