Importance of Swedana
This procedure is very important to liquefy the vitiated Doshas inside the body (which are already made soft by oleation / स्नेहन procedure), later to be brought to Koshtha (कोष्ठ), which will be eliminated by inducing either Vamana / Virechana.
There are different types by which Swedana can be conducted Based on Agni
- By using Fire (साग्नि स्वेद)
- Without using Fire (निरग्नि स्वेद)
- According to area / location
- Local sudation (ऎकाङ्ग स्वेद)
- Whole body fomentation (सर्वाङ्ग स्वेद)
- Based on the strength of the person and the disease
- Mild / Gentle sudation (मृदु स्वेद)
- Medium sudation (मध्यम स्वेद)
- High grade / Maximum sudation (महा / तीक्ष्ण् स्वेद)
Based on the techniques, they are classified as
- Direct Heat ( ताप स्वेद )
- With Poultice ( उपनाह स्वेद )
- With warm liquids ( द्रव स्वेद )
- Steam ( ऊष्मा स्वेद )
Swedana is very useful in
- In most of the respiratory disorders (like Cold, Cough, Dyspnoea, Asthma, Allergies, including infections)
- Joint pains, Head aches etc
- Musclo-skeletal disorders (Low back ache, Sciatica, Various types of Arthritis like Osteo, Rheumatoid, Gouty etc)
- Neurological problems like Hemiplegia, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia, Bell’s palsy etc
- In some of the Urinary problems