ABSTRACT
Shirodhara is a procedure consisting of continuous pouring of a stream of medicated oil, milk, buttermilk, etc. on the forehead of the patient from a specific height for a specified period. Acharya Vagbhatta has described four types of Murdha Tail i.e., Abhyanga, Parishek, Pichu, and Shirobasti, which is successively more beneficial than the previous one. Shirodhara or Shiroparishechan is one of them. Indication of Shirodhara was found in our ancient textbooks in various diseases like Ardhavabhedaka, Suryavarta, Ardita, Pakshaghata, Hanugraha, Akshishula, Nidranasha, Shirogata Vata and Shirahkampa. In the modern era, it is a very widely used Panchakarma therapy and in this review article, an evidence-based approach is used to define the type, procedure, indication contraindication, mode of action, complications and management and evidence of efficacy etc. of Shirodhara. Based on evidence Shirodhara has been found effective in various disorders like Insomnia, Psoriasis, ADHD in children, Shirah Shoola, essential hypertension, cerebral ischemic stroke and premature ejaculation when accompanied with other treatment modalities. Shirodhara was found effective on subjective as well as scientific parameters or modern biochemical markers parameters in various studies.
ABSTRACT
Isolated sleep paralysis (disturbed sleep) is a condition in which a person is in a state of consciousness but is not able to move or speak in the bed even if he wants to. It is a dreadful condition for a person, in which he or she even fears to fall asleep. It can occur with or without being a part of a sleeping disorder named narcolepsy. According to Ayurveda conditions of isolated sleep paralysis occurring during rapid eye movements (REM) phase of sleep can be correlated to Tandra and Manovaha Sroto Dushti in a stressed individual (Alpa Satva Purush). Ayurveda has potential to treat sleep related disorders with the help of Panchkarma procedures namely Shirodhara. In modern medicine treatment of conditions like isolated sleep paralysis mainly depends on use of antidepressant and sedative medicines which has many side effects. In this case an effort has been made to treat a young male of 21 years with symptoms of helplessness or muscle atonia during initiation of his sleep hours with heaviness in chest, difficulty in respiration and choking sensation for past 2 years. Treatment given is Shirodhara for a period of 15 days with Brahmi oil and tablet Sarpangdha as an internal medicine. The result shows positive response by decreased frequency of attacks, time duration and other symptoms along with improvement in quality of life.
ABSTRACT
Background: Shirodhara is a classical and a well-established ayurvedic procedure of slowly and steadily dripping medicated oil or other liquids on the forehead. This procedure induces a relaxed state of awareness that results in a dynamic psycho-somatic balance. Objectives: The objective of the study is to evaluate the psychological and physiological effects of Shirodhara in healthy volunteers by monitoring the rating of mood and levels of stress, electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), and selected biochemical markers of stress. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the human pharmacology laboratory. The study design was open labeled, comparing the baseline variables with values after Shirodhara. The subjects (n = 16) chosen were healthy human volunteers who gave an informed consent. Shirodhara was preceded by Abhyanga – whole body massage. The Shirodhara method was standardized for rate of dripping with peristaltic pump and temperature was controlled with a thermostat. Mood and stress levels were assessed by validated rating scales. The pre- and post-Shirodhara ECG and EEG records were evaluated. Results: Student’s paired “t” test was applied to the means + SE of the variables to calculate statistical signifi cance at P <0.05. There was a signifi cant improvement in mood scores and the level of stress (P <0.001). These changes were accompanied by signifi cant decrease in rate of breathing and reduction in diastolic blood pressure along with reduction in heart rate. The relaxed alert state, after Shirodhara, was co-related with an increase in alfa rhythm in EEG. Conclusion: A standardized Shirodhara leads to a state of alert calmness similar to the relaxation response observed in meditation. The clinical benefi ts observed with Shirodhara in anxiety neurosis, hypertension, and stress aggravation due to chronic degenerative diseases could be mediated through these adaptive physiological effects.