Changes

====== Indications ======

====== Indications ======

Katishula (lumbago)

Ashmari (calculi)

Mutrakrichhra (dysuria)

| ''Katishula'' (lumbago)

Arshas (hemorrhoids)

Urinary incontinence

| ''Ashmari'' (calculi)

Rectal prolapse

Anal fissure

| ''Mutrakrichhra'' (dysuria)

Fissure in ano etc.

| ''Arsha'' (hemorrhoids)

| Urinary incontinence

| Rectal prolapse

| Anal fissure

| Fissure in ano

Poultice type of fomentation is useful in cases where both agneya and niragneya fomentation can be done. In agneya, articles are heated over fire and warm medicine is applied to the skin. Niragneya is more important since in this case self-generated heat is utilized for fomentation. When the medicines of upanaha (which also contain sediments of toddy or ethanolic preparations, vinegar, buttermilk, grains etc.) are made into a paste and kept covered overnight, heat is generated within the preparation either due to acetic acid fermentation, or anerobic culture of microorganism. The temperature generated is stable and continuous. The inclusion of various oils, sour items, and salt items in the mixture ensures the exclusive vata alleviating property of upanaha sweda.

Poultice type of fomentation is useful in cases where both ''agneya'' and ''niragneya'' fomentation can be done. In ''agneya'', articles are heated over fire and warm medicine is applied to the skin. ''Niragneya'' is more important since in this case self-generated heat is utilized for fomentation. When the medicines of ''upanaha'' (which also contain sediments of toddy or ethanolic preparations, vinegar, buttermilk, grains etc.) are made into a paste and kept covered overnight, heat is generated within the preparation either due to acetic acid fermentation, or anerobic culture of microorganism. The temperature generated is stable and continuous. The inclusion of various oils, sour items, and salt items in the mixture ensures the exclusive ''vata'' alleviating property of ''upanaha sweda''.

Thirteen types of agnisweda mentioned in Charaka Samhita are based on four principles of heat transfer, namely, conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation. Conduction is the transfer of heat between two surfaces that are in direct contact with each other and depends on the temperature gradient between body & surface, the total body surface area, velocity of the cutaneous blood flow & thickness of subcutaneous insulating tissue. Examples of agni sweda that leverage conduction include sankara, prastara, parisheka, avagaha, and ashmaghna.

Convection is the transfer of heat between two surfaces without direct contact through the medium of air. Examples of swedana techniques leveraging convection are naadi, jenthaka, karshu, kuti, bhu, kumbhi and koopa.

Thirteen types of ''agnisweda'' mentioned in [[Charaka Samhita]] are based on four principles of heat transfer, namely, conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation. Conduction is the transfer of heat between two surfaces that are in direct contact with each other and depends on the temperature gradient between body & surface, the total body surface area, velocity of the cutaneous blood flow & thickness of subcutaneous insulating tissue. Examples of ''agnisweda'' that leverage conduction include ''sankara, prastara, parisheka, avagaha,'' and ''ashmaghna''.

Radiation is the difference in temperature between the body surface and objects in the environment. It decides the rate of cooling. Examples of swedana techniques that use radiation for heat transfer include jenthaka, karshu, kuti, bhu, kumbhi, holaka and kupa.

Convection is the transfer of heat between two surfaces without direct contact through the medium of air. Examples of ''swedana'' techniques leveraging convection are ''naadi, jenthaka, karshu, kuti, bhu, kumbhi'' and ''koopa''.

Finally, evaporation involves the transfer of heat as vapour from the surface. Adequate humidity minimizes evaporative loss.  

Radiation is the difference in temperature between the body surface and objects in the environment. It decides the rate of cooling. Examples of ''swedana'' techniques that use radiation for heat transfer include ''jenthaka, karshu, kuti, bhu, kumbhi, holaka'' and ''koopa''.

Physical factors affecting the rate of evaporation include relative humidity, velocity of air flow and minute (time factor) ventilation. 20% of heatloss happens on a daily basis through the medium of evaporation via lungs and skin. Examples of fomentation techniques leveraging evaporation include parisheka, jentaka, bhu, kumbhi and  koopa.

Finally, evaporation involves the transfer of heat as vapor from the surface. Adequate humidity minimizes evaporative loss.  

The thirteen agniswedas mentioned in Charaka samhita either refer to any one of the above mentioned heat-transfer techniques or a combination of these. This classification can be made only when heat transfer is considered. But as the drugs used are completely different in many of the procedures, the effect of herbs has yet to be explored.  

Physical factors affecting the rate of evaporation include relative humidity, velocity of air flow and minute (time factor) ventilation. 20% of heat-loss happens on a daily basis through the medium of evaporation via lungs and skin. Examples of fomentation techniques leveraging evaporation include ''parisheka, jentaka, bhu, kumbhi'' and ''koopa''.

A study2 has been conducted regarding sarvanga sweda. It mentioned the haemodynamic effects of sarvanga sweda. The remarkable points from this study are:  

#Significant rise in the blood pressure (systolic & diastolic) was observed immediately after sarvanga swedana (found to reach near base levels after five minutes rest). Hence five minutes is the minimal period for which the patient should be kept in a supine posture, preferably at the same place. A continued sarvangaswedana therapy was noted to cause a significant decrease in pulse rate & systolic BP compared to the base levels observed at the beginning of the procedure.

 

#The study recommended lying or supine posture during the procedure as opposed to sitting posture with head tilted downwards with cold draping over the head, since heat stress is supposed to cause a reduction in central venous pressure and a shift in blood volume from splanchnic to cutaneous area. Hence supine posture is considered ideal. Maximum time should be 8 – 10 minutes.15

A study2 has been conducted regarding ''sarvanga sweda''. It mentioned the hemodynamic effects of ''sarvanga sweda''. The remarkable points from this study are:  

#Significant rise in the blood pressure (systolic & diastolic) was observed immediately after ''sarvanga swedana'' (found to reach near base levels after five minutes rest). Hence five minutes is the minimal period for which the patient should be kept in a supine posture, preferably at the same place. A continued ''sarvangaswedana'' therapy was noted to cause a significant decrease in pulse rate & systolic BP compared to the base levels observed at the beginning of the procedure.

#The study recommended lying or supine posture during the procedure as opposed to sitting posture with head tilted downwards with cold draping over the head, since heat stress is supposed to cause a reduction in central venous pressure and a shift in blood volume from splanchnic to cutaneous area. Hence supine posture is considered ideal. Maximum time should be 8 – 10 minutes.15

Another study reported that infrared radiation application was more effective than hot water fomentation in minimizing the level of pain among patients with osteoarthritis of the knee 15.

Another study reported that infrared radiation application was more effective than hot water fomentation in minimizing the level of pain among patients with osteoarthritis of the knee 15.