UDVARTANA

Definition

अभ्यङ्गपूर्वकत्वादुद्वर्तनस्य तमनु परिमार्जनमुद्वर्तनं ब्रूते । (चक्रपाणि च​. सू. ५ ९३-९४)

The simple procedure of massaging the whole body below the neck with powder of herbs in direction opposite to the orientation of hair in the body is called as udvartana.Śarīra parimārjana is another name for this procedure. Hence the direction is quite opposite to the one carried out in the abhyaṅga.

Benefits

Udvartana opens the circulatory channels, facilitates metabolic activity and improves the complexion of the skin. By virtue of these therapeutic effects one can obtain the following benefits by the udvartana therapy.

उद्वर्तनं कफहरं मेदसः प्रविलायनम्‌ ।

स्थिरीकरणमङ्गानां त्वक्प्रसादकरं परम्‌ ॥ (अ. हृ. सू. २/१५)

उद्वर्तनं वातहरं कफमेदोविलापनम्‌ ।

स्थिरीकरणमङ्गानां त्वक्प्रसादकरं परम्‌ ॥ (सु. चि. २४/५२)

Kaphahara – alleviates vitiation of kapha doṣā

Medasah pravilāyanam – reduces excess of fat in the body

Sthirikaraṇamaṅgānām – increases the stability of the extremities.

Tvakprasādakaram – promotes the excellence of skin.

UTSĀDANA

The powder of herbs mixed with oil rubbed against the hair follicle is referred as utsādana. It is specially indicated for the beautification of women . It is also a kind of effleurage where stretching is not intended. Light or deep stroke may be used as per requirement of the patients.

UDGHARṢAṆA

उद्धर्षणम् अस्नेहौषधचूर्णादिभिर्घर्षणम्। (Dalhana on SuCi. 24/53)

 Udgharṣaṇa means massage with powder of herb without oil. It is done by the brick powder or wood powder, etc. which are unctuous (rūkṣa) in nature. It is a friction movement applied in the opposite sequence (pratiloma gati).

Benefits:

Udgharṣaṇa enhances the complexion in women’s gives pleasure, cleanliness, auspicious, feeling of lightness. It cures itching, eruptions, disorder of vāta. Massaging with the powder enhance the agni of skin, dilates the veins and cures itching, rashes.