Stambhana

Stambha literally means to stop or to hold. And that is exactly what this therapy does. Not only prevents it that your body loses too much of liquids (like water, urine and blood), it also brings about stability and steadiness.

So besides being a useful tool to stop diarrhea, bleeding or excessive sweating, it can also help in cases of insomnia or restlessness by reducing movement in body and mind. It is particularly a good therapy to employ if Pitta Dosha is the one causing problems.

Stambhana substances often have properties like cold, slow, soft, static, smooth and slimy.

Depending on the effect you want to achieve (like stopping blood loss, or calming the mind), you can administer different methods. Cooling the skin, when bruised, with ice causes the blood vessels to constrict, thus diminishing bleeding and swelling. Herbs and seeds like nutmeg and poppy seeds on the other hand have a calming effect, working on the mind. Eating meat also has a dulling and grounding, and therefore stabilizing, action.

You can also apply the knowledge you acquired earlier about the Ayurvedic view on tastes. For wasn’t it the astringent taste that causes bleedings and excretions to stop?