“Snan Ke Gun” or the ayurvedic attributes of bathing for
Seasonal Health and Detox
Detoxing at the seasonal junctures is highly recommended by Ayurveda. And we now
understand why. Our body is not frozen in time or space, it is always interacting with the environment it is part of, and nowhere is this more visible than at the seasonal junctures, when the body has to adjust to climactic and changes coupled with a change in daily activity and rest. We learn with Ayurveda, that there are specific things we can do to help our bodies through the changes. Getting a cold, or feeling fatigue when seasons shift are signals that the body needs more support in adapting to the changing season. It’s like cleaning house! We do Spring Cleaning, we even do Autumn cleaning getting ready for a new academic year and the holiday season, but somehow we never think about cleaning/detoxing our bodies, mainly because the knowledge has not been available to us so far. But now, with Ayurveda, and particularly with additional practical scientifically validated tips from SV Ayurveda, we have so many fast and easy ways to support our physiologies during these seasonal junctures. You will actually experience how seasonal detoxing will not just be a welcome activity but it can amount to a joyful activity, even as you start to feel refreshed and revitalized from it.
Having said this, it is important to never forget that detox is a serious matter. In my
epxerience as an ayurvedic healer, many victims of unsafe detox protocols and services have come to SVA to help resolve their detox crises. There is one thing that 99 % of ayurvedic experts out there do NOT address, and that’s the state of our circulatory channels – physical and vibrational. It does not matter how great your diet, or detox herbs, or protocols are, if you do not address the channels, nothing will help! The channels is where it all happens first. Specially at the seasonal junctures. For example, when the weather changes from Summer to Fall, with temperatures dropping, our body responds accordingly: our channels shrink. Now imagine this scenario: you are at your ayurvedic clinic and they are giving you all sorts of wonderful herbal preparations, and massaging you to help you detox the accumulated pitta or heat, but they are not addressing the channels. Think of it in terms of the following analogy: the highways are all blocked and/ or badly congested, and psychotic dangerous criminals need to be transported from one jail to another jail, but but the roads are blocked, and if security has not taken proper measures, the likelihood of them breaking loose and causing greater trouble by hiding in the congested city are growing with every minute you are stuck in the traffic!
So first: you have to make sure that the toxins you are trying to evacuate are properly
“bound” and then that your channels are ready to evacuate the junk in an expedited
efficient manner! Because the last thing you want is for them to get relocated! You don’t want the junk that was polluting your lungs to go get stuck in your liver; or the hot toxins from your gut to find an outlet through your skin and cause great rashes and skin damage. And this is where bathing for detox comes in. specially in Autumn. I’ve already written about the health benefits of bathing at length on my blog, but I want to take things a little further this week.
Our morning showers or bedtime baths are a relaxing activity for us. Sure, hot water
running down our back in the morning, or soaking in an aromatic bath are very soothing and calming activities, but you probably did not know that they can be an even more powerful detox tool than ingesting any herbal supplement or detox protocol you will ever adopt. Bathing does so much more than relax your tired muscles or calm your mind. Specially when you use ayurvedic herbal pouches that have a targeted effect on your entire physiology. Hot water, steam, where herbs’ essences have been infused, have been therapeutically used since antiquity. The Roman baths were famous for their therapeutic properties, coupled with elaborate detox protocols. Elaborate bathing rituals and therapies to heal and beautify were also common in ancient Greece. In Japan, traditionally, bathing has been part of ritual purification and the pursuit of spiritual purity. Turkish baths or “hammams” were a core element of daily rituals, and were combined with elaborate massage protocols.
But nowhere are the therapeutic health benefits of bathing better documented than in the texts of the ancient rishis of Ayurveda. The health benefits of bathing are elaborated – why to bathe, how to bathe, when to bathe, what materials to use in bathing, what temperature of water to be used for whom, even directions on when ‘not to bathe.’ Ayurveda talks about natural clay mixes for bathing and uses herbs and flower petals in the bath along with natural foaming and cleansing agents, like soap nuts (reetha). 100% natural cleansing materials are selected for their power to cleanse, nurture, soothe, and detox – ALL without any synthetic scents, colors, binders, or emulsifying agents.
My SVA ancestors – physicians to the royalty of India – further enhanced these bathing protocols to address the ailments of their royal patients. These secrets were passed down to me via several generation, and I have had the opportunity now to adapt them to our contemporary bodies laden with stress, unhealthy lifestyles and diet, and high EMF exposure. This is why, my extensive line of herbal products, specially the soaps for the body, hands, and face along with specific bath pouches to detox and rejuvenate the physiology from the outside-in are not just meant as external beautifying or relaxing products. They are part of the general SVA transdermal daily detox protocol.
But first, I would like to go over what Bhav Prakash, one of our eminent ancestors, has to say about the health benefits of taking a bath.
Bathing is: deepanam – increases metabolic and digestive fires; vrishyam: increases seven tissues especially reproductive tissue, or shukra; ayushyam: increases longevity; snanamojo: bath increases ojas; balapradam: increases stamina; kandumala: (takes away) itching and malas, toxic waste of the skin; shrama: removes fatigue; sweda: cleans sweat; tandra: removes drowsiness; tridda: makes strong; daha: burning takes away; papmanutam: cleanses physically and vibrationally, i.e. takes away bad karma
In addition, it is bāhyaiśca sekaiḥ: warms up our external body; śītādyairūṣmā’ntaryāṁti pīḍitaḥ: warms up the body when a person is suffering from chills; narasya snānamātrasya dīpyate tena pāvakaḥ: after a bath the whole body agnis become ignited.
Bathing, when done with cool waters, śītena payasā snānaṁ; can be: raktapittapraśāntikṛt: pacifies high pitta in rakta (blood); when done in comfortably hot/warm water, tadevo’ṣṇena toyena balyaṁ vātakaphāpaham, it gives stamina and pacifies vata and kapha.
Otherwise: śiraḥ snānamacakṣuṣyamatyuṣṇenāmbunā sadā: normal temperature water bath for the head is good for the health (longevity) of the eyes; while warm (not too hot) water bath is good for pacifying vata and kapha.
But there is a special section on just bathing with (wild) Amla:
athāmalakaiḥ snānatya guṇānāha: Attributes of amalaki bath 2) yaḥ sadā”malakaiḥ snānaṁ karoti sa viniścitam: If a person takes amalaki baths daily without failure, 3) balīpalitanirmukto jīvedvarṣaśataṁ naraḥ: it will help with wrinkles, premature hair falling, and that person will live to a 100 years.
But some should not be bathing at all: atha snānānarhajanānāha, or bathing is highly contraindicated for: anyone who has jvara, or fever; anyone experiencing tisāre, or acute diarrhea; anyone with netrakarṇānilārtiṣu: vata predominate pain in eyes/ears, i.e. sharp, shooting pain; anyone who has ādhmāna or distention of abdomen; pīnasa: chronic sinusitis; ajīrṇaṁbhuktavatsu – anyone who is finally eating after a period of starvation/ fasting. It is garhitam, or clearly forbidden.
Bath and Shower – An Essential Part of your SVA day
Bhava Prakash has a detailed discourse on ‘dinacharya’ – ‘daily rituals for self care.’ In a general sense, following all the do’s and don’ts on dinacharya align us with the laws of Nature so that we receive more prana and utilize that prana in totality. One of the
reasons we feel enlivened after our morning shower and relaxed after our evening bath is because these give us greater pranic reception and delivery. Skip that part of your day and you will definitely notice more physical fatigue and less mental clarity. Good flow of prana energizes, supporting all the bodily functions.
Bathing alone carries innumerable health benefits, but if you can also take a few minutes to give yourself an abhyanga (self-massage) with the appropriate massage oil, before bathing, then you maximize the detox and health benefits of your bath. Abhyanga does not even have to be a great big time-consuming activitiy – taking just a few more minutes to massage with the appropriate herbal oil and let that oil sit on your skin for 20 minutes will multiply the benefits of your bath/shower exponentially. Here’s the short list of what it will do for you:
• Pacifies all the doshas
• Relieves fatigue
• Gives mental clarity
• Tones the muscles
• Induces Sleep
• Lubricates the joints
• Calms the nerves
Discover more about the benefits of daily massage inclusive of which massage oils are best for different individuals and how to perform a self-massage by reading my blog, Give it or get it: you won’t regret it – Abhyanga and its Transdermal Benefits
Herbal Bath or Aushadhi Snana
Traditionally, herbal baths were routinely prescribed by Vaidyas for health maintenance and specific ailments. These baths – called aushadhi snan – were of two basic types: detox snan and rasayana or rejuvenative snan. I am reviving this ancient tradition by making available three types of herbalized bath pouches: Detox & Relax Bath Pouches; SVA Rasayana Bath Pouches; and Shodhana (Self-Detox) Bath Pouches. Detox & Relax pouches are best for Vata & Kapha predominant types. Pitta types (or strong pitta imbalance) can use SVA Rasayana Bath Pouches. Shodhana (Self-Detox) Bath Pouch is ideal to initiate a gentle detox during a home detox program, or whenever you feel your physiology needs cleansing.
To enjoy the benefits of aushadhi snan, simply fill up your bathtub with hot to warm but comfortable water, throw in a pouch, let it steep for a few minutes, then slip in. After relaxing for a few minutes, take the bath pouch and sponge your limbs and other desired areas. Relax some more and let the herbs do their job transdermally. The steam/heat of the water will relax your pores and facilitate the transdermal absorption of the herbal synergy, further benefiting your physiology.
All of my bath pouches are gentle yet provide powerful transdermal detox and therefore must be used correctly. Before using, you may want to read and follow the precautions on my blog about Home PK.
Based on the needs of my clients, I have also put together a Soma Nidra Body Cleansing Pouch to help promote restful sleep. These pouches contain lavender, valerian, and chamomile. Lavender calms the mind and heart. Valerian calms the mind and it unblocks and detoxifies the physical channels if they are full of ama (partially digested food material). Ama in the channels causes restlessness by blocking the free flow of vata dosha. Chamomile is well known for its calming properties and its ability to settle you for restfull sleep. Use these pouches in your bath just before turning in for the night.
Other Precautions for Aushadhi Snana (Addendum to Home PK precautions)
- Don’t soak in a bath for more than 15-20 minutes each time.
- If you have a heart condition, consult with your doctor about taking any type of hot bath.
- Pregnant women are NOT advised to take hot baths or use any of the detox bath pouches.
NEW – Amalaki Bath Pouches for Everyday and Everyone!
I was inspired to formulate my newest aushadhi snan product – Amalaki Bath Pouches.
These bath pouches contain the very same “wild amla” I use in all of my other amla
products – tablets, nectar drops, preserve, chyawanprash. Amla we have learned is
arguably one of the most, if not the most, important medicinal plants in Ayurveda – a
divyaushadhi or divinely conceived plant possessing unsurpassed healing restorative
powers. In fact, Bhav Prakash (verse 86 above) says that regular bathing with amalaki
takes away wrinkles, falling hair, and helps one to live to a 100 years. With these pouches, you can gather all the restorative powers of the wild amla berry even as you are relaxing in your bathtub!
Not just any amla will do. These pouches contain only the amla fruit growing “in the
wild,” from un-harvested lands and forests, vs the hybridized, high-yield variety
extensively used version found in commercial preparations. The larger, hybridized amla berries are unable to yield the benefits of amla mentioned in the ancient texts.
Amla used alone will also not do, as it does not carry cleansing/detox properties. This is why I have added the cleansing power of soapnut (reetha) to the formula. The SVA
Amalaki Bath Pouches also have aromatic organic rose and ylang-ylang to soothe the
mind and emotions during bath. Last but not least, they contain neem. Neem has many benefits for the skin, especially detoxifying and promoting skin immunomodulation. (Amalaki used alone can ‘tan’ white to darker skin tones.)
Discover the 25 Amazing Benefits of Wild Amla now deliverable in an easy-to-use
transdermal medium to clean, rejuvenate, and mildly detox the physiology during your bath or shower. Here is what your Wild Amla Bath Pouch contains:
Ingredients:
• Soapnuts
• Organic Rose Petals
• Amla (wild)
• Neem
• Ylang ylang
Directions: Use one pouch per bath. Discard after one use. Put the pouch in your bath and squeeze it so it absorbs the hot/warm water and the herbal synergy gets released into your bath. Use the pouch to massage joints and limbs while in your bath.
Hazards and Dangers in Your Bathroom
Having listed all the benefits of bath, we should also know what to avoid when selecting a soap or bath gel. The majority of soaps on the market strip the skin of its natural oils/ lubrication balance, drying it out, depleting its friendly bacteria, and delivering synthetic toxic chemicals -preservatives, and fragrances – transdermally to the entire physiology. They contain many known carcinogens and endocrine system disruptors: these include Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS); Parabens; Triclosan (antibacterial agent); and propylene glycol (found in some antifreeze and paints).
In SVA, these ingredients are classified as ‘garvisha’, xenobiotics or exogenous toxins. Our largest organ, the skin, absorbs these insidious toxins into the body where they have a deleterious effects at all levels of our bodies: large and small, gross and subtle. According to Ayurveda, our micro circulatory channels – called “shukshma shrotas” in Sanskrit – transport and deliver enzymes, nutrients, and many other life-sustaining ingredients and vibrations. When these micro-channels are affected and become inflamed due to xenobiotics, they become ruptured and the whole chemical balance of our physiology, on a very deep subtle level, is disrupted, resulting in a myriad of incurable diseases. Garvisha also mixes with and pollutes the pranic energy carried in the nadis (vibrational channels).
Dr. Joseph Mercola, a leading exponent of alternative medicine, lists and explains many of the health hazards of modern soaps and shower gels in his article Scrubbing Yourself Clean and Purging Germs… But At What Cost to Your Health?
Why You Should Filter Your Shower and Bath Water
Garvisha is everywhere – Not only in commercial soaps and other skin cleansers but also in the very water we bathe or shower! Of these, chlorine is a particularly insidious form of garvisha. During a bath, chlorine readily passes through cell walls and attaches to the fatty acids of the cell, disrupting life-sustaining bodily functions. Showering hastens the degree and rate of absorption of chlorine to a far greater extent:
One half of our daily chlorine exposure is from showering. Chlorine is not only absorbed through the skin, but also re-vaporized in the shower, inhaled into the lungs, and transferred directly into the blood system. In fact, chlorine exposure from one shower is equal to an entire day’s amount of drinking the same water. Showering in Tap Water, Should You Bathe in Bleach?
Besides chlorine, a toxic brew of other exogenous toxins has an opportunity to degrade our health every time we bath in unfiltered tap water. Although public health institutions now pay more attention to these matters, there was a time when tap water was incredibly toxic:
The Center for Study of Responsive Law’s, Troubled Water on Tap report, states that over 2,100 contaminants have been found in drinking water. Of those 2,100, 190 are known to cause adverse health effects. In total, 97 carcinogens, 82 mutagens and suspected mutagens (cause cell mutations), 23 tumor promoters and 28 acute and chronic toxic contaminants have been detected in U.S. drinking water.
-Center for Study of Responsive Law, Consumers Research Magazine, East West, July 1989.
Although we can’t eliminate every risk, a top quality shower filter offers a reasonable amount of protection and can be an affordable solution. Nowadays, very powerful filters for removing chlorine are available that really make a difference, specially with daily use.
If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t apply it on your skin!
Our skin literally in-gests, takes in and eats any substance – good or bad – that we apply on it. This process is explained by the three ayurvedic principles governing the skin: shleshaka kapha, vyana vata, and bhrajaka pitta. Shleshaka kapha helps maintain moisture levels and keeps the skin lubricated; vyana vata keeps the balance of friendly bacteria and nutrients of the skin well distributed; and bhrajaka pitta protects the skin by warding off unwanted particles and molecules from entering and going into the blood stream, while it invites and takes in all good molecules that are applied on the skin. When you use soaps and cleaning products with chemicals, you disrupt the balance established by these 3 ayurvedic principles one after another, and you can eventually develop chronic skin imbalances. For example, regular soap bars dry your skin. This means shleshaka kapha is going off. When shleshaka kapha is off, then vyana vata goes high, and this eventually brings down bhrajaka pitta – the skin loses its intelligence as to what to absorb and what to reject. Using a drying synthetic soap bar for prolonged periods of time will eventually bring in deeper imbalances.
The SVA Solution is to use one of 20 bath/hand soaps that I have formulated, all with 100% organic or wild-crafted herbs in a rich luxurious base of Shea Butter, with zero additives or synthetic ingredients. These herbalized soaps do not contain any harsh chemicals, preservatives (parabens), foaming agents (sodium laurel sulphate), synthetic scents or colors. Any chemical in the formulation would destroy the subtle properties of the divine herbal ingredients. In addition, harsh chemicals kill the friendly bacteria of the skin and ultimately make their way into the blood, liver, and entire body. SVA aromatic soaps have none of the detrimental effects of chemicals found in most soaps on the market today.
Shea Butter: Your Skin’s Best Friend
Most ‘natural’ brands of soaps use either glycerin, saponified coconut oil, or castor oil as a base. All these bases are relatively cheap production-cost wise. Also, (except for glycerin) in the long-term, they dry the skin. Glycerin, of the three, is the better choice but not very lubricating for the skin as compared to shea butter. This is why all of my SVA soaps contain as a base the highest quality organic shea butter. Shea butter is an off-white or ivory-colored fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. A rich emollient, shea butter itself has many benefits for our skin, including acting as an all-natural vitamin A and vitamin E cream. In the long-term and short-term shea butter base provides the best skin lubrication and moisturization.
Learn more about this essential ingredient of SVA soaps and their benefits: The American Shea Butter Institute (ASBI) 21 Reasons to Use Shea Butter.
SVA Bath and Hand Soaps A – Z
Why so many varieties? All of my SVA soaps clean and lubricate the skin. But, there’s more to the story. Besides cleaning and moisturizing, SVA soaps are made to deliver specific benefits transdermally to the deepest part of the cellular system. For example, Ashwagandha Herbalized Soap immediately gives more physical and mental strength and, as a proven adaptogen, gives you better ability to handle stress. Ashoka is a famous herb for removing grief and sadness from the vibrational heart lotus. The Ashoka Transdermal Soap delivers this prabhava (special potency) of ashoka while you bathe. This soap also delivers the complexion enhancing property (varnya prabhava) of ashoka. Now, you can get the benefits of ashoka, ashwagandha and many other herbs simply by bathing!
- Ashoka Herbalized Soap: Complexion enhancer, and removes grief and sadness
- Ashwagandha Herbalized Soap: Adaptogen for physical and mental stamina
- Brahmi Herbalized Soap: Strengthens dhi, dhriti, smriti of mind (learning, retaining, recall)
- Deep Meditation Herbalized Soap: Settles and prepares the mind/senses for transcending
- Detox Soap: Topical skin detoxification support
- Divine Soap Lovers Gift Basket: Gift Basket containing several best-selling soaps
- Neem and Brahmi Liquid Soap and Body Wash: Liquid hand/bath soap with stimulating peppermint and purifying effect of neem
- Neem Soap: Detoxifies the skin and supports the body’s immunity
- Real Rose Herbalized Soap: Cools body and emotions, promotes glowing skin
- Soma Nidra Soap for Blissful Sleep: Promotes deep, restful sleep
- Summer Soap: Vetiver and Aloe herbal synergy to cool the mind and body in hot weather
- SVA Chamomile Soap: Soothes minor skin irritation and gently calms the mind
- SVA Clarity Soap: Relaxes the mind and helps with mental focus
- SVA Energy Soap: Energizes and balances the body with nutmeg
- SVA Enhanced Brahmi Soap: Strengthens dhi, dhriti, smriti of mind (learning, retaining, recall)
- SVA Moringa Leaf Soap: Delivers the medicinal value of moringa through the skin
- SVA Serenity Soap: Relieves nervous tension and enhances concentration
- SVA Turmeric Soap: Gives skin radiance and fights against toxins
- Vetiver Herbalized Soap: Balances bhrajaka pitta (skin metabolism) cools entire body
- Winter Soap: Warms the body and opens the physical & vibrational channels
What Customers are Saying:
Essential Grief/Trauma/Emotional Support {- Posted by Swati* on 30th Apr 2013
I am relying on all the Ashoka products to help me navigate emotional challenges. Currently using it for grief and trauma support as well as extra emotional flexibility. I use on my belly, spine and heart center. Truly a gift.
LOVE this soap {Soma Nidra Soap} 5 Star Review – Posted by Unknown on 20th Apr 2013
This and all of his soaps smell amazing and cleanse very well. The scent of this soap really does relax me and help me sleep! I use it every night in the bath…ahhhh
Whoa… {SVA Chamomile Soap} 5 Star Review – Posted by Joseph Rewoldt on 26th Mar 2014
I believe I have now tried every single one of Vaidya’s soaps. This just happened to be the last one I tried but it is by far my favorite. They are all amazing but wow, for some reason I just love this one. My expectations are already so high because Vaidya is the best but somehow this soap smells so good it makes me feel happy. Thank you Vaidya. Congratulations on another super product!
Best soap ever! {SVA Moringa Leaf Soap} – Posted by Kyle Rodeck on 15th May 2013
Since I wash my hands a lot in a given day I was finding that my skin was getting
really dry and starting to crack. Ever since I started using your SVA Moringa Leaf Soap my hands are no longer dry and the irritation has dissipated. Using this soap is an absolute dream. After wetting the bar of soap and applying it to my hands it lathers and foams really well and is easy to apply. Once the residue has been rinsed away, your hands feel moist and protected. Best soap ever!
Help for rosacea {SVA Turmeric Soap} – Posted by Bea-from-Houston on 13th Mar
2015
I am in my 40s, have rosacea for about 10 years, my face is red most of the time, have bumps and pimples. Oracea was an excellent treatment combining with Finacea gel, but insurance does not pay for Oracea anymore. I had to look for another resolution. I have tried many [$$$] products that turned out to be useless. Recently came across a Youtube video featuring turmeric as a potential help for rosacea. I continued to search, then I found Chandika, and ordered this product. It took about 2 weeks to see the results, and after one month the redness is greatly reduced. The number of the pimples and bumps decreased, too. I don’t feel anymore that my face is “burning” (I used to “flash” a lot, barely noticed since I am using turmeric soap). I noticed that my skin is smoother, and my face is somewhat glowing. You don’t need to worry about leaving a yellow stint on your face (or clothes/towel, etc.). I wash my face once a day with this soap when in the shower, and leave it on for about 3-4 minutes, then I rinse. Observed to have better results when I combine it with Finacea. From my own experience, one soap is enough for about 2 months, and I use one gel/month. Don’t expect the results like Oracea gave, but it certainly works. I highly recommend this product, and continue to be a returning customer
Disclaimer
These products and statements have not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. All of the information above is intended for educational purposes only and may not be used to replace or complement medical advice.
