SWEDANA - SUDATION THERAPY

स्तंभ गौरव शीतघ्नम्, स्वेदनम् स्वेदकारकम् ||
                                                  (च•स•सू• 14)
The word Swedana is derived from the Sanskrit word, meaning to sweat or perspire. Swedana Karma is a group of procedures used to induce sweating.
It is one of the POORVAKARMA in PANCHKARMA procedure.
Swedana is a process to induce sweating artificially in a patient who had already undergone Snehana,etc.

It is mainly of two types

•  Saagni (when heat is generated directly) 
• Niraagni (when heat is generated indirectly)

In PANCHKARMA Swedan liquifies the doshas,clears the obstruction of channels of circulation and directs the doshas to selective places from where they can be expelled easily.
A dry or wet method of sweating is called swedana.It may be full body steam therapy.Special herb decided on the basis of nature and intensity of doshas are fused into the steam and together the heat and herbs dilate the channels allowing the stored ama (toxins) to move back into the digestive system.in swedana the body is made to perspire to loosen and excrete the toxins.by this method as next is to remove toxins from the body through panchakarma(sodhana therapy).

Indications

Swedana is considered beneficial for the following conditions.

• Rhinitis
• Cough
• Heaviness of the body
• Headache
• Stiffness of the throat
• Constipation
• Body ache
• Cold sensations
• Fatigue
• Numbness

Types of Swedana:

It can be divided into 4 mainly

• Tapa sweda
• Ushma Sweda
• Upanaha Sweda
• Drava Sweda

 On the basis of induction of heat:

• Thermal (sagni sweda) -13.
• Non thermal (Niragni sweda) - 10

On On the basis of application of heat:

• Local (Ekanga Sweda)
• General (Sarvanga Sweda).

On the basis of nature of heat:

• Moist heat (Snigdha Sweda).
• Dry heat (Rooksha Sweda)

Benefits of Svedana karma or sudation therapy:

• Relieves stiffness of the body especially of joints,etc.

• Brings in the feeling of lightness in the body and it relieves heaviness of the body.

• Imparts hotness or ushnata to The body by its thermal action.

• Produce sweating in the body through which some metabolic wastes are flushed out fromthe body as a result skin of the person appears clean,soft and glowing.

• Improves digestive ability.

• Softness of the body.

• Smoothness and clearness of the skin.

• Desire for the food.

• Removes the pain.