🔘 Shastika Shali Pinda Sweda

SHASHTIKA SHALI PINDA SWEDA:-

👉🏻 Introduction:-

- The term Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda is made up of 4 words:-

• Shashtika means sixty

• Shali means rice

• Pinda means bolus

• Sweda is sweat

- Shashtika Shali pinda sveda is performed as Ekanga or Sarvanga with the bolus of boiled Shashtika shali with Balamoola kwatha and

Ksheera. 

- The main properties of Shashtika are Snigdha, Guru, Sthira, Sheeta and Tridoshaghna.

- Though a svedakarma, it has a Brimhana guna

- It is a treatment in which a special type of rice called Shashtika Shali (which is harvested in 60 days and is exclusively used for treatment purposes in Ayurveda) prepared in milk processed with herbal decoction is tied in boluses and used for rubbing on the body parts, which are intended to receive nutrition and strength. 

- The treatment is also used in painful and degenerative conditions like Osteoarthritis, Myalgia, GB Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, various types of Neuro-muscular and Musculoskeletal diseases.

👉🏻 Definition:-

- Shastika Shali Pinda Sweda  is a unique Ayurveda therapy using a special variety of Indian rice in a bolus, dipped in a nourishing herbal milk decoction and massaged onto the body.

👉🏻 Reference:- Keraliya Panchkarma

👉🏻 Synonyms:-

- Navara Kizhi

- Shashtika Sweda

- Shahstika Pinda Sweda

- Njavara Kizhi

👉🏻 Indications:-

- Emaciation

- Weakness of nerves and muscles

- Bone and joint disorders

- Sandhigata vata (Osteoporosis)

- Amavata (Rheumatic arthritis)

- Gridhrasi (Sciatica)

- Muscular dystrophy

- Guillain Barre Syndrome

- Muscle weakness, stiffness, wasting disorders, recurrent muscles spasm, myalgia

- Parkinson’s Disease,

- Paralysis, paresis, numbness, paresthesia, hemi/paraplegia, tremors

- Spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, prolapse of intervertebral disc

- Delayed walking milestones in children

- General debility, old age

- Chronic back ache, chronic neck or knee pain, frozen joints

- Post fracture or post trauma tissue healing

👉🏻 Contraindications:-

- Diabetes mellitus 

- High blood pressure (Hypertension)

- Severe varicosity of veins

- Deep vein thrombosis

- Fractures

- Fever

- Severe inflammation

👉🏻 Materials required:-

1. Shashtika shali:- 250gm

2. Balamoola:- 250gm

3. Water:- 4 L

4. Cow's milk:- 1 L

5. Kora cloth (45cm × 45cm):- 4 pieces

6. Threads (75cm):- 4

7. Vessels:-

- (a) For preparing Kwatha

- (b) For cooking rice

- (c) To heat the boluses in mixture of Kwatha and milk during the procedure (5 litres capacity with wide mouth made of bronze)

8. Oil for talam:- 10ml

9. Rasnadi choorna:- 5gm

10. Suitable oil for abhyanga:- 100ml

11. Masseurs:- 2

• For Abhyanga:- Taila or Ghee

• For shirobhyanga:- 

- Ksheerabala Taila

- Chandanabala Lakshadi Tailam

- Shatavari Tailam

-  Lakshadi Tailam etc.

• For Sarvanga Abhyanga:-

- Sahacharadi Taila

- Ksheerabala Taila

- Chandanabala Lakshadi Tailam

- Dhanwantara Tailam

- Mahanarayana Tailam

- Balashwagandhadi Tailam

- Karpasastyadi Tailam

- Panchaguna Tailam

👉🏻 Preparation of the Medicine:-

• Balamoola Kwatha:-

- 250gm of Balamoola is cleaned, crushed and

boiled in 4 litres of water and reduced to 1 litre.(1:16 parts and reduced to 1/4th)

• Shashtika Rice Cooking:-

- In 0.5 litres of Balamoola kashaya and 0.5 litres of milk, 250 g of Shashtika rice should be added and boiled till it becomes thick and semisolid.

- Sufficient quantity of hot water can be used for proper cooking of the rice.

- Another method is that the Shashtika rice can be semi cooked in cooker also.

👉🏻 Preparation of the Boluses:-

- The cooked rice should be divided into 4 equal parts and put into 4 pieces of Kora cloths.

- Three corners should be folded together so that

they come under the fourth corner and the fourth fold is used to cover the other three corner folds underneath. 

- One end of the thread is held tight with left hand and the other end is wound around the folds.

- In short, the boluses should be tied in such a way that the mouth of the sac leaves a tuft at the top of the bundle, for holding it with ease.

👉🏻 Pre-operative procedure:-

- The patient should be seated with leg extended over the droni and talam should be applied with suitable oil. 

- Abhyanga should be then performed with prescribed oil for about 20 minutes.

- Out of 4 Pottalies, 2 are kept in the mixture of Balamoola kwatha and milk (0.5 litres of each was already kept for this purpose), which should be put on a stove with moderate heat.

👉🏻 Different postures of Shastika Shali Pinda Sweda:-

1. Sitting posture

2. Sleeping by facing the roof (supine position)

3. Sleeping in left lateral position (towards left)

4. Sleeping on tummy (prone position or face downwards)

5. Sleeping in right lateral position (towards right)

6. Sleeping back by facing the roof

7. Sitting posture

👉🏻 Procedure:-

- Two warm Pottalies should be gently applied in a synchronised manner by the two therapists on two sides of droni. 

- It is followed by a gentle massage with other hand. 

- They should ensure that the heat of the boluses is bearable to the patient by touching them over the dorsum of their hand. 

- The temperature of the boluses should be maintained throughout the procedure by continuous relay of the four boluses after

reheating by dipping in ksheera-paka.

- The process should be continued till the patient gets samyak swinna lakshana or until the contents of the boluses exhausted.

👉🏻 Duration:-

- 45 minutes or the procedure can be stopped if the medicine in the boluses or the ksheera-paka is exhausted.

👉🏻 Post-operative procedure:-

-At the end of the procedure, the medicine remained over the body should be scraped off and the body is wiped dry with tissue paper or soft towels. 

- After that medicated oil should be applied.  - Talam should be removed and Rasnadi choorna applied over the head.

- Gandharvahastadi kashaya can be given for drinking.

- The patient should take complete rest for at least half an hour, and then the patient is allowed to take warm water bath.

👉🏻 Signs of good Navarkizhi process (Samyaka sweda lakshana):- 

• शीत शूल व्यूपरमे स्तंभ गौरव निग्रहे।

संजाते मार्दवे च एव स्वेदनात् विरतिर्मता॥

(सु.चि.१४/१३)

- Sheetoparama – The feeling of coldness pacifies

- Shuloparama – Pacification of pain

- Stambha nigraha – reduction of stiffness

- Gaurava nigraha – reduction of the feeling of heaviness

- Maardava – smoothness of the body or body parts

- Sweda praadurbhaava – sweating of body or body parts subjected to fomentation

- Roga lakshana prashamanam – Pacification or reduction of the symptoms of the disease

- Sheetaartitvam – Liking towards taking cold foods and comforts

👉🏻 Precautions:-

1. During the preparation of the rice, care should be taken to avoid over/under cooking and should be stirred frequently for the better extraction and cooking.

2. Tie bolus firmly to avoid leaking of contents during rubbing.

3. The therapists in both the sides of the patient should massage with the bolus in a synchronised manner.

4. Ensure uniformity of pressure and temperature on all the body parts.

5. Boluses should be applied with sufficient warmth (40°C-45°C).

6. Therapy should be stopped at any time if the patient gets good perspiration or shivering.

👉🏻 Combination therapies:-

- It may be combined with Abhyanga, Pizhichil, Upanaha or Basti depending upon the disease condition.

👉🏻 Benefits of Shashtika shali pinda sweda:-

• सर्वांगगाः बलयुताश्च समीररोग।

रक्तप्रकोप जनिताश्च तथा अति कृच्छ्राः।

ये सति देहबलनाशकरा नराणां।

नश्यत्यनेन विधिना सहसाखिलास्ते।। 

(Keraliya Panchakarma)

- Shastika shali pinda sweda is very useful in Sarvanga aashrita balayuta vatarogas.

- It is also beneficial in diseases due to Rakta prakopa and in diseases which decreases the bala of the shareera.

- As a Swedana (sweat inducing) heat therapy, it creates a sense of lightness and improved energy.

- This therapy tones up and nourishes the body tissues and helps in detoxification and rejuvenation.

- It enhances flexibility and movement of joints.

It prevents degeneration of body tissues by improving the tone, compactness, stability, strength and function of muscles, ligaments, nerves, bones and joints.

- It stimulates blood circulation and releases toxin build-up in the pores of the skin, thus improving complexion.

- Regular therapy can greatly benefit in debilitating and emaciating conditions especially of the loco-motor and nervous systems.

- It is useful for older people to improve and maintain their health.

👉🏻 Complications and Management:-

1. Shivering:-

- It usually occurs due to the uneven distribution of temperature or prolonged time gap in between the taking up of new boluses; if body is exposed to cold breeze immediately after the procedure. 

- Allow the patient to take rest, cover with a blanket and give warm liquid diet.

2. Fainting:-

- Due to increased body temperature or low heat

threshold of the patient or atiyoga of kriyakrama. - Sprinkle cold water over the face and body, and put talam with appropriate medicated oil and choorna. 

- Drakshadi kashaya can be given internally.

3. Rashes:-

- Due to heat intolerance of the patient of pitta prakriti.

- Apply madhu & ghrita, preferably Shatadhouta Ghrita or Murivenna.

👉🏻 Advised:-

- As with all Ayurvedic treatments, the Navara Kizhi must be performed by a trained Ayurvedic therapist under the supervision of an Ayurvedic doctor.

👉🏻 Conclusion:-

- Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda is the best treatment which Ayurveda provides for enhancing strength, immunity and nutrition to the tissues, to prevent degeneration and inflammation, to tackle pain, swelling and catches related to Arthritis, Neuromuscular and Musculoskeletal disorders.