Changes

Contemporary science believes that heat has a beneficial effect (through thermotherapy, for instance) on pain relief. Effect of heat on pain is mediated by heat-sensitive channels. These channels respond to heat by increasing intracellular calcium (Ca). An increase in intracellular Ca generates action potentials that increase the stimulation of sensory nerves. These channels are a part of a family of receptors called TRPV receptors. TRPV1 and TRPV2 channels are sensitive to noxious heat, while TRPV4 channels are sensitive to normal physiological heat. These channels have certain characteristics in common, such as sensitivity to menthol, etc. Multiple binding sites allow a number of factors to activate these channels. Once activated, they can also inhibit the purin pain receptors. These receptors, termed as P2X2 and P2Y2, are mediated pain receptors located in the peripheral small nerve endings. For peripheral pain, heat can directly inhibit pain. However when pain is originating from deeper tissues, heat stimulates peripheral pain receptors that can alter what can be termed as “gating” in the spinal cord and reduce the sensation of deep pain. Another effect of heat is its ability to increase circulation. These same TRPV1 and TRPV4 receptors, along with nociceptor, increase blood flow in response to heat. The initial response to heat is mediated through the sensory nerves that release substance P and calcitonin-related peptide to increase circulation. After approximately one minute, Nitric Oxide is produced in vasculature endothelial cells and is responsible for sustained response of circulation to heat. This increase in circulation is considered to be essential in tissue protection from heat and repair of damaged tissue. Thermotherapy is of two types: dry and moist. A study was conducted to assess the effect of moist and dry heat on delayed onset of muscle soreness. Moist heat not only had similar benefits as dry heat but in some cases was more beneficial, requiring only 25% of time for application as dry heat. This study was conducted on quadriceps muscles. The study also witnessed immediate (and maximum) reduction in pain on application of moist heat, since moist heat penetrates deeper tissues faster than dry heat. Also, dry heat draws out moisture from the areas of application leaving them dehydrated, unlike moist heat.  

Contemporary science believes that heat has a beneficial effect (through thermotherapy, for instance) on pain relief. Effect of heat on pain is mediated by heat-sensitive channels. These channels respond to heat by increasing intracellular calcium (Ca). An increase in intracellular Ca generates action potentials that increase the stimulation of sensory nerves. These channels are a part of a family of receptors called TRPV receptors. TRPV1 and TRPV2 channels are sensitive to noxious heat, while TRPV4 channels are sensitive to normal physiological heat. These channels have certain characteristics in common, such as sensitivity to menthol, etc. Multiple binding sites allow a number of factors to activate these channels. Once activated, they can also inhibit the purin pain receptors. These receptors, termed as P2X2 and P2Y2, are mediated pain receptors located in the peripheral small nerve endings. For peripheral pain, heat can directly inhibit pain. However when pain is originating from deeper tissues, heat stimulates peripheral pain receptors that can alter what can be termed as “gating” in the spinal cord and reduce the sensation of deep pain. Another effect of heat is its ability to increase circulation. These same TRPV1 and TRPV4 receptors, along with nociceptor, increase blood flow in response to heat. The initial response to heat is mediated through the sensory nerves that release substance P and calcitonin-related peptide to increase circulation. After approximately one minute, Nitric Oxide is produced in vasculature endothelial cells and is responsible for sustained response of circulation to heat. This increase in circulation is considered to be essential in tissue protection from heat and repair of damaged tissue. Thermotherapy is of two types: dry and moist. A study was conducted to assess the effect of moist and dry heat on delayed onset of muscle soreness. Moist heat not only had similar benefits as dry heat but in some cases was more beneficial, requiring only 25% of time for application as dry heat. This study was conducted on quadriceps muscles. The study also witnessed immediate (and maximum) reduction in pain on application of moist heat, since moist heat penetrates deeper tissues faster than dry heat. Also, dry heat draws out moisture from the areas of application leaving them dehydrated, unlike moist heat.  

Heat therapy shows best results in increasing extensibility of collagen tissues, decreasing joint stiffness, relieving muscle spasm, reducing pain, inflammation, and edema. It also helps in post acute phase of healing and increasing blood flow. Examples of applications of dry heat in contemporary medicine include  diathermy, ultra sound, and heat packs, while examples of moist heat include hydrocololator heat packs (1650F), heat regulated hydrotherapy (1050 F) (basically for 5-20 mins).<ref>Aroun Prasath, R., (2014), Journal of Science, Volume 4, Issue 1, A comparative study to assess the effectiveness of Infrared radiation and hot water fomentation on pain among patients with osteoarthritis of Knee, 1-3.</ref>

Heat therapy shows best results in increasing extensibility of collagen tissues, decreasing joint stiffness, relieving muscle spasm, reducing pain, inflammation, and edema. It also helps in post acute phase of healing and increasing blood flow. Examples of applications of dry heat in contemporary medicine include  diathermy, ultra sound, and heat packs, while examples of moist heat include hydrocololator heat packs (1650F), heat regulated hydrotherapy (1050 F) (basically for 5-20 mins).<ref name="ref3">Aroun Prasath, R., (2014), Journal of Science, Volume 4, Issue 1, A comparative study to assess the effectiveness of Infrared radiation and hot water fomentation on pain among patients with osteoarthritis of Knee, 1-3.</ref>

Practically, ''valuka sweda'' may be considered to be an extreme form of ''ruksha sweda'' and taila droni as an ultimate form of ''snigdha sweda''. ''Patrapotala sweda, jambheera pinda sweda'' etc are ''na atisnigdharuksha'' (neither too unctuous nor too dry) in nature. From this, a spectrum of ''[[swedana]]'' techniques could be formulated starting from ''valuka sweda'' (sudation using sand as driest form) and ending in ''taila droni'' (dipping in warm oil as most unctuous form). The complete sequence of techniques would imply ''valuka sweda'' at one end of the spectrum, followed by ''thusha sweda, kareesha sweda, pinyakasweda, dhanyamla dhara, churnapindasweda, jambheera panda sweda, patrapotala sweda, anda sweda, shashtika pinda sweda, sarvanga dhara'' and eventually ending with ''taila droni''. [verse 7-8]

Practically, ''valuka sweda'' may be considered to be an extreme form of ''ruksha sweda'' and taila droni as an ultimate form of ''snigdha sweda''. ''Patrapotala sweda, jambheera pinda sweda'' etc are ''na atisnigdharuksha'' (neither too unctuous nor too dry) in nature. From this, a spectrum of ''[[swedana]]'' techniques could be formulated starting from ''valuka sweda'' (sudation using sand as driest form) and ending in ''taila droni'' (dipping in warm oil as most unctuous form). The complete sequence of techniques would imply ''valuka sweda'' at one end of the spectrum, followed by ''thusha sweda, kareesha sweda, pinyakasweda, dhanyamla dhara, churnapindasweda, jambheera panda sweda, patrapotala sweda, anda sweda, shashtika pinda sweda, sarvanga dhara'' and eventually ending with ''taila droni''. [verse 7-8]