Snehana

Snehan (lubrication) is one of the primary functions of meda dhatu. Fat provides freedom of movement throughout the body — lubricating joints, reducing friction between muscles, cushioning organs, and allowing the eyes (the body's most active organs) to move freely. Cholesterol specifically is necessary for lubrication of tissues and nourishment of bones, cartilage, and articular surfaces. When cholesterol drops extremely low (below 150), cracking and popping of joints occurs due to insufficient lubrication, potentially progressing to degenerative arthritis.

Oleation is a treatment designed to stimulate the dravatva (liquefying) quality of tejas. Just as the heat of a fire melts butter into a free-flowing liquid, the dravatva of tejas liquefies kapha and toxic substances in the body so they can drain out easily. Oleation automatically pacifies vata while stimulating the liquefaction of toxins. Hot water and heat-based therapies remove impurities faster than cold methods — the underlying principle of both oleation (snehana) and sudation (svedana).

Sneha vidhi adhyaya (oleation therapy).

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ayushkameeya Adhyaya

Qualities of oil and fats - Snehana Dravya Guna – गु शीत सर ि न ध म द सू म म ृद ु औषधं नेहनं ायो , वपर तं व वम ् णम ् The Snehana substances – used for oleation therapy have the following qualities Guru – heaviness Sheeta – cold Sara – easily moving, mobility, spreading Snigdha – unctuous, oily Manda – mild, Sookshma – minute Mrudu – soft Dravam – liquid The substances used for imparting dryness to the body (Rookshana) are of opposite qualities to the above-mentioned.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Snehavidhi oleation therapy

Snehayogya Kala – proper time for oleation therapy :ऋतौ साधारणे ने हः श तो अि न वमले रवौ During temperate seasons use of oleating materials should be done during day time and when the sun is clear.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Snehavidhi oleation therapy

Usually this procedure is done after doing the oleation therapy (Snehakarma), that we studied in the last chapter.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /

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 alim

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Swedana Vidhi Sudatuin Therapy /

Vatika ulcer should be treated with sampurana (filling of ulcer cavity), intake of unctuous substances (oleation therapy), unctuous fomentation and poultices, ointments and sprinklings.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 25: Wound Management (Dwivraniya Chikitsa / द्विव्रणीयचिकित्सा)

[139-140] Treatment of vataja- pinasa: After oleation therapy, one should be given asthapana type of enema therapy to eliminate the dosha[141] Dietary treatment in vataja-pinasa: One should consume unctuous, sour, hot, and light food along with the meat soup of domestic animals.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

[153-154] Treatment for diminished/ milder kaphaja pinasa: The patient should be given oleation therapy followed by emetic therapy.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

If oleation therapy is administered due to misunderstanding, that this disease as vata disorder or due to ignorance, it results in loss of strength in legs, loss of sensation in the legs and difficulty in raising the legs.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 27: Thigh Stiffness Treatment (Urustambha Chikitsa / ऊरुस्तम्भचिकित्सा)

If there is absolute vitiation of vata without any kind of association(obstruction), it should be treated at first with oleation therapy, such as internal administration of ghee, fat, oil and marrow.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 28: Vata Disorders Treatment (Vatavyadhi Chikitsa / वातव्याधिचिकित्सा)

Snehapana (oleation therapy), Sveda (sudation), Vamana (emesis), Virechana (purgation), followed by Snehabasti (oil enema), and then Niruhana (decoction enema).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 1: Paribhashakathana (Definitions)

This describes the management of Pitta aggravation during oleation therapy, using contrasting temperatures therapeutically.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 1: Snehapana Vidhi (Oleation Therapy)

During oleation therapy, one should avoid exercise, cold exposure, suppression of natural urges, physical trauma, staying awake at night, daytime sleep, and consuming foods that are Abhishyandi (channel-blocking) or dry.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 1: Snehapana Vidhi (Oleation Therapy)

Excessive milk intake, heavy food, oleation therapy, smoke inhalation, meat of aquatic and marshy animals, leafy vegetables, sesame, and curd are unwholesome.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 36: Diet for Abdominal Enlargement (Udara Roga Pathyapathyam)

Excessive milk intake, heavy food, oleation therapy, smoke inhalation, meat of aquatic and marshy animals, leafy vegetables, sesame, and curd are unwholesome.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 25: Diet for Abdominal Enlargement (Udara Roga Pathyapathyam)

The restraint should be like after drinking oleation therapy.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)

Those declared unfit for tarpana, and those who have just undergone oleation therapy — for them, after the doshas have been pacified, putapaka should be administered.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 18: Chapter 18

The patient should be properly treated with basti (enema), snehana (oleation), and virechana (purgation), followed by tarpana (eye nourishment), putapaka (medicated poultice), dhuma (fumigation), and ashchyotana (eye drops).

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 9: Vatabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Vata-type Conjunctivitis)

Cow's milk with butter/sugar as instantaneous Sadyah-snehana.

— Sushruta Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 31: Treatment with Oleaginous Substances (Sneha-Pana)

Three types of Nasya: Virechana, Snehana, pratimarsha.

— Sushruta Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 34: Treatment of Complications of Emetics/Purgatives (Vyapat Chikitsa)