Dhara

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SANTHIGIRI AYURVEDA & SIDDHA VAIDYASALA

CHENNAI

www.ayurvedasanthigiri.com

 

 

Dhara

Dhara means pouring of a

liquid in a nonstop flow. In this treatment a steady stream of medicated herbal

oil (thailadhara) is poured on the whole body in a particular pattern for about

45-60 minutes in a day for a period of 7-14 or 21 days. Dharaactivates

the five energy centres of the spine and thereby raises the energy. Patients

say that they feel very light, thought free and blissful during this treatment.

This treatment is ideal for insomnia, mental tension, for all progressive

degenerative diseases like arthritis, spondylosis, motor neuron diseases etc.

This treatment is highly rejuvenating and prepares the person to bear the

stress and strain of modern life style. It improves sexual, physical, mental

and spiritual abilities. Dhara is done with medicated ghee, sesame oil and

other oils, with Kashayas or with cow’s milk etc. according to the type of

illness. Dhara is another specialized

treatment found to be effective for diseases of the head, insomnia, impaired

memory and fatigue. In the Dhara process, the patient is made to lie supine on

the treatment table. Medicated Oil is then liberally applied over his head and

body. Then a continuous stream of prescribed medication (Oil, Decoction, etc)

is made to drip steadily on his forehead from a specific height through a

specialized apparatus. The head is considered to be the prominent command

center of the human body. It may be done on the head, on the body or on both

head & body together. Usually it is done only on the head in case of

diseases 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

or

on both head and body. Dhara when done on the head alone is called Urdhwanga

Dhara and when

the process is done throughout the body, it is called Sarvanga Dhara.

This treatment is a kind of sudation

therapy using herbal decoctions. This is a process by which the body is made to

perspire by means of pouring warm decoction from special herbs with a special

vessel 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 fat

metabolism, removes tension from the muscles and also good for pain and

stiffness of the joints and muscles, fibromyalgia etc

 

Dhanyamla Dhara:

Special warm herbal decoction is

poured all over the body in a rhythmic way for 30 minutes daily. This is very

effective for all neurological problems.

Takra

Dharais another variation of

Urdhwanga Dhara, wherin special medicated buttermilk is made for chronic

diseases like psoriasis & other skin problems, mental diseases,etc.

 

The important apparatus necessary for Dhara are “Dhara

Patthi†and “Dhara Chattiâ€. “Dhara Patthiâ€/ " Dhara Droni " resembles a

cot made of wood/fiber moulded, sufficiently long and broad for the patient to

lie comfortably, slightly raised at the edges so that liquid medicines when

poured over the head or the body may not flow away, and with two holes situated

at both ends the liquid medicines when poured over the head or the body may

flow 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 of

one’s little finger, at the centre of the base. The patient is made to lie on

his back on the Patthi. Dhara liquid is poured in to the Dhara Chatti (which is

suspended above the patient’s head by means of a rope) and made to flow

continuously on the fore-head of the patient, in appropriate quantities along a

wick passing through a hole in the centre of the Dhara Chatti. The process

generally takes one to two hours

 

 

Facial paralysis, Partial paralysis, Neuralgia, Lock-jaw, Loss of

speech etc.

In the above and such other

cases Dhara is done, according to condition of the patient, with

‘Ksheerabala’,

‘Dhanwantharam’, (the oil will have to be medicated in accordance with the

state of advance of the illness) ‘Balathailam’ and other oils or with

suitable

Kashayas like Dasa Mulam.

In the case of patients

suffering from insanity, severe head-ache, loss of memory, dullness of the

brain etc. several medicines are generally used for Dhara. But the most common

and in several cases effective one is

Takra 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

are

at the same time cold resistant. Vaidyas in Kerala have personal and almost

daily experience of many a severe and nearly incurable disease caused mainly by

Pitta, being brought under control and cured by this treatment accompanied by a

rigid observance to the “don’t’s†(pathya) prescribed. But it may be

necessary

to alter the ingredients in the Kashaya or the butter-milk, or use other

liquids in accordance with the state of the disease of the patient. The other

liquids 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 the

face, Takra Dhara is generally preferred. Yet the liquid may be changed

according to the state of the disease and the diagnosis of the Vaidyas. Besides

these, Vaidyas use their discretion and resort to Dhara with appropriate

Kashayas in case of skin and other diseases also and these have been found

eminently effective.