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Name :
Vignesh K
Affliation :
Email :
vignesh02vg@gmail.com
Siddha, bathing, Oil bath
Scientific Validation of Oil Bathing-A literature Review
Vignesh K1,
EdwinAnandham L1, Uma AP*, Yamini
Priyadharsini S**
1UG scholar, Sivaraj Siddha Medical College,
Salem
*Lecturer, Department of Forensic Medicine and
Toxicology, Sivaraj
Siddha Medical College, Salem.
**Program assistant, Peripheral
Pharmacovigilance center,
Perundurai GH, Erode.
ABSTRACT
Hygiene
plays a crucial role in healthy
living. According to WHO, in 2015 about 39%(2.9 billion people) have
hygienic
sanitation services. The word hygiene first typify one`s personal
hygiene
rather than environmental hygiene. The personal hygiene denotes
bathing,
brushing, eating, excreting,etc., Of these, bathing is an essential
thing. The
grime and the sweat that produces
heat by
their routine work and due to bodily exercise. When these grimes remain intact, it blocks the sweat and sebaceous glands which results
our bodily waste to hinder
blood
which further leads to
several disorders.
So it is essential to gain knowledge in a daily
bath. Our traditional people had proposed many procedures in bathing,
but we
are unaware of these practices. In the current
scenario by using several commercially available soaps, people are
facing
various dermatological problems. By using products of natural origin,
we can
avoid them. This paper aimed at improving knowledge among people in
scientific
reasons in an oil bath,
various natural
products alternative to soaps, their activities, the mechanism involved
in an oil bath, food habits
on the day of oil bath
etc..,
Keywords: Siddha, bathing, hygienic sanitation
INTRODUCTION
Healthy
living lies in one`s personal hygiene.
There are certain protocols in following routine activities with
hygienic
practices, proposed by our great Siddhars. The
oil bath is one among those hygienic practices which prevents diseases. The
importance of such an oil
bath had been mentioned by Siddhars in many
kinds of literature like
“THERAYAR
THAILA VARGA SURUKAM, PATHARTHA GUNA
SINTHAMANI...”
MATERIALS AND
METHODS:
As
per the Siddhar`s and our
traditional
knowledge, bathing should be done at vaigarai(2am-6am).
According to the astrology, chathurthasi
(4ththithi) is mostly
preferred.
According to our tradition, oil bath is prescribed for two times in eight days with oil,
mostly mukkuttunei(pasunei,
ell nei, amanakunei)thailams,etc., Following
this will give strength
to vital organs, pleasant voice, stimulates hair growth etc.
Table1: Thailams and araipu
used (mentioned in PDF)
THAILAM
Based on Mukkutram, these various thailams used
before bating
helps to restore normal moisture content
in vathapersons suffering from severe dryness. Persons prolongation without
oil-massage are
prone to
pitha
disorders. It
also contains a large
amount of
anti-oxidants and poly unsaturated
fatty
acids, vitamin E and acts as
an anti-microbial, anti inflammatory
etc.,[9]
Table 2: Thailam
used for various Thegi`s
(Body Constitution) Thegi |
Thailam used |
Vatha |
Sukkuthailam |
Pitha |
Pasunei / santhanathithailam |
Kapha |
Nochithailam /Podithemerthal |
COW`S GHEE
Cow`s ghee when applied over the head directly, penetrate directly into deeper tissues and also massaging creates endorphins or peptides, which enhances the body immune system. Regular oil bath slows the aging process [10] and hair loss [11] and also exquisite facial moisturizer [10].
Table 3: Do`s and Dont`s in an Oil bath
DO`S |
DON’T`S |
Bath in running water or mudpot |
Don`t use hot water on the head |
Take easily digestible
foods like cereals, pulses, etc after oil |
Foods that are hard to digest like meat, curd, etc |
Have a bath
in water soaked with mango leaves or goose-berry or with turmeric |
Don`t sleep in the daytime
after oil bath and avoid traveling |
Table 4: Actions
of
various substances used
asAraipu
Materials |
Action |
Other actions proved |
Acacia concinna(Seegakai) |
Astringent Detergent [4] |
1.Microbacterial activity against gram (-ve) bacteria. 2. antihelminthic
activity when compared
with piperazine. 3. has vitamin D. 4. Keeps scalp moisture. 5. reduces head lice. 6. Cures cuts, wound etc [5] |
Smilax china (Parangi pattai) |
Depurative anti-viral, anti-fungal, etc[8] . |
1. antinociception
action. 2. Anti hyperuricemic 3. Anti-inflammatory. 4. Appreciable activity in HaCaT cell line
against anti-psoriatic activity[6]. 5. The grandular
layer is greatly reduced or absent in psoriatic lesions [7]. |
Vigna radiate (Pachaipayaru) |
Antiseptic Antimicrobial Anti
oxidant |
Treats various skin diseases and gives glowing
skin. |
Catunaregumspinose (serukarrai) |
Antioxidant Anti-inflammatory |
Acts as an anti-inflammatory
agent. |
Albiziaodoratiaaima (Ucilanthol) |
Antihelminthic Disinfectant |
Cures all skin ailments typically psoriasis
proved |
Madhucalongifolia (Elupaipunnaku) |
Astringent Disinfectant Antihelminthic |
Excellent wound healing activity[12]. |
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Avoid using hot/ warm water for patients with
neurological disorders
Thailams and araipu
used (mentioned in PDF)
THAILAM
Based on Mukkutram, these various thailams used
before bating
helps to restore normal moisture content
in vathapersons suffering from severe dryness. Persons prolongation without
oil-massage are
prone to
pitha
disorders. It
also contains a large
amount of
anti-oxidants and poly unsaturated
fatty
acids, vitamin E and acts as
an anti-microbial, anti inflammatory
etc.,[9]
Table 2: Thailam
used for various Thegi`s
(Body Constitution) Thegi |
Thailam used |
Vatha |
Sukkuthailam |
Pitha |
Pasunei / santhanathithailam |
Kapha |
Nochithailam /Podithemerthal |
COW`S GHEE
Cow`s ghee when applied over the head directly, penetrate directly into deeper tissues and also massaging creates endorphins or peptides, which enhances the body immune system. Regular oil bath slows the aging process [10] and hair loss [11] and also exquisite facial moisturizer [10].
Table 3: Do`s and Dont`s in an Oil bath
DO`S |
DON’T`S |
Bath in running water or mudpot |
Don`t use hot water on the head |
Take easily digestible
foods like cereals, pulses, etc after oil |
Foods that are hard to digest like meat, curd, etc |
Have a bath
in water soaked with mango leaves or goose-berry or with turmeric |
Don`t sleep in the daytime
after oil bath and avoid traveling |
Table 4: Actions
of
various substances used
asAraipu
Materials |
Action |
Other actions proved |
Acacia concinna(Seegakai) |
Astringent Detergent [4] |
1.Microbacterial activity against gram (-ve) bacteria. 2. antihelminthic
activity when compared
with piperazine. 3. has vitamin D. 4. Keeps scalp moisture. 5. reduces head lice. 6. Cures cuts, wound etc [5] |
Smilax china (Parangi pattai) |
Depurative anti-viral, anti-fungal, etc[8] . |
1. antinociception
action. 2. Anti hyperuricemic 3. Anti-inflammatory. 4. Appreciable activity in HaCaT cell line
against anti-psoriatic activity[6]. 5. The grandular
layer is greatly reduced or absent in psoriatic lesions [7]. |
Vigna radiate (Pachaipayaru) |
Antiseptic Antimicrobial Anti
oxidant |
Treats various skin diseases and gives glowing
skin. |
Catunaregumspinose (serukarrai) |
Antioxidant Anti-inflammatory |
Acts as an anti-inflammatory
agent. |
Albiziaodoratiaaima (Ucilanthol) |
Antihelminthic Disinfectant |
Cures all skin ailments typically psoriasis
proved |
Madhucalongifolia (Elupaipunnaku) |
Astringent Disinfectant Antihelminthic |
Excellent wound healing activity[12]. |
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Avoid using hot/ warm water for patients with
neurological disorders