Pada Abhyanga

According to Ayurveda, just before doing Panchakarma – Patient should be undergone some of the Purvaroopa’s that is preparatory procedures. Under this we can include 4 such preparatory procedures:-

1. Deepana
2. Pachana
3. Snehana
4. Swedana

These procedures makes the patient ready to undergo the 5 Therapeutic procedures collectively called as Panchakarma

Now for the question that how these preparatory treatment acts and helps the body ready to eliminate Dosha’s during panchakarama, the answer is that:-

Deepana causes Kindling of Aama, Paachana causes Digestion of Aama, Snehana causes the dosha, utkleshana(Gives an Excitation action for Dosha), Swedana liquefies the dosha and allow it to move to Koshta(Git) from all the Shakha’s(Extrimities of body)

Now after preparatory procedures, during panchakarma it is easy to eliminate the dosha’s present in the Koshta through the nearby orifices.

For instances it can be through the upper Orifice in Vamana and through the lower Orifice in Virechana.

Now Pada Abhyanga is one such procedure that come under Snehana(Oleation).

General Benefits of Abhyanga

According to Ashtanga Hrudaya Sootrasthana, those who undergo Abhyanga daily will get benefits like:-

1. Jara hara:- Prevents ageing, provides youthfulness, prevents greying of hair
2. Sramahara:- It relieves tiredness, fatigue
3. Vatahara:- Since Oil has opposite properties of Vata, it corrects vata dosha vitiation and the disease cuased by Vata Dosha.
4. Drushti Prasada Kara:- Good for eyes, it has a good action on Sandhi’s of Akshi(Joints of eyes mentioned in Ayurveda)
5. Pushtikara:- Nourishes skin and all other tissues
6. Ayushya:- Increase the life span
7. Svapnakara:- Imparts good sleep
8. Twak Dhardyakara:- Increases sturdiness of body, imparts flexibility of body, increase skin tone

Classic Method of Performing Abhyanga

Abhyanga should be commenced with Shiro abhyanga(Head massage) with lukewarm oil and later warm oil is applied to the whole body parts including head, ear, nose, feet and Mardana is done because mere application of oil will not nourish the body.

When Abhyanga(Massage) is done in Anuloma direction, it cures vata dushti. If done in Pratiloma ghati it will cure Kapha dosha. If massage is done in alternate Anuloma – Pratiloma ghati it will cure Pitta dosha.

Pada Abhyanga Procedure

Massage done in Pada Pradesha(Foot) is called as Pada Abhyanga.

For performing Pada abhyanga procedure, patient should lie down in Taila Droni Table, Oil with a temperature of 39 to 41 degree Celsius should be applied on the anterior fontanellae of the head, followed by applying over the whole scalp. Then slowly massaging of Ear, Palm,Feet is done

Another Method

Apart from the above said procedure, one can directly apply warm oil to feet and start massaging feet even without appliying oil to Head, Ear, Palm.

During massage Pressing, Kneading, Gliding, Pulling, Wringling, Friction, Draining etc strokes should be given

Benefits of Pada Abhyanga

Ayurveda shows a wonderful action in improving Eyesight by doing Pada Abhyanga, It alleviates Vata dosha and is good for Gridhrasi(Sciatica) It is good for crackings in foot since it has got a good action on roughness and dryness of feet.

It relieves fatigue and stiffness of feet, it helps to clear blockage in Sira(Blood vessels – Varicose Vein)