Kāyasekais a SnigdaSveda in which the warmed oil is poured all over the body/specific part for a stipulated period, in a specific manner. It has the advantage of producing Snēhana&Svedana simultaneously. Pizhichil is a modified form of Kāyasekadeveloped by KeraleeyaVaidyas& extensively practiced. This process is described here.

Materials required:                        

1. Suitable oil – 3 litres 2. Cotton cloth (40 cm x40 cm) – 4 3. Vessels (5 liters) – 3                                                                                                                         4. Soft towels – 2                                                                                                                                    5. Oil for Talaṃ – 10 ml                                                                                                                              6. RāsnādiCūrṇa– 5 g                                                                                                                            7. Gauze (60 cm) –1                                                                                                                               8. Earplugs – 2
2. Hot waterbath – 110. Coconut leaves –2 11. GandharvahastādiKaṣāya (PāthiKaṣāya) – 90 ml                                                                                                   12. Medicated water – Q.S.                                                                                                                          13. Masseurs – 2                14. Attendant – 1

Pre-operative procedure:

Patient should sit on the Droṇiwith legs extended, with minimum cloths. Talaṃ is applied with suitable oil/Cūrṇa, along with KarṇaPūraṇa. Gauze should be tied around the head above the eyebrows. Ears should be plugged with cotton and oil smeared all over the body (mild Abhyaṅga).

Procedure:

The oil for seka should be heated in a vessel kept in a hot water bath. The temperature of the oil must be 42^oC-45^oC.The cotton pieces dip in the warm oil and should be poured by squeezing cloth pieces held in one hand of masseurs. The oil should flow, in a uniform stream from the thumb facing downwards, from a height of 6-9 inches as per the condition. The process should be carried out in seven positions as follows.

1. Sitting 2. Supine                                                                                                          3. Right lateral                                                                                                                                              4. Supine                                                                                                                                                     5. Left lateral                                                                                                                                            6. Supine                                                                                                                                                     7. Sitting

Prone position can be adopted if necessary. Oil flowing out should be collected and used after reheating. A gentle massage should be given along the stream. It is desirable to use fresh oil daily. As the medicated oil is very costly the same oil may be used for 3 days after removing sediments. This should be preserved after removing moisture. Small quantity of fresh oil should be added to this to maintain the quantity. On the fourth day fresh oil should be taken & used for next 2 days. On the seventh day both these batches of oil can be used.

Postoperative procedure:

The oil is wiped off with the help of coconut leaves. Body should be cleaned with soft towel. Talaṃ should be removed and appropriate CūrṇalikeRāsnādi is applied on the head. GandharvahastādiKaṣāya should be given for drinking. Take rest for ½ an hour and take bath. Head bath can be done with ĀmalakīKvāthaand body with EraṇḍaKvātha.

Duration:

45 minutes-1hour for 7, 14 or 21 days.

Time of procedure:

Preferably done in morning hours in moderate climate.

Precautions:

1. Temperature should be maintained at the same level throughout the procedure.
2. Stream should be uniform and continuous.

Complications:

1. Fainting– stop the procedure and treat accordingly.
2. Fever – stop the procedure and treat accordingly.
3. Hypotension, Giddiness, Fatigue – treat accordingly.
4. Burns –ŚatadhaḥutaGhṛtaapplication

Indications: – VātaPradhānadiseases like Pakṣāghāta, Vātarakta, Ākṣepa,Ardita, Apatānaka

It is a type of Kāyaseka, included under DravaSveda. Dhānyāmla is included under SandhānaKalpanā. It is used in VātaRōgas, especially with Kaphānubandha.

Materials required:

1. Dhānyāmla – 4 litres
2. Vessels – 4
3. Soft towels – 3
4. Oil for Talaṃ- 10 ml
5. Oil for Abhyaṅga – 100 ml
6. RāsnādiCūrṇa– 5g
7. Galantika/Varṣaṇika/ mug with pointed tip–2
8. Gauze – 1
9. Cotton ear plugs – 2
10. Masseurs – 2
11. Attendant – 1

Preparation of medicine:

On the auspicious day, the following drugs are to be collected for the preparation of Dhānyāmla.

Taṇḍula –10 Prastha

Pṛthuka– 10 Prastha

Kulattha – 10 Prastha

Lāja – 40 Prastha

Kaṅgu – 4 Prastha

Kodrava– 4 Prastha

Nāgara– 2 Prastha

DantaŚāta– 4 Prastha

Dīpyaka– 2 Prastha

All these drugs should be separately made in to loose bundles in piece of clean cloth. Then these bundles should be added to water kept in an earthen pot or copper vessel (200 Prasthaof water should be kept in the vessel) and subjected to Pāka, with fire of paddy husks for a period of 7 days.

On the eighth day the required quantity of the liquid is taken out and allowed to ferment, by keeping in a suitable vessel in a proper place for 3 days. This fermented liquid is known as Dhānyāmla.

Pre-operative procedure:

Patient should sit on the Droṇi; Talaṃshould be kept on head and SarvāṅgaAbhyaṅgashould be done. Sometimes Abhyaṅgais not done according to the condition of the patient. Gauze should be tied around the head above the eyebrows. Ears should be plugged with gauze. The patient should be covered with a thin cloth below the neck. This procedure may also be practiced without covering the body.

Procedure:

Dhānyāmlashoud be made warm by hot water bath is poured with Galanthika/Varṣaṇikaby two attendants standing on either sides of the Droṇi. The temperature should be around 40^oC. Dhāra should be poured at a medium speed and from a height of 6-12 cm. This is to be done in the seven positions mentioned in Kāyaseka. Can be done hot or cold according to condition.

Post-operative procedure:

After Dhāraclean the body & head using the soft towel. Ear plugs and gauze are removed &RāsnādiCūrṇais applied to the head. Rest is advised for 1 hour and then asked to take bath. Abhyaṅga before bath is optional.

Duration: 45 minutes. Preferably done in morning hours in moderate climate.

Complications and management:

Chills & rigors- it usually occurs due to uneven maintenance of the temperature of Dhānyāmlaor prolonged time gap between the changing up of fresh warm Dhānyāmlaor if body is exposed to cold breeze immediately after the procedure. In this condition, body is covered with thick cloth or warm liquid for drinking or hot fomentation should be given.

Indications:Burning sensation of limbs, SarvangaVāta, VātaVyādhi,Pakṣāghāta, Kaṭīśūla

Kāyasekawith Kaṣāya is a Variety of DravaSveda in which the warm Kvāthais poured all over the body. Mainly it is indicated in Vātavyādhi withKaphaor Pittānubandha. Drugs can be selected as per Dōṣa condition. It can be done locally or generally.

Materials required:

1. Suitable Kvātha– 4 liters
2. Galanthika/ Varṣaṇika/mugs with pointed tip – 4
3. Vessels (5 liters) – 4
4. Soft towels – 2
5. Oil for Talaṃ – 10ml
6. RāsnādiCūrṇa– 5 g
7. Suitable oil for Abhyaṅga-100 ml
8. Gauze (60cm) –1
9. Earplugs-2
10. GandharvahastādiKaṣāya (PāthiKaṣāya) – 90 ml
11. Medicated water- Q.S.
12. Masseurs -2
13. Attendant – 1

Preparation of medicine:

800 gram of drug is boiled in16 litres of water & reduced to ¼ th quantity.

Pre-operative procedure:

Patient should sit on the Droṇiwith minimum cloths. Talaṃ is applied with suitable oil. Gauze is tied around the head above the eyebrows. Ears are plugged with cotton and Abhyaṅgais done. In some specific conditions, this procedure may be done without Abhyaṅga.

Procedure:

The Kvāthafor Seka should be heated on the stove. The temperature of the Kvāthamust be around 40^oC. Two masseurs standing on either sides of the patient should pour Kvāthain a uniform stream through the Galanthika/ Varṣaṇika/mugs from a height of 6 -9 inches. The process should be carried out in seven positions as mentioned in Kāyasekawith oil. Kvātha flowing out should be collected and used after reheating. Fresh Kvāthais used every day.If no massage is to be done, cover body with thin cotton cloth.

Post-operative procedure:

Body should be cleaned with soft towel. Talaṃ should be removed and appropriate/ Rāsnādicūrṇa should be applied on the head. GandharvahastādiKaṣāya (PāthiKaṣāya) should be given for drinking. Bathing can be done after a rest of 1 hour.

Duration:

45minutes-1 hour for 7, 14 or 21 days.

Time of procedure:

Preferably done in morning hours in moderate climate.

Precautions:

1. Temperature should be maintained at the same level throughout the procedure.
2. Stream should be uniform and continuous.

Complications:

1. Hypotension, Giddiness, Fatigue – cold water is sprinkled over the face.
2. Fainting – stop the procedure and treat accordingly.
3. Burns –ŚatadhaḥutaGhṛtaapplication.

Indication: –ĀmaPradhānaRōga, Āragvadhādi/ MañjiṣṭhādiKaṣāya for Skin diseases, Daśamūla / BalāmūlaKaṣāya for Musculoskeletal disorders

Kāyasekawith KṣīraKaṣāya is a Variety of DravaSveda in which the warm KṣīraKvāthais poured all over the body. Mainly it is indicated in VātaVyādhiswith Kaphaor Pittānubandha. Drugs can be selected as per Dōṣa condition. It can be done locally or generally.

Materials required:

1. Suitable Kvātha– 4 liters
2. Galanthika/ Varṣaṇika/ mugs with pointed tip – 4
3. Vessels (5 liters) – 4 m
4. Soft towels – 2
5. Oil for Talaṃ- 10ml
6. RāsnādiCūrṇa– 5 g
7. Suitable oil for Abhyaṅga – 100 ml
8. Gauze (60cm) –1
9. Earplugs – 2
10. GandharvahastādiKaṣāya (PāthiKaṣāya) – 90 ml
11. Medicated water – Q.S.
12. Masseurs – 2
13. Attendant – 1

Preparation of medicine:[1]

500gm of drug is boiled in 4 litres of milk and 16 litres of water & reduced to the quantity of milk.

Pre-operative procedure:

Patient should sit on the Droṇiwith minimum cloths. Talaṃ is applied with suitable oil. Gauze is tied around the head above the eyebrows. Ears are plugged with cotton and Abhyaṅgais done. In some specific conditions, this procedure may be done without Abhyaṅga.

Procedure:

The Kvāthafor Seka should be heated on the stove. The temperature of the Kvāthamust be around 40^oC. Two masseurs standing on either sides of the patient should pour Kvāthain a uniform stream through the Galanthika/ Varṣaṇika/mugs from a height of 6 -9 inches. The process should be carried out in seven positions as mentioned in Kāyasekawith oil. Kvāthaflowing out should be collected and used after reheating. Fresh Kvāthais used every day.If no massage is to be done, cover body with thin cotton cloth.

Post-operative procedure:

Body should be cleaned with soft towel. Talaṃ should be removed and appropriate/ RāsnādiCūrṇashould be applied on the head. GandharvahastādiKaṣāya (PāthiKaṣāya) should be given for drinking. Bathing can be done after a rest of 1 hour.

Duration:

45minutes-1 hour for 7, 14 or 21 days.

Time of procedure:

Preferably done in morning hours in moderate climate.

Precautions:

1. Temperature should be maintained at the same level throughout the procedure.
2. Stream should be uniform and continuous.

Complications:

1. Hypotension, Giddiness, Fatigue – cold water is sprinkled over the face.
2. Fainting – stop the procedure and treat accordingly.
3. Burns –ŚatadhaḥutaGhṛtaapplication.

Indications:PittānubandhaVāta conditions, Vātarakta

[1]Sharangadhāra Samhita madhyĀma khanda