Snehapana is a vital remedy in Ayurveda, which includes the oral consumption of medicated ghee or oil. The Sanskrit time period “Sneha” refers to grease or medicated ghee, and “Pana” means ingestion, therefore the identify “Snehapana”. It’s executed as a preparatory course of for Panchakarma.
In Snehapana remedy, a particular amount of medicated ghee or oil is consumed on an empty abdomen within the morning, adopted by a particular eating regimen and life-style routine. This remedy is used for each preventive and healing functions in Ayurveda. It’s believed to assist enhance digestion, enhance immunity, improve pores and skin well being, relieve joint ache, and enhance total well being and well-being.
On this article, we’ll delve deeper into the idea of Snehapana in Ayurveda, its advantages, how it’s carried out, and the precautions that should be taken whereas present process this remedy. We may even discover the several types of medicated ghee or oil utilized in Snehapana and their therapeutic advantages. So, let’s get began and discover the world of Snehapana in Ayurveda.
Idea of Snehapana in Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a holistic system of practices that emphasizes the significance of stability between the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Any imbalance in these doshas can result in varied well being issues. Snehapana is a remedy that’s utilized in Ayurveda to stability the Vata dosha.
Snehapana is an inner oleation remedy, which includes the consumption of medicated ghee (clarified butter) or oil to lubricate the interior organs and tissues. The idea of inner oleation remedy is predicated on the precept that oil can penetrate the physique tissues and transport the therapeutic properties of herbs and minerals to the deeper tissues.
In Ayurveda, the elimination of poisons from the physique is achieved by a course of referred to as Panchakarma, which includes a sequence of therapies that purpose to take away toxins and impurities from the physique. Panchakarma consists of primarily 5 therapies
- Vamana (emesis remedy)
- Virechana (purgation remedy)
- Basti (enema remedy)
- Nasya (nasal administration of medication)
- Raktamokshana (bloodletting remedy).
Snehapana in Ayurveda is a preparatory remedy that’s typically carried out earlier than primary Panchakarma remedy to assist loosen toxins and put together the physique for elimination. It significantly enhances the therapies of Vamanamm (emesis remedy) and Virechanam (purgation remedy) therapies.
The usage of Snehapana is to arrange the physique for the method of expelling toxins. It ensures that the physique’s cells are soaked with sufficient oil to the purpose the place they’re set to evacuate all of it on the earliest alternative. It helps to flush out toxins from the physique by lubricating the digestive tract and rising the effectivity of the elimination course of.
How Snehapana Helps in Balancing the Doshas?
In Ayurveda, the Vata dosha is accountable primarily for motion. It’s related to dryness, coldness, and roughness. When the Vata dosha is imbalanced, it may result in varied well being issues reminiscent of constipation, dry pores and skin, joint ache, nervousness, and insomnia. Snehapana is used to stability the Vata dosha by offering lubrication to the physique tissues and calming the nervous system.
Snehapana helps deal with a wide range of sicknesses, together with arthritis, urinary points, psoriasis, and gastroenterological illnesses like peptic ulcers, indigestion, bowel points, constipation, and diarrhoea.
Sufferers present process this therapy are given medicinal ghee ready from cow milk (or, in sure circumstances, medicinal oil), which should be ingested orally on an empty abdomen. The medicated oil or ghee is constantly consumed till it begins to seep out of your pores.
How Snehapana is completed?
Snehapana is a therapeutic process. It includes session with a certified Ayurvedic practitioner who assesses your total well being, determines your Dosha (physique structure), and prescribes the suitable kind and amount of medicated ghee or oil for you.
Right here is the step-by-step process for Snehapana therapy:
- Affected person Evaluation: The therapy is completed beneath the supervision of a educated and certified Ayurvedic physician/practitioner. The physician observes the overall situation of the affected person, the ailment for which the therapy is getting used, and different elements like medical historical past, habits, addictions, and normal life-style of the affected person.
- Dedication of Medicinal Ghee/Oil Amount: The physician determines the amount of medicinal ghee/oil to be consumed by the affected person based mostly on the affected person’s situation and the supposed therapeutic final result.
- Preparatory Section: The affected person is requested to take a average quantity of heat, liquid meals at some point earlier than the ghee consumption to arrange the physique for the therapy.
- Lukewarm Ghee/Oil Consumption: The medicinal ghee/oil is heated to a lukewarm temperature and given to the affected person on an empty abdomen, often within the morning hours. The affected person is requested to sit down comfortably on a chair whereas consuming the ghee/oil.
- Remark and Monitoring: After the affected person drinks the ghee/oil, the physician screens for indicators of full digestion, which helps decide the time wanted for the ghee/oil to be digested and assimilated into the physique.
- Each day Consumption: The ghee/oil is consumed as soon as day by day by the affected person for your complete course of the therapy, as prescribed by the physician.
- Remedy Cessation: As soon as there are indicators of improved bodily features, the therapy is stopped by the physician.
Usually, Snehapana remedy can final for 3 days to 2 weeks, with the frequency and length of the remedy being decided by the Ayurvedic practitioner based mostly on the distinctive analysis, physiology and wishes of the person present process the therapy. Throughout this length, the medicinal ghee must be consumed as soon as every day and the amount will probably be determined as per the digestive potential of the affected person.
To find out how lengthy it’s going to take for the affected person to digest the ghee, the physician will search for signs of full digestion after the affected person has consumed it. The Sneha has been completely digested if there is no such thing as a sneha odour in belching.
The above process is named Achapana or Acchapeya Snehana which comes beneath inner oleation remedy or abhyanthara snehana.
One other type of Snehapana is bahya snehana whereby oleation is carried out by varied ayurvedic massages reminiscent of Shirodhara, Abhyanga, and so forth.
Very often, you may be requested to undergo Swedana which is an ayurvedic detox remedy for encouraging the discharge of sweat. You might be additionally given massages often to launch the toxins on the muscle tissues and stimulate the lymphatic system.
Advantages of Snehapana Remedy
Snehapana is kind of well-known remedy in Ayurveda for cleansing resulting from its technique of eliminating toxins from the digestive tract, blood cells, and GI tract. By eradicating the toxins, you’re primarily organising your physique to get nourished from recent blood, stimulating the digestive and elimination course of, and ensuring that your doshas morbidities are minimized.
Owing to the above, listed below are some advantages of present process Snehapana remedy:
- Improves the efficacy of digestion and stimulates the digestive agni.
- Nurture your physique’s tissues.
- Controls metabolism and lessens inside dryness.
- Inside physique cleaning helps to forestall power illnesses.
- Improves well being and enhances immunity.
- Makes the pores and skin comfortable and reduces ageing signs together with wrinkles and lack of pores and skin suppleness.
- Minimizes the stress and nervousness ensuing from a aggressive and fast-paced life.
- Aids in weight reduction by saturating the physique with further fats from the ghee, which prompts them to expel the surplus fats together with any toxins that will have been current.
Kinds of Sneha utilized in Snehapana
Usually, 4 sorts of Sneha are utilized in Snehapana remedy: ghee, sesame oil, animal fats, and bone marrow. Out of those, ghee is probably the most preferable as it’s appropriate with all of the doshas, simply digestible, doesn’t trigger a burning sensation, and enhances the opposite substances that you simply eat.
The time of yr {that a} affected person receives therapy impacts which sneha substances they need to eat. Ghee has been instructed for the autumn, utilizing oil is favoured within the winter, and utilizing fats and bone marrow has been instructed for the spring.
Since bone marrow is the toughest and heaviest substance to digest, you could not discover many ayurvedic practitioners utilizing this for snehapanam.
Dosage and frequency
The best length for snehapana is 3-7 days, with the amount of ghee proportionately rising every day. Nonetheless, it additionally largely will depend on the bodily response, physiology, and analysis of the affected person.
The dosage of the sneha can fluctuate from low to most based mostly on the ailment of the affected person or the intention of taking the process.
The utmost Dose is given to those that are used to consuming quite a lot of sugary meals often, can deal with starvation and thirst, and have sound immune techniques. The sneha is usually digested inside 24 hours.
Issues like constipation, dysentery, and digestive system irritation might be thought of for optimum dose.
Medium Dose is really helpful for individuals who have medium power, are accustomed to consuming in average portions, and have gentle bowel patterns. The sneha is usually digested inside 12 hours.
A average dose treats circumstances together with gout, obstinate urinary illnesses, vesicles, itching, and rashes on the scalp.
Low Dose is really helpful for these with much less power, seniors, children, individuals with weaker constitutions, individuals who can’t deal with starvation, and other people with impaired digestion. The sneha is usually digested inside 6 hours.
Unctuousness in a decrease dosage is suggested in circumstances of power sicknesses together with fever, diarrhoea, and cough.
One other classification is a really mild dose or a take a look at dose. The Sneha consumed right here might be digested as quickly as 3 hours. That is usually prescribed to check a person’s digestive capability and intestine. Based mostly on this take a look at dose, additional therapy plans and dosage will probably be determined.
Meals to eat throughout Snehapanam
All through all days of Snehapana therapy, you’ll solely be consuming heat meals solely once you really feel hungry. There isn’t any designated time for supper so in the event you really feel hungry at midnight, you’re allowed to eat.
Guarantee that no matter you eat is mild reminiscent of rice congee, soup, or porridge. It shouldn’t have too many substances, not be too oily, and should be liquified to a sure extent.
Furthermore, it is best to drink water solely in sips all through the day as a substitute of a full glass. And it ought to be heat as a substitute of room temperature or chilly.
You need to enquire in regards to the meals it is best to eat along with your ayurvedic practitioner.
Signs of Snehapanam
Individuals not often expertise any detrimental results from this Snehapana.
Nonetheless, in response to the consumption of ghee, indigestion might come up in some sufferers, which may result in burping, belching, and flatulence as a symptom. Moreover, complications, nausea, and vomiting may happen.
Not often, low vitality and temper swings are observed when receiving the ghee in Snehapana remedy. This happens on account of your physique going by a radical cleaning course of. By practising solitude, participating in meditation, getting loads of relaxation, or studying inspiring literature, temper fluctuations might be managed.
Additionally it is regular to expertise the urge to throw up or expertise unfastened stools. A chunk of lemon will probably be provided for sucking on this scenario, which can support to reduce the unpleasantness.
Contraindications of Snehapana
Whereas Snehapana is taken into account protected and efficient when carried out beneath the steering of a certified Ayurvedic physician, there are some contraindications to bear in mind. The next circumstances or conditions might forestall an individual from present process Snehapana remedy or require particular precautions:
- Being pregnant or breastfeeding: Snehapana shouldn’t be really helpful for pregnant or breastfeeding girls.
- Weight problems: Sufferers with extreme weight ought to keep away from Snehapana remedy as it could enhance their weight additional.
- Diabetes: Snehapana might trigger a rise in blood sugar ranges, so sufferers with diabetes ought to keep away from this remedy.
- Liver issues: Sufferers with liver issues reminiscent of cirrhosis or hepatitis ought to keep away from Snehapana remedy.
- Cardiovascular issues: Sufferers with coronary heart illness or hypertension ought to bear Snehapana remedy solely beneath shut medical supervision.
- Kidney issues: Sufferers with kidney illness ought to keep away from Snehapana remedy.
- Bronchial asthma: Sufferers with bronchial asthma ought to keep away from Snehapana remedy as it could set off respiration difficulties.
- Menstruation: Snehapana shouldn’t be really helpful throughout menstruation as it could trigger discomfort and different issues.
Precautions to take throughout and after the process
The beneath precautions ought to be strictly adhered to all through the process and even for a couple of days after the completion. That is to make sure that you get the utmost advantage of snehapanam.
- Use solely sizzling or heat water for all functions reminiscent of ingesting, bathing, and even whereas going to alleviate your self in the bathroom.
- Ensure you are curbing the pure urge to urinate and defecate.
- Don’t carry out any strenuous exercise or train.
- Sleeping throughout the day is prohibited.
- Your eating regimen ought to solely embody heat liquid or candy meals. Uncooked vegetables and fruit, bitter meals, quick meals, or any type of stimulant are to be strictly prevented.
- Abstain from all sexual actions in the course of the process.
- Ensure you defend your self from chilly, solar, breeze, wind, mud, and smoke. Preserve your self lined if it’s important to exit.
- Keep away from participating in actions that sap your vitality, reminiscent of speaking loudly, swimming, long-distance walks, fights, dropping your mood, worrying excessively, and utilizing digital gadgets like laptops, tablets, and cell phones.
Conclusion
In Ayurveda’s Panchakarma remedy, snehapanam is an important process. Earlier than starting further Ayurvedic therapies, Snehapanam is run to nourish each bodily element. It’s a technique of inner oleation with both plain or medicated ghee relying on the affected person’s circumstances.
This process is important as a result of it loosens the toxins and Doshas within the physique, making it simpler for them to be expelled throughout the first stage of therapy. To trace enchancment and modify the therapy technique, frequent follow-up classes with the Ayurvedic practitioner are additionally required.
By flushing out toxins deeply from the physique, it removes the foundation reason behind many issues and paves the way in which for higher immunity, metabolism, and total higher well being.
