{"id":10006,"date":"2020-08-31T19:51:30","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T19:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/withoutlifterp.wpenginepowered.com\/courses\/?p=10006"},"modified":"2024-02-22T12:17:29","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T12:17:29","slug":"behind-the-sloka-customizing-heat-therapy-according-to-the-ashtanga-hridayam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wellness.keralaayurveda.us\/courses\/blog\/behind-the-sloka-customizing-heat-therapy-according-to-the-ashtanga-hridayam\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the sloka: customizing heat therapy according to the Ashtanga Hridayam"},"content":{"rendered":"
As an Ayurvedic enthusiast, have you ever wondered what the root texts of this ancient health science actually say? Do you wish to learn straight from the source and hear the Ayurvedic principles in their native Sanskrit?<\/h6>\n
Kerala Ayurveda Academy offers you this opportunity in our live streamed Ashtanga Hridayam<\/em> series<\/a>! To give you an example of what you can learn from the ancient text, we’re going behind the sloka in this article with some insight on the heat therapy.<\/h6>\n

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Ayurveda states that the combined synergy and equilibrium of mind, body, and soul is the key to ultimate health and happiness. The subtle energy channels (Srotas<\/em>) in our body are often blocked by metabolic toxins, called Ama<\/em>, as a result of weak digestive strength or Agni<\/em>. This leads to clogging of Srotas<\/em> and disruption of tissue nutrition, weakening the immune system, and causing health issues. Vedic texts like the Ashtanga Hridayam<\/em> focus on understanding the subtle changes in the body to identify and rekindle Agni<\/em> and cleanse Ama<\/em>, before the imbalance emerges as illness. This can be achieved through Panchakarma – <\/em>Ayurveda’s unique mind-body purification system. Many of the fads practiced nowadays to cleanse the body are not customized and may thus lead to improper effect and can be debilitating. The Ayurvedic approach, on the other hand, is personalized, does not focus merely on diagnostic tools, but rather on the awareness and sensitivity of the individual with his body and is designed with a detailed preparatory and a rejuvenatory phase to support a safe and effective cleansing.<\/p>\n

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Eliminating Ama by Ayurvedic detoxification methods<\/h3>\n

Understanding the cause of accumulation of digestive toxins and emotional clutter, as well as ways to eliminate them, forms one of the most basic strategies in Ayurveda to improve health and positive well-being of mind, body and spirit. The mode of cleansing and elimination is highly customized and has to be devised keeping in mind the physical and emotional state of the individual. Some of the detoxification methods are straight-forward, like intake of internal medicines; others might require a more complex cleansing, like utilizing Panchakarma<\/em>: the five cleansing actions. Panchakarma<\/em> eliminates deep-seated metabolic toxins which are the root cause of illness.<\/p>\n

Panchakarma<\/em> offers many therapies and techniques to address the uniqueness of each individual and scenario.\u00a0Svedana<\/em>, or heat therapy, is one of them, and can be used in two primary ways: (1) as a single detoxification therapy, in case there is only mild accumulation of Ama<\/em>, or (2) as a preparatory step in a longer Panchakarma<\/em> program, to facilitate the movement metabolic wastes for later elimination using other cleansing therapies. The mode and duration of Svedana<\/em> therapy will depend on the psychosomatic constitution or Prakriti<\/em> and strength of the individual, season, and therapeutic benefit intended.<\/p>\n

Svedana<\/em> can be beneficial when used in the right way, for the right person at the right time. It is not always beneficial. The following passage from the revered Ayurvedic text, Ashtanga<\/em> Hridayam<\/em>, states the contraindications of Svedana<\/em> or fomentation therapy:<\/p>\n

Na svedayet ati-sthoola-ruksha-durbala-moorchitaan |<\/em>
\nStambhaneeya-kshata-ksheena-visha-madyavikarinah ||<\/em>
\nTimira-udara-visarpa-kushta-sopha-adyaroginah |<\/em>
\nPeeth-dugdha-dadhi-sneha-madhoon krita-virechanaan ||<\/em>
\nBrasht-dagdha-guda-glaani-krodha-shoka-bhayaardithaan |<\/em>
\nKshut-trishna-kamla-paandu-mehinah pitta-peedithaan ||<\/em>
\nGarbhinim pushpithaam suthaam mridu cha aatyayike gade |<\/em><\/h6>\n

\u2014As.Hri.Su 17\/21-24<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The above verses explain in a very condensed manner that Svedana<\/em>, although very efficient in removing metabolic wastes from the body, is better avoided in certain conditions like:<\/p>\n