IJCRR

IJCRR - 13(8), April, 2021

Pages: 26-29

Date of Publication: 25-Apr-2021

An Ayurvedic Approach of Pinda Sweda and its Different Modalities

Author: Swati Tikale, Krutika Umate, Madhulika Tiwari, Nikhil Dhande

Category: Healthcare

Abstract:Swedana (Sudation) is a treatment procedure in which sweat is induced employing heat in the form of steam or by contact of the body with heated medicaments. The effect of Swedana is to relieve stiffness, heaviness and coldness in the body. After Swedana, the body starts sweating and gives the feeling of lightness. The word 'PINDA' means bolus. Pinda Sweda is a traditional Ayurvedic procedure with the property of profound healing and renewal potential. In this procedure, warm cloth boluses which are prepared with herbs, milk, rice, and medicinal leaves, are massaged onto the whole body. Pinda Sweda help to increase circulation improves muscle tone, strengthens the nervous system. According to the patient condition, one can select different types of Pinda Sweda as described in Samhitas and even can make some new combinations as per the need, accessibility and properties of the drugs. The present review study narrates the literature available on Pinda Sweda, which generally used as Panchakarma treatment in Ayurvedic classics and practicable modifications one can make according to the accessibility, need, and condition.

Keywords: Swedana, Pinda Sweda, Panchakarma Chikitsa, Samhitas

Full Text:

INTRODUCTION

All the Panchakarma procedures divided into three karma i.e. Poorva karma (Pre-operative), Pradhana Karma (operative) and Paschat karma (post-operative). The Swedana karma is included in Poorva karma for Panchakarma procedures. Swedana is the karma that causes the body to perspire.¹ It can be achieved by many methods. The Sweda karma classified into two types as Sagni Sweda (direct contact with fire) and Niragni Sweda (without the direct contact of fire).² Sankara Sweda is one among the 13 Saagni Sweda. In our classics text, the Sankaradi Sweda is mentioned as one of the most ancient treatments in Ayurveda.³ Pinda Sweda works on the principles of Sankara Sweda. Pinda Sweda falls into the category of  Tapa Sweda of four types of Sweda. Sankara Sweda is the method in which the materials are wrapped in a cloth and used for Swedana purpose and it is known as Pinda Sweda.⁴ The Sankara Sweda is again classified based on dravya used as Rooksha Sankara Sweda and Snigdha Sankara sweda. In the case of Ruksha (dry) Sankara Sweda, hot solid substances which are used as the stool of different animals like Cow, Horse, Camel, Sand, Brick, Stone and this type Swedana mainly practised in Kapha vitiated patients.⁵ In type of Snigdha (Unctuous) Sankara Sweda, the thick gruel is prepared from the materials like-Tila (Sesame), Masha (Black gram), Kulatha (Horse gram), Amla Dravya (Citric fruits,) Ghrita (ghee), Taila (oil), Payasa (rice and milk pudding) and this Swedana is more practised in the conditions of KevalaVata.⁶ There are varities of Pinda Sweda as Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda and Nirgundi Patra Pinda.

Depend on the properties of the Dravya utilized for the Swedana karma is of three types Snigdha -Ruksha, Snigdha, Ruksha which are adopted mainly for Vata-Kapha, Vata and Kapha Pradhan Vyadhi respectively.⁷ So we can systematize Pinda Sweda concerning the Guna of Dravyas used (Table 1).

VALUKA SWEDA

Valuka sweda is one among the Ruksha sweda. Valuka Sweda is the treatment in which sand is used for fomentation (sweat-inducing) of painful parts. It can be done as Sarvanga (whole-body) or Ekanga (locally) Swedana procedure. It provides relief from pain, inflammation, swelling and stiffness. It is mainly used in Sandhigata Vata (osteoarthritis), Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis), Urustambha (stiffness of the thighs) Obesity, Granthi, Kapha Medavritavata (Table 2).⁸

MATERIALS REQUIRED

The Valuka is heated and pottalis are made. It can be applied directly on the body or by dipping into Kanji⁹. This is very useful in alleviating Vata and Kapha diseases and pain all over the body etc.

Probable Alteration in Valuka Sweda

Pranipurisha (Stool of animals), Lavana (rock salt), Ishtikachoorna (brick powder), Vatahara Patras, Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), Arka (Calotropis Procera), Agnimantha (Clerodendrum phlomidis), Dhatura (Datura metel), Vatahara choorna, Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Devdaru (Cedrous deodara) etc. can be used before applying Taila (NimbaTaila, Brhat Saindhavadi Taila, Sahacharadi Taila).

PATRA PINDA SWEDA

Patra Pinda Sweda is the type of Pinda Sweda where leaves of medicinal plants that have the property of Vata Kaphahara are roasted in a pan with little oil and a bolus is prepared by tying in the cloth¹⁰. It is one of the types of Ushma Sweda ( Table 3).

Ingredients Required

Possible Modifications

Instead of different combinations of Patras, only single patra pottali can be practised. Eg.- Nirgundi patra pinda sweda, Arka patra pinda sweda and also Anda Sweda,  Bhusa Pinda Sweda, Karish Pinda Sweda, etc¹¹ can be used in practice. Various choorna combinations can be used.

JAMBEERA PINDA SWEDA

The word “Jambira Pinda” is made up of two words Jambira means Lemon and Pinda means bolus. Jambira Pinda Sweda assigns to the Pinda Sweda performed by the specially prepared bundles of Jambira and other drugs¹². This is mainly used in Vata-Kapha morbidity conditions. It is usually practised in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Lumbar Spondylosis, frozen shoulder, plantar fasciitis, and traumatic conditions. It is used in pain, swelling and stiffness associated with joints, spine, nerves etc (Table 4).

Probable modifications

Matulunga (Citrus medica) can be used instead of lemon. For frying purpose instead of taila, Vasa (fat) and Majja (bone marrow) of different animals can be used.¹³

SHASHTIKA SHALI PINDA SWEDA

Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda is the type of Snigdha Sankara Sweda¹⁴ which falls into the type of Sagni Sweda¹⁵. In this procedure of Swedana, Shashtika Shali¹⁶ (a variety of rice with the medicinal value which is cropped in just 60 days) processed in Kwatha (decoction) of Balamoola (the root of Sida cordifolia) and milk. It is known in Kerala as Navarakizhi. It does the function of Swedana, Snehana and Brimhana (anabolic quality) simultaneously; it is mostly used in Vata vitiated disorders.  It also possesses inherent cool property, so can also be advised in moderately vitiated Pitta ( Table 5).

Materials Required

Probable Modifications

Ashwagandha churna, Rasyan churna, Balya churna, Masha churna, Tila churna, Godhuma (wheat flour) can be added to get more benefits of Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda.

CHOORNA PINDA SWEDA

Choorna pinda sweda is one of the types of Ushma sweda. The Churna Pinda Sweda is the treatment in which with the mixture of various choorna combinations like Methika (Fenugreek), Sarshapa (Mustard), Shatapushpa (Anethum graveolens), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi), Atasi (flax seeds) are used. This procedure can be done in two way; Snigdha and Rooksha.^15,16

In Snigdha pinda sweda, first Abhyanga with oil is done all over the body and the Pottalis are also heated in oil. In Rooksha Pinda Sweda the Pottalis are directly applied all over the body without Abhyanga. The Procedure can also be modified by dipping Pottali into the steam of different Drava (liquid) dravyas like Dhanyamla in some specific conditions (Table 6).

Ingredients Required

NEW ADVANCEMENTS

Choorna Pinda Sweda with dipping in Dhanyamla shown ingredients in Table 7.

Dhanyamla Dipping

The Choorna of above drugs are mixed with 500 ml of Dhanyamla properly and cooked. The Pottali is dipped in heated Dhanyamla and Swedana was done Ekanga or Sarvanga, up to the achievement of proper symptoms of Swedana. During the procedure, the Dhanyamla should be reheated to maintain the same temperature throughout the procedure. Pottali should be used only one time.

Probable Modifications

Different choornas can be used like- Kolakullathadi choorna, Kottamchukadi choorna, Triphaladi choorna or a combination of different single drug choorna.  Instead of Dhanyaml, Chincha rasa, Gomutra, Single drug Kashaya, Takra can be used.

CHINCHA LAVANA PINDA SWEDA

Ingredients required  for Chincha lavana pinda Sweda in Table 8

Other probable Dravyas for Pinda Sweda

Busa, Laja (Puffed grain), Navdhanya (Nine grains), Sarshapa (Mustard seeds), Maize.

CONCLUSION

Swedana is one of the crucial treatment modality which is useful in the treatment of diseases in the form of Poorvakarma, Pradhana karma as well as Paschata karma. The Materials and drugs mentioned for Swedana each of them have their specific properties and actions, so it should be used depending upon the condition. Already there are many Dravya mentioned by our Acharya, we should select them depending upon Desha, Roga, and availability of Dravya. Pinda Sweda is a widely and mostly practised Swedana procedure where the principle of treatment is based on the combined effect of heat and the medicinal properties of drugs. Hence, based on Roga (disease) and Rogi (patient) one can opt for different combinations of Pinda Sweda according to the availability and properties of the drugs.

Conflict of interest: Nil

Source of funding: Nil

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