Shirodhara Ayurveda Treatment

Shirodhara, one of the most purifying and rejuvenating therapies, this therapy is designed to eliminate harmful toxins from the body and relieve stress, relieve mental fatigue and treat a wide range of ailments. Experience the intense effect of Ayurveda with this powerful therapy.

What is Shirodhara?

The Sanskrit word ‘Shirodhara’ is derived from two words, ‘Shiro’ means ‘head’ and ‘dhara’ means ‘to pour or sprinkle something, which means pouring warm Ayurvedic oils continuously from a certain height onto the forehead for a certain period. By doing this, the oil flows through the scalp and into the hair. When poured into the head and scalp, a mixture of oils or other liquids creates a relaxing and soothing sensation in the scalp muscles. It passes to the brain through the superficial peripheral nerves in the forehead. Calming the hypothalamus regulates pituitary gland activity and treats conditions like insomnia by inducing sleep. 

While different types of massage techniques work only on the outer surface and help relieve muscle pain and stress, Shirodhara, on the other hand, works on multiple layers. Instead of oil, buttermilk or milk, also use as per the patient’s condition. As the head forms the root of the body, this treatment ensures a permanent cure for many diseases.  

Diseases treated by Shirodhara

• Nervous disorders
• Memory problems
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Eye diseases
• Allergic rhinitis
• Sinusitis
• Grey hair
• Hearing loss
• Rhinitis
• Vertigo
• Meniere’s disease
• Skin diseases like psoriasis.
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hypertension

Step-by-step procedure of Shirodhara treatment

• Massage the head and scalp properly with the required amount of oil for 5 to 10 minutes before starting the procedure.
• Lie flat over the Shirodhara table.
• Place a small pillow or under the neck for proper support.
• Arrange the Shirodhara pot or equipment well so that the oil from the pot falls directly on the forehead. Generally, the distance between the Shirodhara pot and the forehead should be 10 cm.
• Pour the desired oil into the Shirodhara pot, then pour the oil or medicated liquids on the patient’s head and forehead.
• The oil from the Shirodhara pot should fall as a continuous stream.
• Allow the oil to spread from one side of the forehead to the other so that the flow of oil moves from left to right, on the side of the forehead, and vice versa.
• Remove the excess oil from the forehead that fell on the table and heat it again to maintain the specific temperature of Shirodhara oil.
• Put the recovered oil back into the Shirodhara pot and again allow the oil to fall from the Shirodhara pot to the forehead.
• Continue doing this process for 45 to 60 minutes.
• Ensure a very slow massage throughout this process. After completing the Shirodhara massage, wipe away any oil or liquids from the patient’s forehead.
• Allow to relax for 30 to 60 minutes and allow the oil to flow inside the head.

Duration of Shirodhara treatment

Treatment is usually done for maximum results for 45 – 60 minutes in the morning or evening.

Oils used for Shirodhara

• Ksheerabala thailam
• Chandanadi thailam
• Karpasasthyadi thailam
• Narayana thailam
• Dhanwantharam thailam.

Benefits of Shirodhara

Shirodhara for Headaches and Migraines

The oils used for Shirodhara have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help relax the blood vessels in the head. This treatment improves a person’s mood and relieves stress-related headaches and chronic migraines.

Relieving stress

Stress is the body’s response to a physical or emotional change to an event or thought. It makes one angry, frustrated and upset. Shirodhara treatment is essential in relieving mental and body stress. 

Improves Sleep Quality

In today’s fast-paced life, whether you are facing a deadline at your workplace or some stress in your life, insomnia is common among many individuals. Lack of sleep can be extremely debilitating to the body and mind, causing fatigue and lethargy and disrupting your physical and emotional well-being. Shirodhara treatment helps you reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, thereby reducing stress, improving sleep quality and duration, and providing peaceful sleep.

Reduces Anxiety

Shirodhara treatment works as a natural stress reliever. Along with medicated oils, this head massage clears brain toxins and improves cognitive skills like memory and concentration. It normalizes Vata and pitta doshas in the body, regulates the serotonin hormone and helps reduce various anxiety symptoms, including restlessness, restlessness, cold hands and feet.

Shirodhara for vision problems

This traditional procedure is highly beneficial in case of vision problems. Even if not applied directly to the eyes, massage with warm medicated oils improves the eye muscles, increases clarity and helps a person see better without glasses. If this is done for two weeks, prescribed Shirodhara treatment with vision-improving oils will show effective results.

Shirodhara for depression

Shirodhara is of great value in treating various mental problems like depression, amnesia, restlessness etc. Thanks to the powerful anti-stress, antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties of the medicinal oils used for this. This treatment balances brain chemicals, including neurotransmitters. Also, it increases dopamine secretion, thereby regulating serotonin levels and helping to reduce various symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Shirodhara for Hypertension

Shirodhara treatment produces a vasodilatory effect on the body. When the oil falls on the centre of the forehead, it activates the Agni Chakra, which helps dilate blood vessels and improves blood circulation throughout the body. Normalizing the blood flow not only improves the functions of the heart but also increases cardiac circulation, which brings the blood pressure to a stable level and thus provides an excellent treatment for hypertension and abnormal stress levels.

Do’s and Dont’s during and after Shirodhara treatment. 

Do’s

• The patient should bathe with medicated or warm water for 30 minutes after completing the procedure.
• Use medicated shampoo to remove oil from hair.
• Eat food that soothes Vata dosha.

Don’ts

• Caffeinated drinks
• Heavy physical exercises and loud speech
• Use of Air conditioner or fan immediately after the procedure
• Sleeping during the procedure
• Suppression of the natural urges
• Chilled food and drinks
• Viruddha ahara          ( incompatible foods)
• Exposure to sunlight and strong winds
• Use of gadgets immediately after the procedure

Who is not eligible for doing a Shirodhara 

Although Shirodhara is extremely beneficial for most diseases, some are not advisable to undergo this procedure which includes

• Women in late pregnancy
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Excess sweating
• Neck injury
• Brain tumour
• Skull fracture
• Head injury
• Sunburns

Conclusion

Shirodhara is an ultimate remedy and rejuvenating treatment with no recorded side effects. However, proper precautions must be taken while doing this procedure to ensure desired results. Hence, it is strictly advised to have the process done by an expert physician in a certified Ayurvedic clinic.