Snehadhara in Ayurveda

Various medicated oils have an important role in the traditional Ayurvedic treatment in India. In Sanskrit, oil is called Sneha. Snehadhara is a treatment by pouring medicated oil all over the body with simultaneous massage.

Snehadhara is of two types – dhara over the whole body except the head and dhara over the whole body, including the head. For a really effective sarvangadhara, at least five people are needed to attend to the patient but now-a-days usually only two people perform this therapy.

Before starting the therapy, oil should be applied on the head of the patient. The patient is then made to lie on a droni and two attendants each stand on either side. Nozzled mud or bronze pitchers (kindis) are used for pouring the oil, which should be kept warm throughout the course of the treatment. While the attendants pour oil with their right hand, they also massage the patient using their left hand.