An Introduction to Dhara - Chennai - SANTHIGIRI AYURVEDA & SIDDHA VAIDYASALA

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SANTHIGIRI AYURVEDA & SIDDHA VAIDYASALACHENNAI www.ayurvedasanthig iri.comAn Introduction to Dhara

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DharaDhara means pouring of aliquid in a nonstop flow. In this treatment a steady stream of medicated herbaloil (thailadhara) is poured on the whole body in a particular pattern for about45-60 minutes in a day for a period of 7-14 or 21 days. Dharaactivatesthe five energy centres of the spine and thereby raises the energy. Patientssay that they feel very light, thought free and blissful during this treatment.This treatment is ideal for insomnia, mental tension, for all progressivedegenerative diseases like arthritis, spondylosis, motor neuron diseases etc.This treatment is highly rejuvenating and prepares the person to bear thestress and strain of modern life style. It improves sexual, physical, mentaland spiritual abilities. Dhara is done with medicated ghee, sesame oil andother oils, with Kashayas or with cow’s milk etc. according to the type ofillness. Dhara is another

specializedtreatment found to be effective for diseases of the head, insomnia, impairedmemory and fatigue. In the Dhara process, the patient is made to lie supine onthe treatment table. Medicated Oil is then liberally applied over his head andbody. Then a continuous stream of prescribed medication (Oil, Decoction, etc)is made to drip steadily on his forehead from a specific height through aspecialized apparatus. The head is considered to be the prominent commandcenter of the human body. It may be done on the head, on the body or on bothhead & body together. Usually it is done only on the head in case ofdiseases affecting the head or mental diseases like insanity. In the case of‘Vatha’ and other diseases affecting the whole body it is done on the body oron both head and body. Dhara when done on the head alone is called Urdhwanga Dhara and whenthe process is done throughout the body, it is called

Sarvanga Dhara. This treatment is a kind of sudationtherapy using herbal decoctions. This is a process by which the body is made toperspire by means of pouring warm decoction from special herbs with a specialvessel from a certain height in a rhythmic manner and is rubbed into the body.This method removes 'ama' or toxins from the tissues and promotes fatmetabolism, removes tension from the muscles and also good for pain andstiffness of the joints and muscles, fibromyalgia etcDhanyamla Dhara: Special warm herbal decoction ispoured all over the body in a rhythmic way for 30 minutes daily. This is veryeffective for all neurological problems. TakraDharais another variation ofUrdhwanga Dhara, wherin special medicated buttermilk is made for chronicdiseases like psoriasis & other skin problems, mental diseases,etc.The important apparatus necessary for Dhara are “DharaPatthi†and

“Dhara Chattiâ€. “Dhara Patthiâ€/ "Dhara Droni" resembles acot made of wood/fiber moulded, sufficiently long and broad for the patient tolie comfortably, slightly raised at the edges so that liquid medicines whenpoured over the head or the body may not flow away, and with two holes situatedat both ends the liquid medicines when poured over the head or the body mayflow down separately. "Dhara Chatti" is a basin usually made of clay,about 2 liters capacity, flat and round, with a small hole, about the size ofone’s little finger, at the centre of the base. The patient is made to lie onhis back on the Patthi. Dhara liquid is poured in to the Dhara Chatti (which issuspended above the patient’s head by means of a rope) and made to flowcontinuously on the fore-head of the patient, in appropriate quantities along awick passing through a hole in the centre of the Dhara Chatti. The processgenerally takes

one to two hoursFacial paralysis, Partial paralysis, Neuralgia, Lock-jaw, Loss ofspeech etc.In the above and such othercases Dhara is done, according to condition of the patient, with ‘Ksheerabala’,‘Dhanwantharam’, (the oil will have to be medicated in accordance with thestate of advance of the illness) ‘Balathailam’ and other oils or with suitableKashayas like Dasa Mulam.In the case of patientssuffering from insanity, severe head-ache, loss of memory, dullness of thebrain etc. several medicines are generally used for Dhara. But the most commonand in several cases effective one isTakra Dhara. This Dhara is done by a mixture of Kashayas of ‘Pitha hara’ and‘Kapha hara’ medicines like Gooseberry and butter-milk which though cooling areat the same time cold resistant. Vaidyas in Kerala have personal and almostdaily experience of many a severe and nearly incurable disease

caused mainly byPitta, being brought under control and cured by this treatment accompanied by arigid observance to the “don’t’s†(pathya) prescribed. But it may be necessaryto alter the ingredients in the Kashaya or the butter-milk, or use otherliquids in accordance with the state of the disease of the patient. The otherliquids used alternatively are Kashayas made up of ‘Panchagandha’, cow’s milk,breast milk, tender coconut-water etc.In case of peenasam, diseases of the eye, the ear and theface, Takra Dhara is generally preferred. Yet the liquid may be changedaccording to the state of the disease and the diagnosis of the Vaidyas. Besidesthese, Vaidyas use their discretion and resort to Dhara with appropriateKashayas in case of skin and other diseases also and these have been foundeminently effective.

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