Snehan & Svedan

The Ayurvedic art of oil & sweating

Snehan and Svedan are two Ayurvedic lifestyle practices that have been used for thousands of years to promote health and well-being. Snehan refers to the application of oils or ghee to the skin, while Svedan involves the use of heat therapy, such as steam or sweat. Both practices are believed to have numerous health benefits and can be easily incorporated into your daily routine.

Snehan is a form of Ayurvedic massage called abhyanga that involves the use of warm oils or ghee to nourish the body and promote relaxation. This technique is believed to help balance the doshas, or energies, within the body, which can promote overall health and well-being. Snehan is also believed to help improve digestion, boost immunity, and improve mental clarity and focus.

One of the key benefits of Snehan is its ability to help soothe and calm the nervous system. This can be especially helpful for individuals who suffer from anxious thoughts and feelings, stress, or trouble sleeping. Snehan can also help improve the texture and tone of the skin, as well as promote healthy circulation throughout the body.

Svedan, on the other hand, involves the use of heat therapy to promote sweating and detoxification. This practice can be achieved through the use of steam, sauna, or other forms of heat therapy like a hot shower or hot bath. Svedan is believed to help stimulate the lymphatic system, which can help remove toxins from the body and promote overall health and vitality.

Svedan is also believed to help improve circulation and promote relaxation. This can be especially beneficial for individuals who suffer from chronic pain, as the heat can help to soothe sore muscles and joints. Additionally, Svedan is believed to help improve digestion and metabolism, which can aid in weight loss and overall health.

Combined, Snehan and Svedan can be a powerful tool for promoting health and well-being. By incorporating these Ayurvedic practices into your daily routine, you can help balance the doshas within your body and promote overall vitality and longevity. Whether you choose to incorporate these practices individually or together, they are a great way to support your body, mind, and spirit.

My experience with Snehan & Svedan (Oil & Sweating)

I am just finishing up my month long oil and sweating challenge with a group of dedicated unctuous humans via WhatsApp.

According to the ancient Ayurvedic sage Vagbhata (and my favorite), in his classical text, The Ashtanga Hridayam, he says,

Abhyañga (oil-massage and bath) should be resorted to daily, it wards off old age, exertion and (aggravation of) vāta; bestows good vision, nourishment to the body, longlife, good sleep, good and strong (healthy) skin. It should be done especially to the head, ears and feet (S.S. 2:8-9).

Typically in my clinic I recommend people do full body oil massage followed by a bath once a week because daily is not sustainable for most people. However, I wanted to test the wisdom of the sages on my body with community. So I did an experiment and did fully body oil massage followed by a hot shower, hot bath or hot sauna (skipping days of menstruation). Our group stayed connected via WhatsApp to share our finindgs. Here are my take aways.

1. It has absolutely improved my sleep. When I do oil massage followed by a hot bath before bed I am able to sleep through the night without disturbance. As a predominantly vata individual sleep has been a major challenge for me throughout my life, so this has been life changing. I noticed major changes in my sleep after 2 weeks of oiling and sweating. I also have noticed that I am waking up feeling rested and energized.

2. My skin! I thought that a trade off of living in Colorado meant that you will perpetually have dry skin. That is not the case with oiling and sweating. The texture of my skin has become infinitely softer and the complexion of my skin brighter and it leaves me a with a permanent glow.

3. My feet. As an athlete that spends most of her day barefoot, I have also noticed a major difference in my feet. They are much softer and it has resolved my issue of dryness and cracking on my feet especially my toes and heels.

4. Nervous system. I have noticed a huge shift in my nervous system and anxious tendencies. I have always struggled with anxiety and my real goal of this challenge was to address the anxiety in my body. I have noticed major shifts here. I have felt much calmer throughout the day, less anxious and an increased sense of clarity and peace.

5. Digestion. My digestion has also improved. I feel hungry for all of my meals now, hunger feels joyful, I am able to digest food with ease and I feel as if I am absorbing my nutrients more efficiently because my energy has improved majorly.  

I am now a major advocate for oiling and sweating, daily. This has become a habit, a second nature for me. Every time I shower I don’t even hesitate but initiate the showering ritual by first applying oil all over my body then applying the heat through showering.

Abhyanga Instructions

Abhyanga refers to a type of Ayurvedic oil massage. In this ancient method, oil is applied to the entire body in a particular way that helps to loosen toxins and excess doshas in order to bring them into the digestive tract for elimination. This massage also makes the superficial and deep tissues soft and supple, thus helping to remove stress and nourish the nervous system.

Supplies

• Recommended abhyanga oil

• Space heater (optional)

• Old towels

• Water bath to heat the oil

Procedure:

1. Get yourself set up in a warm, relaxing space.

   Have lots of old towels on hand to sit on and dry

   yourself off with.

2. To warm the oil, place the plastic squeeze bottle

   in a glass or bowl of hot water (not boiling) for several minutes. Test the temperature of the oil on the inside of your wrist before applying to your body.

3. Once you’re all set up, apply a generous amount of oil from head to toe, covering your entire body.

4. Massage yourself, beginning with the
   extremities (head, hands or feet) and working
   towards your core (e.g. foot > ankle > lower leg
   > knee > upper leg > hip, other leg, then move
   onto your arms and head). Make circular motions on the joints and straight strokes on the muscles, continuously moving towards the abdomen in order to loosen and transport the toxins into the digestive tract for elimination. Be sure not to become chilled at any point during your massage.

5. Continue massaging for 5-30 minutes. Apply more oil whenever necessary.

6. Once complete, take a hot shower, hot bath or enjoy a sauna

How to Select your Medicated Oil

Note on medicated oil: 

• Vata oil:  If you tend to be dry, constipated, anxious, creative, scattered, have trouble gaining weight and often feel cold - get vata oil.

• Pitta oil - If you tend to run hot, be organized, driven, intelligent tend towards anger and irritability - get pitta oil.

• Kapha oil - If you tend to have oily skin and hair, are very loving and loyal, tend towards depression, tend to have trouble losing weight - get kapha oil.

• Daily massage oil - If none of these resonate get the daily massage oil.

• If you have chronic pain (not rheumatoid arthritis) get the mahanarayan oil. (Alternate this with daily massage oil) 

• Castor oil - If you have rheumatoid arthritis get castor oil (this is VERY important).

Where to purchase the medicated oil? Check out Banyan Botanicals selections. Get 15% off with my discount code.

• https://glnk.io/09wl/zaidy

• discount code: ZAIDY15

• You must use the link to get the discount