शीतशूलक्षये स्विन्नो जातेऽङ्गानां च मार्दवे|स्याच्छनैर्मृदितः स्नातस्ततः स्नेहविधिं भजेत्||

(A.H.Su.17/15)

After Samyak Svinna Lakṣaṇa, body should be gently massaged, followed by bath and Pathya dictum of Snehapāna.

सम्यक्स्विन्नं विमृदितं स्नातमुष्णाम्बुभिः शनैः ||

स्वभ्यक्तं प्रावृताङ्गं च निवातशरणस्थितम् |

भोजयेदनभिष्यन्दि सर्वं चाचारमादिशेत् ||

                                                 (Su. Chi. 32/28-29)

After Samyak Sveda, patient is adviced

• To take bath with luke warm water
• Should be properly covered with good clothings
• Sit or lie in a comfortable place free from wind or sun
• Take meal which is  Snigdha, Uṣṇa but not Kaphakara

भोज्योऽन्नं मात्रया पास्यन् श्वः पिबन् पीतवानपि|
द्रवोष्णमनभिष्यन्दि नातिस्निग्धमसङ्करम्||

उष्णोदकोपचारी स्याद्ब्रह्मचारी क्षपाशयः|
न वेगरोधी व्यायामक्रोधशोकहिमातपान्||
प्रवातयानयानाध्वभाष्यात्यासन संस्थितीः|
नीचात्युच्चोपधानाहः स्वप्नधूमरजांसि च||
यान्यहानि पिबेत्तानि तावन्त्यन्यान्यपि त्यजेत्|
सर्वकर्मस्वयं प्रायो व्याधिक्षीणेषु च क्रमः||

(A. H. Su. 16/25-28)  

• Food – proper quantity of food which is simple, hot and liquid in nature, containing only little fat  and not obstructing the channels

• Should take hot water for all purposes
• Should maintain celibacy
• Should sleep during night time only
• Should not do suppression or induce natural urges (Mala, Mūtra and Anila Vega)
• Should not do exercise, loud speech
• Avoid anger, depression
• Avoid exposure to mist, sunlight, breeze

Diet and regimen that should be followed during and after Pañcakarma therapies is called Parihāra Viṣaya.

एतांप्रकृतिमप्राप्तःसर्ववर्ज्यानिवर्जयेत्|

महादोषकराण्यष्टाविमानितुविशेषतः|

उच्चैर्भाष्यंरथक्षोभमविचङ्क्रमणासने|

अजीर्णाहितभोज्येचदिवास्वप्नंसमैथुनम्||

तज्जादेहोर्ध्वसर्वाधोमध्यपीडामदोषजाः|

श्लेष्मजाःक्षयजाश्चैवव्याध्यःस्युर्यथाक्रमम् |

(Cha. Si 12/10)

Till the health is restored, specially avoid eight factors known as Aṣṭa Mahādoṣa which are exceedingly harmful. These are Uccairbhāṣya (loud speech), Rathakṣobha (injury due to travelling), Ati Caṅkramaṇa (excess walking), Ati Āsana (excess sitting), Ajīrṇa (indigestion), Ahita Bhojana (intake of unwholesome food), Divāsvapna (day sleep), Maithuna (copulation).

Parihāra Viṣayas mentioned in SnehapānaVidhi is also followed.

Steam Bath

Steam bath is current sudation technique in which sweating is induced. It not only helps in relaxing and renewing energy but also promotes health and beauty as well. The moist heat stimulates the subcutaneous blood flow and cleanses the skin intensively, opening the pores, removing dead skins and impurities and leaving the skin feeling soft, clean and smooth

Physiological effects

Sweating is the only way to lose heat when the environmental temperature exceeds that of the body. The body cannot maintain a constant temperature when the environmental temperature is as high as that reached in a steam bath and so the body temperature begins to rise. The rise in body temperature depends mainly on

1. The temperature and humidity content of steam bath
2. The sweating capability of the bather, and
3. The bathing times

The body temperature has been found to rise from 37.6⁰C to 40⁰C

The physiological changes that occur during the bath are due in part to rise in body temperature and in part to the influence of the reflexes of the hormonal and nervous systems, which attempt to increase the heat loss

Effects of steam bath

Steam bath is especially recommended to alleviate the conditions such as:

• Bronchial asthma
• Bronchitis
• Catarrh of upper respiratory tract
• Cough
• Hoarseness of voice
• Expectoration
• Non acute rheumatic complaints
• Restricted or painful movements of joints
• Sleeping disorders
• Poor skin circulation and for dry chapped skin
• Muscular weakness in subcutaneous blood vessels

How to take steam bath

• Patient should be subjected to shower before first session
• Time of stay in steam bath is in accordance with personal sensitivity of patient
• Do not exceed 15 to 20 mins
• Cool off with cool fresh air and cool water without shocking the system and avoid shivering
• Subject patient to warm foot bath if the patient has cold feet

Sauna bath

A sauna is a small room or building defined at a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these facilities.

Saunas are of 2 basic types

• Conventional saunas that warm the air
• Infrared saunas that warm objects (charcoals, active carbon fibres)

How to give sauna bath

• Ask patient to undress in dressing room
• Ask patient to drink 1-2 glass of water or any sport drink (avoid caffeine) which has electrolytes
• Patient should be subjected to shower first
• Do not give sauna bath for over 10-15mis
• Ask patient to exit sauna if he feels uncomfortable or become sleepy
• Cool off with cool fresh air and cool water without shocking the system and to avoid shivering
• Give a warm foot bath if the patient has cold feet and then repeat the session
• Don’t give more than 3 sessions at a time in the sauna bath

Benefits of sauna bath

• Increases circulations to extremities
• Provides cardiovascular workout
• Brings nutrients for healthy skin
• Stimulates immune system
• Increases energy levels and brings restful sleep
• Opens skin pores, soothes sore muscles and increases circulation

Precautions for sauna bath

• Do not use alcohol prior to or during a sauna bath
• Drink plenty of water before and after sauna bath
• Limit sauna or steam time to 15mins
• Do not eat any large meals before sauna
• Contraindicated in low blood pressure, pregnant women, children
• Should not be used as a weight loss aid by itself
• Give at least 20mins rest, before sauna, after a workout to avoid heatstroke

Complications

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Rapid heart beat