INTRODUCTION

Svedana Karma is an essential Pūrva Karma done after Snēhana Karma. ĀcāryaCarakahas included SvedanaKarma under ṢaṭUpakrama. Svedana is the prime modality of treatment for especially Vātaand Kapha predominant diseases. Svedana is done to liquefy the vitiated Dōṣa.

ETYMOLOGY

ThewordSvedaisderivedbyadding “Khanj” Pratyayato SwidGātrapratyayaandalsoby ‘Nitch’ and ‘Lyuth’ (BhavaVacāka) in combination.

DEFINITION OF SVEDANA

स्तम्भगौरवशीतघ्नंस्वेदनंस्वेदकारकम्[i]|                                         (Cha. Su. 22/11)

Svedanaistheprocedure,whichrelievesstiffness, heavinessandcoldnessofthe body andproducessweating.

[i] Cha. Su 22/11

शुष्काण्यपिहिकाष्ठानिस्नेहस्वेदोपपादनैः|
नमयन्तियथान्यायंकिंपुनर्जीवतोनरान्||               (Cha. Su. 14/5)

Proper sudation administered after oleation therapy pacifies the Vāta and by this faeces, urine and semen will not stagnate in the body.

By the application of oil and then sudation therapy, the dry stick becomes soft and elastic. Then what will be the effect in alive human beings.

रोगर्तुव्याधितापेक्षोनात्युष्णोऽतिमृदुर्नच| द्रव्यवान्कल्पितोदेशेस्वेदःकार्यकरोमतः|

सुशुद्धैर्नक्तकैःपिण्ड्यागोधूमानामथापिवा| पद्मोत्पलपलाशैर्वास्वेद्यःसंवृत्यचक्षुषी|

मुक्तावलीभिःशीताभिःशीतलैर्भाजनैरपि| जलार्द्रैर्जलजैर्हस्तैःस्विद्यतोहृदयंस्पृशेत्[i] |

                                                                                                (Cha.Su 14/11)

After considering Rōga, Rōgi, R̥tu and Dēśa, if not too intense or not too mild Sveda is employed and then it will be effective.

Mr̥duSveda should be given to heart region, testis, and eyes or avoided if not much essential. In groin region,MadhyamaSveda should be given.

Eyes should be covered with clean cloth, GōdhūmaPiṇḍa or with leaves of Patma, Utpala or Palāśa.

Heart region should be kept cool by pearls, cold water, and wet hands.

[i] Cha.Su 14/11

SVEDANADRAVYAS

तिलमाषकुलत्थाम्लघृततैलामिषौदनैः| पायसैःकृशरैर्मांसैःपिण्डस्वेदंप्रयोजयेत्|

गोखरोष्ट्रवराहाश्वशकृद्भिःसतुषैर्यवैः| सिकतापांशुपाषाणकरीषायसपूटकैः|

श्लैष्मिकान्स्वेदयेत्पूर्वैर्वातिकान्समुपाचरेत्| द्रव्याण्येतानिशस्यन्तेयथास्वंप्रस्तरेष्वपि[i]

                                                                                                                        (Cha.Su.14/25)

Dravyasused for PiṇḍaandPrastaraSveda

Dravyasused for SnigdhaSveda – thick gruel prepared from substances like sesame, black gram, horse gram, citric fruits, ghee, oil, rice and milk pudding, meat.

Dravya used for RūkṣaSveda – Śakr̥tof cow, donkey, camel, pig or horse, SatuṣaYava, Sikatā (sand), Pāṁśu(brick), Pāṣāṇa (stone)

शिग्रुवारणकैरण्डकरञ्जसुरसार्जकात्||
शिरीषवासावंशार्कमालतीदीर्घवृन्ततः|
पत्रभङ्गैर्वचाद्यैश्चमांसैश्चानूपवारिजैः||
दशमूलेनचपृथक्सहितैर्वायथामलम्|
स्नेहवद्भिःसुराशुक्तावारिक्षीरादिसाधितैः||
कुम्भीर्गलन्तीर्नाडीर्वापूरयित्वारुजार्दितम्|                                      (A. H. Su. 17/7-9)

Drugs used for DravaSveda – decoction of leaves of Śigru, Varuṇa, Eraṇḍa, Karañja, Surasa, Śirīṣa, Vāsā, Vaṃśa, Arka, Mālatī, DīrghaVṛnta, Vacā, ĀnūpaMāṃsa, Daśamūla, Sneha (oil), Surā, Śukta, Vāri(water), Kṣīra

PROPERTIES OF SVEDANA DRAVYA

उष्णंतीक्ष्णंसरंस्निग्धंरूक्षंसूक्ष्मंद्रवंस्थिरम्|

द्रव्यंगुरुचयत्प्रायस्तद्धिस्वेदनमुच्यते[ii]|                               (Cha. Su. 22/16)

Properties of SvedanaDravyasare Uṣṇa (hot), Tīkṣṇa(sharp), Sara (tendency of flow), Snigdha(unctuous), Rūkṣa (rough), Drava (liquid), Sthira(stable), Gurū(heavy).SūkṣmaGuṇa is mentioned by ĀcāryaVāgbhaṭa only.

SVEDŌPAGA DAŚAIMANI

Drugs which enhance the action of Svedana are called as Svedōpagadravyas

शोभाञ्जनकैरण्डार्कवृश्चीरपुनर्नवायवतिलकुलत्थमाषबदराणीतिदशेमानिस्वेदोपगानिभवन्ति   |

                                                                                                (Cha.Su.4/13)

SvedōpagaDaśaimaniincludes Śigru, Eraṇḍa, ŚvētaPunarnava, RaktaPunarnava, Arka, Yava, Kōla, Kulattha, Tila and Māsa

[i] Cha.Su.14/25

[ii] Cha.Su 22/16

INDICATION OF SVEDANA

श्वासकासप्रतिश्यायहिध्माध्मानविबन्धिषु
स्वरभेदानिलव्याधिश्लेष्मामस्तम्भगौरवे
अङ्गमर्दकटीपार्श्वपृष्ठकुक्षिहनुग्रहे
महत्वेमुष्कयोःखल्यामायामेवातकण्टके
मूत्राकृर्च्छ्रार्बुदग्रन्थिशुक्राघाताढयमारुते
स्वेदंयथायथंकुर्यात्तदौषधविभागतः[i] |                                             (A. H. Su.17/25)

Svedanais indicated in Śvāsa, Kāsa, Pratiśyāya, Hidhma, Ādhmāna, Vibandha, Svarabhēda, disorders of Vāta, Kaphaand Āma, Sthambha, Gaurava, Aṅgmarda, severe catching pain in the Kaṭī, Pārśva, Pr̥ṣṭha, Kukṣi and Hanu, MuṣkaMahātva(scrotal enlargement), Khallī, Āyāma, Vātakaṇṭaka, Mūtrakr̥cchra,Arbuda, Granthi, Śukrāghāta,  Āḍhyavāta.

प्रतिश्यायेचकासेचहिक्काश्वासेष्वलाघवे| कर्णमन्याशिरःशूलेस्वरभेदेगलग्रहे |

अर्दितैकाङ्गसर्वाङ्गपक्षाघातेविनामके| कोष्ठानाहविबन्धेषुमूत्राघातेविजृम्भके|

पार्श्वपृष्ठकटीकुक्षिसङ्ग्रहेगृध्रसीषुच| मूत्रकृच्छ्रेमहत्त्वेचमुष्कयोरङ्गमर्दके|

पादजानूरुजङ्घार्तिसङ्ग्रहेश्वयथावपि| खल्लीष्वामेषुशीतेचवेपथौवातकण्टके|

सङ्कोचायामशूलेषुस्तम्भगौरवसुप्तिषु | सर्वाङ्गेषुविकारेषुस्वेदनंहितमुच्यते[ii] |

                                                                                                            (Cha. Su. 14/20)

According to ĀcāryaCaraka, Svedana indicated in Pratiśyāya, Kāsa, Hikkā, Śvāsa, Alāghava (Feeling of heaviness), Karṇa, Manyā and ŚiraŚūla, ardita, ĒkāṅgaRōga, SarvāṅgaRōga, Pakṣāghāta, Vināmaka (Contracture), KōṣṭhaĀnāha, Vibandha, Mūtrāghāta, Vijr̥mbhika(Stretching stiffness), Stiffness of Pārśva, Pr̥ṣṭha, Kaṭī and Kukṣi, Gr̥dhrasī, Mūtrākrichra, MuṣkaMahātva (scrotal enlargement), Aṅgmarda, pain and stiffness in Pāda, Jānu, Ūrū, Jaṅgha, Śvayathu, Khallī, Āma disorders, ŚītaKāla, Vēpathu, Vātakaṇṭaka, Saṅkōca, Āyāma, Śūla, Sthambha, Gaurava, Suptiand SarvāṅgaRōga.

ViśiṣṭaSvedaYogya

तत्रतापोष्मवेदौविशेषतःश्लेष्मघ्नौ, उपनाह- स्वेदोवातघ्नः, अन्यतरस्मिन्पित्तसंसृष्टेद्रवस्त्रेदइति[iii]|

                                                                                                                                  (Su. Chi. 32/14)

CONTRAINDICATION OF SVEDA

कषायमद्यनित्यानांगर्भिण्यारक्तपित्तिनाम्| पित्तिनांसातिसाराणांरूक्षाणांमधुमेहिनाम् |

विदग्धभ्रष्टब्रध्नानांविषमद्यविकारिणाम्| श्रान्तानांनष्टसञ्ज्ञानांस्थूलानांपित्तमेहिनाम् |

तृष्यतांक्षुधितानांचक्रुद्धानांशोचतामपि| कामल्युदरिणांचैवक्षतानामाढ्यरोगिणाम |

दुर्बलातिविशुष्काणामुपक्षीणौजसांतथा| भिषक्तैमिरिकाणांचनस्वेदमवतारयेत्[iv]|

                                                                                                                        (Cha. Su. 14/16)

According to ĀcāryaCaraka, Svedana is contraindicated in Habitual alcoholic, Garbhiṇī, Raktapitta, Atisāra,Rūkṣa, Madhumeha, VidagdhaBhraṣṭa, Bhradhna, disorders due to intake of Viṣa and Madya, Śrānta,  NaṣṭaSaṃñā, Sthūla, PittaMeha, Tṛṣṇā, Kṣudhā, Krodha, Śoka, Kāmalā, Udara, Kṣata, ĀḍhyaRōga, Durbalā, AtiViśuṣka, KṣīṇaOjas and Timira.

नस्वेदयेत्अतिस्थूलरूक्षदुर्बलमूर्च्छितान्
स्तम्भनीयक्षतक्षीणक्षाममध्यविकारिणः
तिमिरोदरवीसर्पकुष्ठशोषाढयरोगिणः
पीतदुग्धदधिस्नेहमधून्कृतविरेचनान्
भ्रष्टदग्धगुदग्लानिक्रोधशोकभयार्दितान्
क्षुत्तृष्णाकामलापाण्डुमेहिनःपित्तपीडितान्
गर्भिणीपुष्पितांसूतां , मृदुचअत्ययिकेगदे[v] |                                                (A. H. Su. 17/21)

Svedana is contra indicated in athiSthūla, Rūkṣa, durbalā, Mūrcchita, eligible for stambhana therapy, KṣataKṣīṇa(emaciated by injury to chest), Kṣāma (very thin), MadyaVikāra,Timira, Udara, Visarpa, Kuṣṭha, Śoṣa, ĀḍhyaRōga, immediately after taking milk, curd, unctuous substances and honey, after Virecana, BhraṣṭaDagdhaGuda,Glāni, Krodha, Śoka, Bhaya, Kṣut, Tṛṣṇā, Kāmalā, Pāṇḍu, Meha, PittaPīḍita, Garbhiṇī, Puṣpita, Sūtika. In the above conditions, sudation therapy should not be conducted usually. In an emergency, mild sudation can be given in the above conditions.

Reason for contraindication

1. KaṣāyaNitya– कषायनित्यारूक्षातिस्तब्धगात्राभवन्ति,कषायस्यविरूक्षकस्तम्भकत्वेन;

ततश्चतेषांस्वेदःपर्वभेदमावहतीत्यतःकषायनित्यनिषेधः[vi]    

(Cha. Su. 14/16, Cakrapāṇi commentary)

Svedana should not be administered to individuals who have taken too much KaṣāyaDravyain general,especiallyāsavaariṣṭa prepared with KaṣāyaDravyas. Those who have taken KaṣāyaDravya, the body becomes exceedingly rough and stiff. If Svedana is applied over this type of body, it might lead to cracking of the skin.

2. Prameha–

मेहेषुचसर्वेष्वेवशरीरशैथिल्यप्रवृत्तेषुविशेषतःशरीरशैथिल्यहेतुत्वेनस्वेदोनयुज्यते[vii]

                     (Cha. Su. 14/16, Cakrapāṇi commentary)

मेहिनस्तुस्वेदवृद्ध्यारोगवृद्धिः|[viii]                          (A. H. Su. 17/21, Arunadatta commentary)

In Prameha, already there is ŚarīraŚaithilya present. Svedana done in Pramehaproduce RōgaVṝddhi.

3. AtiSthūla– अतिस्थूलस्यस्वेदेनमेदोविलयनादत्यन्तंशरीरक्षोभःस्यात्|[ix]

• Su. 17/21, Arunadatta commentary)

In AtiSthūla condition, Svedanawill produce medovilayana and thereby excess ŚarīraKṣobha.

4. Rūkṣa – रूक्षादीनांकार्श्यमतिशयेनभवेत्|[x]

• Su. 17/21, Arunadatta commentary)

In Rūkṣa person, Svedana will produce excess Kārśya

5. Kṣudhā – क्षुध्वतःस्वेदादत्यन्तंदेहग्लानिः|[xi]

• Su. 17/21, Arunadatta commentary)

In Kṣudhārta, Svedana will produce excess DehaGlāni.

6. Kāmala&Pāṇḍu– कामलापाण्डुमतोःस्वेदेनपित्तवृद्ध्यारोगवृद्धिः|[xii]

(A. H. Su. 17/21, Arunadatta commentary)

Svedana producesPittaVṝddhi. So if Svedana done in Pāṇḍu and KāmalāRōga,PittaVṝddhi produced by Svedana will results inRōgaVṝddhi.

7. Garbhiṇī– गर्भिण्याःस्वेदेनगर्भव्यापत्|[xiii]

• Su. 17/21, Arunadatta commentary)

Svedana in pregnant women will leads to GarbhaVyāpat.

8. Pushpita – पुष्पितायारक्तातिप्रवृत्तिः|[xiv]

(A. H. Su. 17/21, Arunadatta commentary)

Svedana done during menstruation will leads to excess bleeding.

9. Sūtika – सूतायाःकार्श्यम्|[xv]

• Su. 17/21, Arunadatta commentary)

Svedana given to Sūtika will produce Kārśya.

[i] Ah.Su.17/25

[ii] Cha.Su.14/20

[iii] SU.CHI.32/14

[iv] Cha.Su.14/16

[v] AH.SU.17/21

[vi]Cha. Su. 14/16 chakrapani commentary

[vii]Cha. Su. 14/16 chakrapani commentary

[viii]A. H. Su. 17/21 arunadatta commentary

[ix]A. H. Su. 17/21 arunadatta commentary

[x]A. H. Su. 17/21 arunadatta commentary

[xi]A. H. Su. 17/21 arunadatta commentary

[xii]A. H. Su. 17/21 arunadatta commentary

[xiii]A. H. Su. 17/21 arunadatta commentary

[xiv]A. H. Su. 17/21 arunadatta commentary

[xv]A. H. Su. 17/21 arunadatta commentary