Description

The term ‘Shirodhara’ comes from two Sanskrit words, where ‘Shiro’ means ‘head’ and ‘dhara’ implies to ‘pouring or sprinkling something’, together it infers to dripping or pouring of warm herbal ayurvedic oils on the forehead from a specific height, for a specific time period in a continuous stream, allowing the oil to run through the scalp and down into the hair.

Shirodhara, works on multiple layers like exfoliating dead skin cells, transporting lymphatic fluids, mitigating stress, expunging muscular tension, balancing doshic elements, or obliterating toxins etc. It even enhances the function of the central nervous system, treats diseases like anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue and bestows a whole new experience to the mind and body.

Pariseka – pouring oil in a thin stream it is also known as shirodhara.
अरूंषिकाशिरस्तोददाहपाकव्रणेषुतुपरिषेकः A.H.SU. 22-24
is useful in

1. अरूंषिका – ulcerations of the scalp,
2. शिरस्तोद – headache,
3. दाह – burning sensation,
4. पाक – wounds, and
5 व्रणेषु. – suppurations in the scalp.

Shirodhara is deeply relaxing and induces a relaxant state; these effects are mediated by the brain wave coherence, alfa waves, and a downregulation of the sympathetic outflow. The center of the forehead, which was evolution-wise related to the third eye, is connected atavistically to the pineal gland. This spot is known as Agnya Chakra in the yoga tradition. Focusing on agnya chakra with closed eyes during meditation leads to psychosomatic harmony. As the oil drips on the agnya chakra, it is proposed that the meditation-like effect is a consequence of stillness of mind leading to an adaptive response to the basal stress (Dhuri KD, et. Al., 2013).