Presentation on Shirodhara prepared by Ravi Shanker CK, for Vaidyaratnam Health Care, Bangalore.

1. Shirodhara:
Attaining ultimate bliss
Ayurveda
Masterclass
Prepared by Ravi Shanker CK

2. What is Shirodhara?
• The forehead is the seat of Ajna Chakra, and any
dysfunction there leads to a variety of disorders.
• Shirodhara is a form of Ayurveda therapy that involves
pouring warm liquids gently over the forehead. The name
comes from the Sanskrit
words Shira (head –words Shira (head –
although in this case it
is the forehead)
and Dhara(flow).

3. What is Shirodhara?
• The liquids includes oils (Thailadhara), Milk
(Ksheeradhara), Buttermilk (Takradhara) or Kashayam or
Ayurvedic Concoctions (Kashayadhara).
• The liquid is poured in an
alternating pattern from aalternating pattern from a
particular height and for a
specific amount of time in a
continuous stream onto the
forehead, and then allowed to
run over the scalp and through
the hair in a soothing rhythm.

4. How does Shirodhara work?
• According to Ayurveda three forces – Vata, Pitta &
Kapha – govern the human biological processes. The
permutations of these determinants could vary in each
person but a harmony of them is essential for overall
health.health.
• Ayurveda believes that the cure is in restoring the
physiological and psychic balance of the patient.
• Sufficient supply of oxygen and a regulated blood
circulation is key for our psychic and nervous system to
work properly. In fact, for the whole body to work in a
synchronized manner with the signals to and from the
brain through the network of nerves.

5. How Shirodhara works?
• Shirodhara, a major part of Panchakarma treatment
helps clear the nervous and blood circulatory tracts in
our body, and with better blood circulation the brain
gets greater supply of oxygen.
• The three bodily characteristics(called Tridoshas) and• The three bodily characteristics(called Tridoshas) and
the corresponding imbalances of a person, would play a
major role in deciding the fluids used in a Shirodhara.
• All treatments have to be done based on the
recommendations of the Ayurvedic medical practitioner.

6. Benefits of Shirodhara
• Shirodhara is used to treat a number of disorders as well as
for relaxing purposes. The diseases include insomnia,
memory loss, premature greying of hair, eye diseases,
hearing impairment, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, skin disorder
like psoriasis, and so on.
• Shirodhara also helps to soothe the mental disorders like
anxiety, emotional imbalances, depression etc.

7. Types of Shirodhara
• Thailadhara: in this form, oil is the liquid
administered. The oil or Thailam used in
this treatment is a medicated/ Ayurvedic
formulation and is customised based on the
patient's dosha or bodily characteristics.
• Apart from all other Shirodhara benefits,• Apart from all other Shirodhara benefits,
Thailadhara is hugely beneficial for
paralytic patients.
• Kashayadhara: The medium is
Kashaya(specific Ayurvedic
concoctions). The Kashaya is decided
corresponding to the clinical condition of
the patient by the attending Ayurvedic
practitioner.

8. Types of Shirodhara
• Ksheeradhara: Medicated milk is used in Ksheeradhara.
Good for reducing insomnia, headaches and mental
tension.
• Takradhara: Medicated butter milk or Takra is used in
accordance to the dosha as determined by the Ayurvedic
physician. Takradhara isphysician. Takradhara is
particularly beneficial for
reducing blood pressure level,
treating chronic dryness of
mouth and excessive thirst.
Also for psoriasis.

9. Thank YouThank You