Svedana

Sveda means sweat. Svedana is the therapy that makes you perspire. It improves your (blood) circulation, warms the body and removes Ama. Causing you to feel less stiff, heavy and cold, cleansing your skin and blood – to name just a few of the advantages it brings. It stimulates and brings movement.

When used correctly, this therapy is beneficial in cases of increased Kapha and Vata. Where there is aggravated Kapha, you can use it as a single therapy, in case of a Vata disorder it is usually combined with Snehana. Due to the sweating you will lose fluids and therefore dehydrate. This is not desirable if you want to balance Vata, and can be prevented by applying oil on the skin beforehand.

Svedana relieves pain, excessive fat and congestion in the body. Which makes it is useful in muscle ache, obesity, circulatory problems and more.

Important properties of Svedana methods are heat, sharpness and mobility.

Svedana can be administered in different ways. Dry heat for example is very appropriate for Kapha; Vata is more benefited from the use of steam, or moist heat. In this way you can completely customize a treatment to your situation.

You can achieve the effects of Svedana yourself by drinking ginger tea or adding some hot pepper to a meal. Other ways to induce sweating are running, or if you are less in the mood of some exercise, by sitting in the sun for a while. And of course this list would not be complete without mentioning a day at the spa!

AyurJoya provides Bashpa sveda (using a steam box in which the head is not exposed to the heat, as Ayurveda strongly recommends) and Pinda sveda as Svedana treatments. Diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) herbs can also be advised.