SWEDANA KARMA

For
Final Professional BAMS
 PARIBHASHA
स्तम्भगौरवशीतघ्नं स्वेदनं स्वेदकारकम्
|| (Ca.su.22:11)

Therapy which relieves :

Stambha (stiffness)
Gaurava (heaviness)
Saitya (coldness)

& generates :
Sweda (sweat)

----- is termed as SWEDANA..

 GUNAS OF SWEDANA DRAVYA
उष्णं तीक्ष्णं सरं स्निग्धं रूक्षं सूक्ष्मं द्रवं
स्थिरम् |
द्रव्यं गुरु च यत् प्रायस्तद्धि
स्वेदनमुच्यते || (Ca.su.22:16)

Ushna : Swedane ushna (Hemadri)

Stambha hara, Murccha, trit, sweda, daha kara (Su.su:46:525)
Pachanascha viseshatah (Su.su:46:525)

Tikshna : Sodhane tikshna (Hemadri)

Daha paka karah tikshna sraavana …. (Su.su:46:525)
Pitta karam prayo lekhanam kapha vata hrit (Bhavaprakasha)

Sara : Prerane sara (Hemadri)

Saro anulomana prokta… (Su.su.46:522)
Anulomano vata mala pravritti (Dalhana)
Snigdha : Kledane snigdha (Hemadri)
Mardava krit, vala-varna kara (Su.su.46:516)

Ruksha : Shoshane ruksha (Hemadri)

Sukshma : Vivarane sukshma (Hemadri)

Srota anuchara (Su.su.46:524)

Drava : Vilodane drava (Hemadri)

Drava kleda kari vyapi (Bhavaprakasha)

Sthira : Dharane sthira (Hemadri)

Guru : Bringhane guru (Hemadri)

 TYPES OF SWEDANA
 Depending on the use of agni :
Sagni : Using agni – 13 types
Niragni : Without using agni – 10 types

 Depending on guna :
Snigdha
Ruksha
Snigdha-ruksha

 Depending on the area :

Ekanga sweda
Sarvanga sweda

 Depending on the strength :

Mridu sweda
Madhyam sweda
Mahan sweda
According to Sushruta & Astangahridaya : 4 types :
(Su.ci.32:3;AH.su.17:3)
Tapa sweda – तपनं तापः
 Application of heat by heating the cloths, palms and other flat
surfaces of articles e.g. vessels made up of mud, matels etc.
 Direct exposer to the heat of fire.
Upanaha sweda – उपनह्यते इत्युपनाहो
बन्धनमित्यर्थः
 Different hot medicinal preparations are applied as a thick layer in a
particular area, wrapped with a thick cloth piece and it is kept for a
particular period.
Ushma sweda – ऊष्मा बाष्पः
 Patient is exposed to vapors produced by heating medicated liquids.
Drava sweda – द्रवतीति द्रवः कषायक्षीरादिः
 Swedana is done with the help of medicated liquids – 2 types :
Pariseka & Avagaha
According to Charaka : 13 types of sagni sweda

सङ्करः प्रस्तरो नाडी परिषेकोऽवगाहनम् |

जेन्ताकोऽश्मघनः कर्षूः कुटी भूः

कुम्भिकैव च ||
कूपो होलाक इत्येते स्वेदयन्ति त्रयोदश |

(Ca.su.14:39-40)
INCLUSION OF 13 TYPES OF SWEDA OF CHARAKA IN
4 TYPES OF SWEDA OF SUSHRUTA
• Tapa sweda : Jentaka
Karshu
Kuti
Kupa
Holaka
• Ushma sweda : Sankara
Prastara
Ashmaghana
Nadi
Kumbhi
Bhu
• Drava sweda : Pariseka
Based on action according to Dalhana : 2 types

Samshamaniya sweda :
Used in sama dosha, generally ruksha in
nature, causes agni dipti
Samsodhanangabhuta sweda :
Used after snehana as purva karma of
sodhana, expels out the sneha klinna
doshas from shakha to kostha.

According to Kashyapa : 8 types

Hasta sweda, Pradeha, Nadi, Prastara ,
Sankara, Upanaha, Avagaha, Pariseka
• Niragni sweda :
व्यायाम उष्णसदनं गुरुप्रावरणं क्षुधा |
बहुपानं भयक्रोधावुपनाहाहवातपाः ||

स्वेदयन्ति दशैतानि नरमग्निगुणादृते |

(Ca.su.14:64-65)

Vyayama – Physical exercise Bhaya – fear

Ushna sadana – Staying in a warm house Krodha – anger

Guru pravarana – Rapping thick cloths Upanaha – poultice

Kshudha – Hunger Ahava – fighting

Bahupana – excessive alcohol consumption Atapa – exposer to sun heat

 INDICATIONS FOR SWEDANA
 वातश्लेष्मणि वाते वा कफे वा स्वेद इष्यते | (Ca.su.14:8)
 प्रतिश्याये च कासे च हिक्काश्वासेष्वलाघवे | कर्णमन्याशिरःशूले स्वरभेदे
गलग्रहे ||
अर्दितैकाङ्गसर्वाङ्गपक्षाघाते विनामके | कोष्ठानाहविबन्धेषु मूत्राघाते
विजृम्भके ||
पार्श्वपृष्ठकटीकुक्षिसङ्ग्रहे गृध्रसीषु च| मूत्रकृच्छ्रे महत्त्वे च
मुष्कयोरङ्गमर्दके ||
पादजानूरुजङ्घार्तिसङ्ग्रहे श्वयथावपि | खल्लीष्वामेषु शीते च वेपथौ वातकण्टके
||
सङ्कोचायामशूलेषु स्तम्भगौरवसुप्तिषु | सर्वाङ्गेषु विकारेषु स्वेदनं
हितमुच्यते ||
(Ca.su.14:20-24)

 Kaphaja conditions – Pratishyaya, kasa, swasa, Hikka, swarabheda, Gaurava etc.

 In ama conditions – Amavata, saamavata, saamakapha

 Vataja conditions – Shula (karna shula, manya shula, shirah shula etc), sankocha, graha (galagraha, pristha graha,

katigraha), Ayama (antarayama and bahirayama) & stambha of different body parts, all the nanatmaja vata vyadhis

(ardita, pakshaghata, vatakantaka, khalli, gridhrasi etc.)

 As purva karma of sodhana – Before vamana, virechana, vasti & nasya

 CONTRA INDICATIONS
कषायमद्यनित्यानां गर्भिण्या रक्तपित्तिनाम् | पित्तिनां
सातिसाराणां रूक्षाणां मधुमेहिनाम् ||
विदग्धभ्रष्टब्रध्नानां विषमद्यविकारिणाम् | श्रान्तानां
नष्टसञ्ज्ञानां स्थूलानां पित्तमेहिनाम् |
तृष्यतां क्षुधितानां च क्रुद्धानां शोचतामपि | कामल्युदरिणां चैव
क्षतानामाढ्यरोगिणाम् ||
दुर्बलातिविशुष्काणामुपक्षीणौजसां तथा | भिषक् तैमिरिकाणां च न
स्वेदमवचारयेत् ||
(Ca.su.14:16-19)
पाण्डुर्मेही पित्तरक्ती क्षयार्तः क्षामोऽजीर्णी चोदरार्तो
विषार्तः ||
तृड्च्छर्द्यार्तो गर्भिणी पीतमद्यो नैते स्वेद्या यश्च
मर्त्योऽतिसारी || (Su.ci.32:25)

 Deseases : Mainly paittik disorders – raktapitta, pittaja prameha, kamala, pandu etc. otheres – atisara,
madhumeha,udara, vatarakta, urahkshata, chhardi etc.
 Other conditions : garbhini, visha & madya vikara, dagdha, sranta, kshudhita, pipasita, kruddha, ati
durbala, dhatu kshaya etc.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT SWEDANA
Basics of use of sweda of different strength :
 In durvala persons & ushna kala – mridu swedana
 In Madya bala persons – madyama swedana
 In Balaban persons & sita kala – maha swedana
 Over nayana, hridaya & vrishana – mridu sweda
 Over Vamkshana – madhyama sweda
 Other body parts – as per need

Basics of use of snigdha & ruksha sweda :

 Kaphaja conditions – ruksha sweda
 Vatik conditions – snigdha sweda
 Kaphanuvandha vata – snigdha-ruksha sweda
 Amashaya gata vata – ruksha purva snigdha sweda
 Pakvashaya gata kapha – snigdha purva ruksha sweda
 Sthana chikitsa purvaka agantuka dosha chikitsa
• Swedana in neonates (up to 4 months) : hasta sweda. Then
pata sweda can be given if needed. ( Kashyapa)

• Kapha medanwita Vayu – niragni sweda preferred. (Sushruta).

• Incase of Kustha and Switra special indication of swedana by

atapa sevana.

• Indication of specific swedana type in specific dosha

involvement : (Su.ci.32:14)
Vata – Upanaha sweda
Kapha – Tapa & Ushma sweda
Pitta samsriste – Drava sweda
 Samyak swinna lakshana :
• शीतशूलव्युपरमे स्तम्भगौरवनिग्रहे |
सञ्जाते मार्दवे स्वेदे स्वेदनाद्विरतिर्मता ||
(Ca.su.14:13)

• स्वेदास्रावो व्याधिहानिर्लघुत्वं शीतार्थित्वं

मार्दवं चातुरस्य ||
सम्यक्स्विन्ने लक्षणं
प्राहुरेतन्मिथ्यास्विन्ने व्यत्ययेनैतदेव ||

(Su.ci.32:23)
 Sita uparama (No feeling of cold )

 Sula uparama & stambha gaurava nigraha (Relief of pain, stiffness and heaviness)

 Mardava (softness of skin)

 Sweda srava ( sweating)

 Vyadhirhani ( relief of the symptoms of the disease)

 Laghuta (feeling of lightness)

 Sitarthitwam (desire for cold)

• Atiswinna lakshanas :

• पित्तप्रकोपो मूर्च्छा च शरीरसदनं तृषा |

दाहः स्वराङ्गदौर्बल्यमतिस्विन्नस्य लक्षणम् || (Ca.su.14:14)
• स्विन्नेऽत्यर्थं सन्धिपीडा विदाहः स्फोटोत्पत्तिः
पित्तरक्तप्रकोपः ||
मूर्च्छा भ्रान्तिर्दाहतृष्णे क्लमश्च कुर्यात्तूर्णं
तत्र शीतं विधानम् ||

(Su.ci.32:24)
Pitta & rakta prakopa Swara daurvalya
Murcchha Anga daurvalya
Sharira sadanam Chhardi
Trishna Bhrama
Daha Klama
Jwara Sandhi pida
Sphota utpatti / shyava rakta mandala utpatti
Management of atiswinna :
 Use of madhura rasa dravyas

 Snigdha & shita upachara

 Stambhana chikitsa

 Grishma hritu charya palana

Madhura, sita, drava, snigdha anna pana.

Sita mantha with sarkara.

Sita griha shayana

Lepa of chandana
SWEDANA VIDHI
• Purva karma :

 Collection of materials needed for swedana karma and to manage

complications.

 General considerations before swedana:

*Indications & contraindications

*Consideration of the disease
*Consideration of hritu (season)
*Considerations about the patient

 Aturagata purva karma

*Snehana before swedana (AH.su.17:12)
*Swedana without snehana
• Pradhana Karma :

 Sweada avacharana :
Particular swedana procedure is to be followed as per
indication.

 Nirikshan (observation) :
* Regular observation of the temperature of swedana
dravyas to prevent burn or improper swedana.
* Exposer to swedana for proper time to prevent atiyoga
or ayoga.
* Observation of aswinna lakshana – continue swedana.
* Observation of samyaka swinna lakshana – stop
swedana.
* Observation of atiswinna lakshana – proper
• Paschata karma:

 Avoid immediate exposer to cold

 Remove sweat or swedana dravya from the body.

 Take rest in a warm room.

 Mardana (yatha sukha)

 Hot water bath.

 Diet and regimen as advised during snehapana.

 Avoid physical exertion.

 Plan for the sodhana chikitsa if advised.

 ACTIONS OR EFFECTS OF SWEDANA

• स्निग्धस्य सूक्ष्मेष्वयनेषु लीनं स्वेदस्तु

दोषं नयति द्रवत्वम् |
(Ca.si.1:8)
• स्नेहपूर्वं प्रयुक्तेन स्वेदेनावजितेऽनिले |
पुरीषमूत्ररेतांसि न सज्जन्ति कथञ्चन ||
(Ca.su.14:4)

(AH.su.17:29)
 Liquefies the doshas and thus helps in the flow of doshas
towards koshtha.
 Vata kapha samana.
 Removes stiffness of the body.
 Agni dipti.
 Tvak mardava and tvak prasadana.
 Sroto sodhana.
 Nidra tandra hara
 Relieves sandhi stabdhata – sandhi chesta kara