Thirteen types of Swedana – fomentation:The thirteen varieties of fomentation are
Sankara
Sankara
Prastara
Nadi
Pariseka
avagahana
Jentaka
Ashmaghana
Karshu
Kuti
Bhu
Kumbhika
Kupa
Holaka. They are described below.
Sankara Sveda: Fomentation by means of bolus containing prescribed drugs with or without being wrapped with cloths.
Prastara Sveda: – bed fomentationA bed is to be prepared of the size of the individual with corn, pulse and Pulaka (an inferior type of grain) or vesavara (a preparation of meat without bones together with long-pepper, black peppar, ginger, sugar-candy and ghee), Payasa (sweet milk preparation), Krushara (thick gruel), Utkarika (pudding), etc.
The bed is covered with silk, wool or with the leaves of Panchangula (Ricinus communis Linn),Urubuka (castor leaves) and Arka – Calotropis gigantea (Calotropis Gigantea R.Br . ex Ait) the individual, well-massaged all over the body, should be made to lie down over this bed. This process is known as Prastara Sveda.
Prastara Sveda: – bed fomentationA bed is to be prepared of the size of the individual with corn, pulse and Pulaka (an inferior type of grain) or vesavara (a preparation of meat without bones together with long-pepper, black peppar, ginger, sugar-candy and ghee), Payasa (sweet milk preparation), Krushara (thick gruel), Utkarika (pudding), etc.
The bed is covered with silk, wool or with the leaves of Panchangula (Ricinus communis Linn),Urubuka (castor leaves) and Arka – Calotropis gigantea (Calotropis Gigantea R.Br . ex Ait) the individual, well-massaged all over the body, should be made to lie down over this bed. This process is known as Prastara Sveda.
Nadi Sveda – Tube fomentation:
Drugs for fomentation like roots, fruits, leaves, buds etc or flesh and head. Etc. of hot animals and birds are mixed with sour, salt or unctuous substances and urine, milk etc, depending on the nature of the disease. They are then heated in a mud pot, connected to a pipe. Pipe is made of Sareyaka or leaves of Vamsa (Bambusa Arundinacea R etz), Karanja – Indian Beech (bark / seed) – Pongamia pinnata(Pongama Pinnata Merr). Or Arka – Calotropis procera (Calotropis Gigantea R.Br.ex Ait) with its fore part having the shape of the trunk of an elephant. The pipe is required to be one Vyama (91.44cm) or half a Vyama (45.72cm) long with its proximal end, and one eighth of Vyama (11.43 cm) in the distal end. All the clefts in the pipe should be well covered with the leaves that alleviate Vata(like castor Leaves, dashamoola etc). The pipe should be curved in 2 or 3 places. The individual well massaged with unctuous substances that alleviate Vata should get this vapour through the curved pipe. Curvatures of the pipe help to lessen the intensity of vapour so as to avoid burning sensation.
Parisheka – sprinkling –Here, hot liquids are sprinkled over the body parts or whole body.
Pots with small holes at the bottom, bamboo pipes, Nala (Phragmites Karka Trin etc.) are to be filled up with luke warm decoctions (Kashaya) of roots, etc. of drugs which can cure Vata /Vata-Kapha diseases where Vata is predominant. Showers are then to be taken by an individual after he has been well-massaged with suitable unctuous substance and has been covered with cloth.
Pots with small holes at the bottom, bamboo pipes, Nala (Phragmites Karka Trin etc.) are to be filled up with luke warm decoctions (Kashaya) of roots, etc. of drugs which can cure Vata /Vata-Kapha diseases where Vata is predominant. Showers are then to be taken by an individual after he has been well-massaged with suitable unctuous substance and has been covered with cloth.
Avagaha: tub fomentationA tub should be filled up with Kashaya, milk, oil, ghee, meat juice or hot water that balances Vata and the patient should take bath in it.
Jentaka Sveda – fomentation in a house-
One should construct a circular building facing the east or north side having a pond in front, at a suitable place. This should be done in the east or in the north direction. The building is to be erected on the southern or eastern bank of a water reservoir like small or big pond.
The level of the land should be plane and it should be situated at a distance of 7 – 8 Aratnis (320 cm to 365.76 cm) from the water reservoir.
The height and diameter of the building should be sixteen aratnis (731.52 cm) each.
The building should be uniformly circular, well plastered with mud and should have many windows.
A bench one Artani (45.72 cm) wide is then to be prepared all around the wall up to the door.
An oven of clay should be prepared in center of the room. Its diameter should be four Hastas (1.8 m) and height should be equal to that of an individual.
It should be circular in shape and should have many fine holes. The pillar-like oven should have a lid. This should be filled up with the fuel of Khadira – Black Catechu and Ashvakarna (Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb), etc. and should be ignited.
When the physician is sure that the fuel is burnt nicely and the smoke has completely disappeared and the room is heated by fire alone, and the hot temperature is achieved, he should ask the patient who is well-massaged with oils of Vata curing herbs and covered with a cloth, to enter the room.
The patient is asked to go over the bench and lie down on the cot (which is constructed along the circular wall from end to end). He should not leave the bench. He should move along the bench so as to come a circle in the room. When he feels that he is free from all obstructions, the sweat along with its sticking portion is completely drained out of the body, when his body is very light, and free from all obstructions, devoid of stiffness, numbness, pain, heaviness, then he should move towards the door following the bench. The patient should not sprinkle eyes with cold water, immediately after coming out of the room. After heat and exertions are relieved, he should take bath with Luke warm water after about three-fourth of an hour and then he can have meals.
One should construct a circular building facing the east or north side having a pond in front, at a suitable place. This should be done in the east or in the north direction. The building is to be erected on the southern or eastern bank of a water reservoir like small or big pond.
The level of the land should be plane and it should be situated at a distance of 7 – 8 Aratnis (320 cm to 365.76 cm) from the water reservoir.
The height and diameter of the building should be sixteen aratnis (731.52 cm) each.
The building should be uniformly circular, well plastered with mud and should have many windows.
A bench one Artani (45.72 cm) wide is then to be prepared all around the wall up to the door.
An oven of clay should be prepared in center of the room. Its diameter should be four Hastas (1.8 m) and height should be equal to that of an individual.
It should be circular in shape and should have many fine holes. The pillar-like oven should have a lid. This should be filled up with the fuel of Khadira – Black Catechu and Ashvakarna (Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb), etc. and should be ignited.
When the physician is sure that the fuel is burnt nicely and the smoke has completely disappeared and the room is heated by fire alone, and the hot temperature is achieved, he should ask the patient who is well-massaged with oils of Vata curing herbs and covered with a cloth, to enter the room.
The patient is asked to go over the bench and lie down on the cot (which is constructed along the circular wall from end to end). He should not leave the bench. He should move along the bench so as to come a circle in the room. When he feels that he is free from all obstructions, the sweat along with its sticking portion is completely drained out of the body, when his body is very light, and free from all obstructions, devoid of stiffness, numbness, pain, heaviness, then he should move towards the door following the bench. The patient should not sprinkle eyes with cold water, immediately after coming out of the room. After heat and exertions are relieved, he should take bath with Luke warm water after about three-fourth of an hour and then he can have meals.
Ashmaghana Sveda – Stone Bed fomentation:A compact slab of stone of the measurement of a man, is to be heated with the fuel of trees having Vata curing properties. All fire brands are then to be removed and the stone slab to be sprinkled with hot water. The slab is then should be covered with silk or woolen sheets. The person after being massaged, should be covered with cotton / silk should lie down on the slab. By so doing, he will be comfortably fomented.
Karshu Sveda: – bed fomentation inside a room –A thick-walled cottage, round in shape, should be constructed. It should neither be too high nor too wide. There should not be any window in it. The (inner wall of this) cottage should be plastered with drugs like Kushta – Saussurea lappa etc.
In the center of the cottage, there should be well-covered sheets prepared of cotton, silk, Kusha grass, blanket or Golaka (a variety of Woolen cloth). The bed should be surrounded with furnaces filled up with fire- brands. The person well-massaged should lie over this bed. Thus, he will get comfortably fomented.
In the center of the cottage, there should be well-covered sheets prepared of cotton, silk, Kusha grass, blanket or Golaka (a variety of Woolen cloth). The bed should be surrounded with furnaces filled up with fire- brands. The person well-massaged should lie over this bed. Thus, he will get comfortably fomented.
Bhu Sveda:Bhu type fomentation should be carried out on the same principle as “Ashmaghana Sveda” on the floor (instead of lying down on a bed, here, the patient lies down on the floor). An auspicious area, which is free from excessive wind, should be selected for this purpose.
Kumbhi Sveda :
A pitcher / pot is to be filled up with Kashaya of drugs that alleviate Vata and buried in earth upto one half or one-third part. Hot iron balls or stones should be put into the pitcher. A bed or seat covered with a thin sheet should be kept over it and the patient should either lie down or sit over it. Before administering this type of Sweda, the patient should undergo massage and his body should be covered with cloth.
A pitcher / pot is to be filled up with Kashaya of drugs that alleviate Vata and buried in earth upto one half or one-third part. Hot iron balls or stones should be put into the pitcher. A bed or seat covered with a thin sheet should be kept over it and the patient should either lie down or sit over it. Before administering this type of Sweda, the patient should undergo massage and his body should be covered with cloth.
Kupa Sveda – well fomentation:A well-like pit of the width of a bed and twice as deep as width should be dug out in an auspicious place which is not exposed to wind. Inner portion of this should be cleaned up. It should be filled with the dung of elephants, horses, cows, asses or camels and then ignited. A bed should then be placed over this well. The person well- massaged and well-covered, lying on this bed gets comfortably fomented.
Holaka Sveda:
A heap of dung (of elephants, horses, cows, asses or camels) of the size of a bed is to be ignited. When it is well burnt has become smokeless, a bed covered with a thin sheet is to be kept over it. The patient with his body well-covered after massage should lie over it to get fomentation comfortably. [61-62]
The above are the thirteen types of fomentation involving the direct application of fire – Agni Sweda.
The above are the thirteen types of fomentation involving the direct application of fire – Agni Sweda.
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