Shirodhara - The Queen of Ayurvedic Oil Therapies

I’ve been doing this therapy weekly of late. People are beginning to feel Autumn blowing in and this stunning treatment is one of the No 1 ways to pacify Vata. Shiro - meaning head and dhara - to flow or continuously pour. It is known as ‘The King of all Ayurvedic Therapies”, but I like to think of it as the Queen! The reason it is so highly regarded is due to it’s ability to work on the mind and the entire central nervous system. It is tri-doshic, so it pacifies all three doshas. It pacifies Vata by working on the mind and CNS, Pitta through pacifying the digestive & endocrine systems and Kapha in pacifying the immune system. There is nothing not to love about this therapy. Classically the therapy is done by pouring warm to hot oil, continuously on the 3rd eye chakra. From this point we work side to side to the temples and back to the fontanel and the oil then runs down over the mamas on the top of the head. The body absorbs oil in 547 seconds - that’s how long it takes to penetrate through the 7 dhatus (bodily tissues) and it has a deeply nourishing effect on each dhatu as it passes through.

Shirodhara is always on my therapy plan for clients who need to bring Vata dosha back into balance. Also for those who are in the Vata phase of life (for women this is post menopause) and also during autumn and early winter when Vata dosha is most likely to be aggravated. Vata ‘diseases’ for which this treatment is particularly beneficial include:

• Insomnia

• Chronic fatigue

• Anxiety

• Too much weight loss

• Infertility

• Irregular periods

• Menopause

• Low blood pressure

• Greying of hair/hair loss

• Dry scalp

• Palsy

• Any nerve loss function

• M.S

• Parkinsons

• Alzheimer’s

• IBS

• Constipation

The therapy begins with a hot steam and facial massage before we begin the oil pouring. You then take a hot shower to wash out the oil and complete the experience with a detox tea. I recommend these done as a block of 6 to see really true, deep results.