Ashtanga Hrudaya Sutra Sthana Chapter 17: Svedavidhim Adhyayam (Sweating Therapy)
Table of Contents
The 17th chapter of Sutrasthanam of Ashtanga Hridayam is named as Sveda Vidhim Adhyaya. We are explaining Swedana procedure in this chapter. Swedana refers to sweating or sweating therapy. The term sweda means sweat. The patient is made to sweat on purpose. Usually this procedure is done after doing the oleation therapy (Snehakarma), that we studied in the last chapter.
अथातो स्ने स्वेदविधिमध्यायं व्याख्यास्याम: इति ह स्माहुरात्रेयादयो महर्षय:॥
Atreya and other sages pledge that henceforth they will be explaining the chapter named Sveda Vidhim (pertaining to the group of herbs used in Panchakarma or purification treatments).
Types of swedana
स्वेदस्तापोपनाहोष्मद्रवभेदाच्चतुर्विधः|
Kinds of sweating treatments – Swedana Prakara
1. Tapa- fomentation,
2. Upanaha- warm poultice,
3. Ushma- warm steam and
4. Drava – pouring of warm liquid
तापोऽग्नितप्तवसनफालहस्ततलादिभिः||१||
Tapa Sweda is done by touching the affected part of the body with heated cloth, metal plate, palm of the hand etc.
Upanaha dravyas
उपनाहो वचाकिण्वशताह्वादेवदारुभिः|
धान्यैः समस्तैर्गन्धैश्च रास्नैरण्डजटामिषैः||२||
उद्रिक्तलवणैः स्नेहचुक्रतक्रपयःप्लुतैः|
केवले पवने, श्लेष्मसंसृष्टे सुरसादिभिः||३||
UpanahaSweda is application of poultice prepared from
Vacha (Acorus calamus), Kinva-yeast, Shatahva (Dill),
Devadaru – (Himalayan cedar (bark) – Cedrus deodara) etc. any kind of grains, all substances having pleasant smell, roots of Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata) and Castor (Eranda); or meat;
each one added with more salt, fats-oil ghee etc. Chukra- Vinegar, Takra-Buttermilk and milk.
It is preferred in people with only Vata imbalance. In cases of vata being associated with kapha (vata-kapha imbalance) poultice should be administered with the Surasadi Gana group of herbs. In cases of vata being associated with pitta (vata-pitta imbalance), poultice prepared with padmakadi gana group of herbs is used. The poultice prepared with these herbs is called Salvana Upanaha and can be applied often.
पित्तेन पद्मकाद्यैस्तु साल्वणाख्यैः पुनःपुनः|
स्निग्धोष्णवीर्यैर्मृदुभिश्चर्मपट्टैरपूतिभिः||४||
अलाभे वातजित्पत्रकौशेयाविकशाटकैः|
बद्धं रात्रौ दिवा मुञ्चेन्मुञ्चेद्रात्रौ दिवाकृतम्||५||
After applying the poultice (Upanaha), the part of the body should be bandaged with soft piece of leather which does not have bad smell, which has been oiled; it should be slightly warmed and tied;
If leather is not available, leaves of plants which balance Vata, silk cloth, or woollen cloth may be used. Poultice tied during night should be removed during day and that tied during day should be removed during night.
ऊष्मा तूत्कारिकालोष्टकपालोपलपांसुभिः|
पत्रभङ्गेन धान्येन करीषसिकतातुषैः||६||
अनेकोपायसन्तप्तैः प्रयोज्यो देशकालतः|
Ushma Sweda- Here the steam of the hot substance is directed towards the body part. Steam may be obtained by Utkarika- (boiling grains, pulses, seeds etc).
Stones, pebbles, mud, leaves pieces, grains, dried dung of animals like cow, Sheep, Goat etc, Sand, Husk etc are also used for this purpose.
शिग्रुवारणकैरण्डकरञ्जसुरसार्जकात्||७||
शिरीषवासावंशार्कमालतीदीर्घवृन्ततः|
पत्रभङ्गैर्वचाद्यैश्च मांसैश्चानूपवारिजैः||८||
दशमूलेन च पृथक् सहितैर्वा यथामलम्|
स्नेहवद्भिः सुराशुक्तावारिक्षीरादिसाधितैः||९||
कुम्भीर्गलन्तीर्नाडीर्वा पूरयित्वा रुजार्दितम्|
वाससाऽऽच्छादितं गात्रं स्निग्धं सिञ्चेद्यथासुखम्||१०||
Drava Sweda – Warm liquid is prepared by boiling bits of leaves of drumstick, Varanaka , Eranda – (Castor), Karanja, Surasa, Arjaka, Shireesa, Vasa , Vamsha, Arka, Malati (Jasmine) or Dirghvrinta, with drugs of vachadi gana – vide chapter 15, meat of animals of Marshy land and of those living in water, drugs of Dashamula, each one separately or all together, mixed with fats – oil, ghee etc. appropriate to the Dosha; Sura- beer, Sukta- fermented gruel, water and milk.
This medicated liquid should be filled into pot, jug with spout, or a tube and poured slowly and steadily over the painful part covered with cloth.
तैरेव वा द्रवैः पूर्णं कुण्डं सर्वाङ्गगेऽनिले|
अवगाह्यातुरस्तिष्ठेदर्शःकृच्छ्रादिरुक्षु च||११||
In case of Vata affecting the entire body, the same- medicated water may be filled into the tub and the patient made to sit in it. This method can be adopted in piles, Dysuria etc.
Sweda vidhi – procedure of Sweating therapy
निवातेऽन्तर्बहिःस्निग्धो जीर्णान्नः स्वेदमाचरेत्|
Sweating should be administered to him who has been given Snehana – both internally- by drinking fats and externally- anointing oil over the body, who is staying in a room devoid of breeze and after his meal has been completely digested.
व्याधिव्याधितदेशर्तुवशान्मध्यवरावरम्||१२||
Sweating may be mild, moderate or strong depending upon the condition of the disease, Patient, habitat and season.
कफार्तो रूक्षणं रूक्षो, रूक्षः स्निग्धं कफानिले|
Person suffering from diseases of Kapha should be given sweating treatment in dry condition- without the use of fat internally and externally and with dry liquid – without addition of fats;
In case of Kapha and Vata- increased together the patient should be given sweating in dry condition and liquid mixed fats – should be used for sweating.
आमाशयगते वायौ कफे पक्वाशयाश्रिते||१३||
रूक्षपूर्वं तथा स्नेहपूर्वं स्थानानुरोधतः|
When vata is localized in the Amashaya- stomach, dry sweating should be given.
When Kapha is localized in Pakvasaya- (intestines), oil-sweating should be given.
अल्पं वङ्क्षणयोः, स्वल्पं दृङ्मुष्कहृदये न वा||१४||
Sweating should be very mild / nil over the groins and also on the eye, scrotum and heart. 14b
Benefits of sweating treatment – care to be taken – Swedanaphala and Upacana
शीतशूलक्षये स्विन्नो जातेऽङ्गानां च मार्दवे|
स्याच्छनैर्मृदितः स्नातस्ततः स्नेहविधिं भजेत्||१५||
Diminution of cold and pain and softness of the organ occur from Sweating. Afterwards the body should be massaged slowly, given bath –in warm water and allowed comforts as prescribed in lubrication therapy.
Ati Swedana phala – effects of excess Sweating
पित्तास्रकोपतृण्मूर्च्छास्वराङ्गसदनभ्रमाः|
सन्धिपीडा ज्वरः श्यावरक्तमण्डलदर्शनम्||१६||
स्वेदातियोगाच्छर्दिश्च, तत्र स्तम्भनमौषधम्|
विषक्षाराग्न्यतीसारच्छर्दिमोहातुरेषु च||१७||
Aggravation of Pitta and vitiation of blood,
thirst, loss of consciousness, weakness of voice and body,
Bhrama – Delusion, Dizziness
Sandhipeeda– pain in the joints ,
Jvara – fever, appearance of black- blue, red patches on the skin, and vomiting are produced by excess of Sweating therapy;
For that , Stambhana treatment should be done. It is the same procedure, useful in diarrhoea and bleeding disorders.
Withholding, stopping, hindering of elimination is the treatment, so also for patients suffering from poison, caustic Alkali and Barding by fire; Diarrhoea, vomiting and unconsciousness.
Qualities of substances used for Swedana, Sthambhana
स्वेदनं गुरु तीक्ष्णोष्णं प्रायः, स्तम्भनमन्यथा|
द्रवस्थिरसरस्निग्धरूक्षसूक्ष्मं च भेषजम्||१८||
स्वेदनं, स्तम्भनं श्लक्ष्णं रूक्षसूक्ष्मसरद्रवम्|
प्रायास्तिक्तं कषायं च मधुरं च समासतः||१९||
Generally substances which are heavy, penetrating and hot in potency are used in Swedana therapy.
Substances of opposite qualities are used in Sthambhana (withholding, hindrances to elimination)
Drugs which are liquid, sthira – static, mobile, unctuous, dry and penetrating bring about sweating.
Those which are smooth, dry, thin, mobile and liquid, bitter, Astringent and sweet in taste are generally Stambhana.
स्तम्भितः स्याद्बले लब्धे यथोक्तामयसङ्क्षयात्|
Stambhana is useful in diarrhoea and bleeding disorders,
With this treatment, the person gains Strength and gets relieved of symptoms of excess sweating.
Symptoms of excess Sthambana
स्तम्भत्वक्स्नायुसङ्कोचकम्पहृद्वाग्धनुग्रहैः||२०||
पादौष्ठत्वक्करैः श्यावैरतिस्तम्भितमादिशेत्|
Contraction of skin and tendons, tremors, stiffness of region of heart, choking of voice, locked jaw, black discoloration of the feet, lips, skin and hands.
Persons unsuitable for Svedana
न स्वेदयेदतिस्थूलरूक्षदुर्बलमूर्च्छितान्||२१||
स्तम्भनीयक्षतक्षीणक्षाममद्यविकारिणः|
तिमिरोदरवीसर्पकुष्ठशोषाढ्यरोगिणः||२२||
पीतदुग्धदधिस्नेहमधून् कृतविरेचनान्|
भ्रष्टदग्धगुदग्लानिक्रोधशोकभयार्दितान्||२३||
क्षुत्तृष्णाकामलापाण्डुमेहिनः पित्तपीडितान्|
गर्भिणीं पुष्पितां सूतां, मृदु चात्ययिके गदे||२४||
Aswedayah – persons Unsuitable for Sweating:-
Atishoola – excessively obese
Atirooksha – highly dry
Durbala – weak, debilitated
Murchita – fainted, unconscious
Those who are fit for Sthambhana treatment
Kshataksheena – wounded, injured
Patients with Ama condition
Madyavikari – chronic alcoholics
Night blindness
Visarpa – herpes
Kushta – skin diseases
Shosha – emaciated
who have recently consumed milk, curds, fat,
Who have just undergone Virechana treatment
Who are burnt,
Who are tired, suffering from anger, grief, fear, excess thirst, hunger,
Kamala – liver diseases
Pandu – anemia
Meha – urinary disorders
People with Pitta imbalance
women who are pregnant, menstruating – during periods and delivered – recently. In case of emergency diseases, it should be done mildly – for the above. 21-24
Persons suitable for Svedana
श्वासकासप्रतिश्यायहिध्माध्मानविबन्धिषु|
स्वरभेदानिलव्याधिश्लेष्मामस्तम्भगौरवे||२५||
अङ्गमर्दकटीपार्श्वपृष्ठकुक्षिहनुग्रहे|
महत्वे मुष्कयोः खल्यामायामे वातकण्टके||२६||
मूत्रकृच्छ्रार्बुदग्रन्थिशुक्रघाताढ्यमारुते|
स्वेदं यथायथं कुर्यात्तदौषधविभागतः||२७||
Shwasa – dysnoea, COPD, Asthma
Kasa – cough,
Pratishyaya – running nose, allergic rhinitis
Hidhma – hiccup,
Adhmana – bloating
Vibandha – constipation
Svarabheda – altered voice, hoarseness
Vatavyadi – diseases of Vata imbalance
Angamarda – bodyache
stiffness in lower back, flanks, back, abdomen and jaws
enlargement of the scrotum, contractions of toes and fingers, tetanus sprains, dysuria, Malignant tumour- cancer, benign tumour, obstruction to the flow of semen and urine, and Adhyamaruta- Thigh stiffness.
Anagni Sweda – Sweating without fire source
स्वेदो हितस्त्वनाग्नेयो वाते मेदःकफावृते|
निवातं गृहमायासो गुरुप्रावरणं भयम्||२८||
उपनाहाहवक्रोधा भूरिपानं क्षुधाऽऽतपः|
Sweating without source of fire is suitable in diseases of vata enveloped by Medas and Kapha.
Nivatasadana – Staying in air tight room,
Ayasa – stressful physical activity,
Gurupravarana – covering oneself with thick blankets
Bhaya – fear,
Upanaha – bandaging wrapping with cloth etc.
Fighting, wrestling
Krodha – anger
Bhuripana – excess drinking of water
Kshudha – withholding hunger
Atapa – Sun exposure
Swedaphala – Effects of Sweating
स्नेहक्लिन्नाः कोष्ठगा धातुगा वा स्रोतोलीना ये च शाखास्थिसंस्थाः|
दोषाः स्वेदैस्ते द्रवीकृत्य कोष्ठं नीताः सम्यक् शुद्धिभिर्निर्ह्रियन्ते|
Doshas which have been lubricated by oleation therapy, residing either in the alimentary tract, tissues, or lurking in the channels of the extremities bones etc are liquefied by Sweating therapy, brought into the alimentary canal to be eliminated out of the body completely, by appropriate purification therapies.
So, sweating is done after oleation, but be fore elimination of Doshas by Panchakarma.
इति श्रीवैद्यपतिसिंहगुप्तसूनुश्रीमद्वाग्भटविरचितायामष्टाङ्गहृदयसंहितायां सूत्रस्थाने स्वेदविधिर्नाम नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः||१५||
Thus ends the chapter Swedavidhi- the Seventeenth of Sutrasthana of Astangahrdaya Samhita.
