Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Snehana, when administered in an improper way will lead to many bad effects and complications. They are called Sneha Vyapat.
When these symptoms indicating the ‘snehana therapy gone wrong’ are manifested in the form of complications, it not only hampers the therapy and brings it to a halt, it will also become an obstacle for the other panchakarma / shodhana therapies which have been planned to be administered after snehana, mainly vamana – therapeutic emesis and virechana – therapeutic purgation.
Therefore, it is the duty and responsibility of the physician to plan snehana in such a way that it does not cause complications while properly lubricating the person to the point of saturation, which is the main motive of snehana therapy.
In this article we will discuss in brief about the reasons for manifestation of Sneha vyapat, symptoms of Sneha vyapat and treatment to combat those complications.
Ref – Ashtanga Hridaya Sutra Sthana, Chapter 16, Verses 32-33
Sneha Vyapat: Bad effects and complications of improperly done oleation therapy
Reasons for manifestation of Sneha Vyapat
अमात्रयाऽहितो काले मिथ्याहारविहारतः।
स्नेहः करोति शोफार्शस्तन्द्रास्तम्भविसंज्ञताः॥३२॥
कण्डूकुष्ठज्वरोत्क्लेशशूलानाहभ्रमादिकान्।
Sneha Amatraya – when one consumes Sneha – medicated fats in improper dose – either too less dose which will cause symptoms of inadequate oleation or either too much dose which will cause symptoms of excessive oleation, both of which can produce complications. Sneha administered in improper ways, not following the rules and regulations can also lead to symptoms or complications as those produced by administering fats in improper doses.
Sneha Ahite Kale – when Sneha is administered in improper time it will cause severe complications.
Related Reading – Seasonal consideration for Snehana
Sneha Mithya Ahara Viharatah Karoti – when snehana is administered while the person consumes / indulged in improper foods and activities, which are contraindicated while taking snehapana, it leads to severe complications.
Related Reading – Diet Schedule for Persons Undergoing Snehana Therapy
Related Reading – Regimen and Activities for those undergoing Snehana Therapy
Sneha Vyapat: Symptoms / complications arising due to erroneous administration of snehana
Below mentioned complications can arise due to erroneous administration of snehana (due to the above said causes) –
– Sopha – dropsy – swelling of body parts
– Arshas – piles / hemorrhoids
– Tandra – drowsiness / stupor
– Stambha – rigidity / stiffness of the body parts
– Visamjnata – unconsciousness, absence of sensation in body parts
– Kandu – itching
– Kustha – skin diseases
– Jwara – fever
– Utklesha – nausea
– Shula – pain in the abdomen, colic
– Anaha – flatulence
– Bhramadikan – dizziness etc.
Treatment of Sneha Vyapat
क्षुत्तृष्णोल्लेखनस्वेदरूक्षपानान्नभेषजम्॥३३॥
तक्रारिष्टखलोद्दालयवश्यामाककोद्रवम्।
पिप्पलीत्रिफलाक्षौद्रपथ्यागोमूत्रगुग्गुलु॥३४॥
यथास्व प्रतिरोगं च स्नेहव्यापदि साधनम्।
Ref – Ashtanga Hridaya Sutra Sthana, Chapter 16, Verses 33-35
a. Below mentioned comprises of the treatment principles and medicines for Sneha Vyapat –
Kshut – inducing hunger – it is a type of langhana, which induces lightness in the body and stimulates the activity of agni. It also nullifies the bad effects of Sneha, nullifies its actions and helps in relieving the complications caused therein. Another reason is, agni will be low in this condition and the food will be a burden for the body and agni.
Trshna – inducing thirst – this too acts like langhana, just as kshut is. By withholding thirst, you are supplying no water to your body. Water will increase kleda – unwanted fluids in the body and bulge the cells. In presence of excessive Sneha – unctuousness in the body caused due to erroneous administration of Sneha, water will add to the Sneha and create woes. The agni will be so imbalanced that the body cannot tolerate even water. Water will further pacify the agni, cause clogging and worsen the complications which have already set in.
Ullekhana – inducing emesis / therapeutic emesis – should be brought into picture when the excited doshas are stagnant in the stomach / gut or if there are signs of excessive oleation. As long as Sneha remains in the system it will keep creating complications. So, it needs to be expelled from the system as soon as possible, to prevent further complications and also to address the already manifested ones.
Sweda – inducing sweating, sudation therapy – helps reduce the stiffness, heaviness and coldness which have increased in the body due to improperly administered Sneha. It enables liquification of the stagnant Sneha and doshas and nullifies their effects. Swedana is a follow-up therapy for snehana. It acts as an antagonistic therapy for complications created by snehana and helps in relieving them.
Ruksha Pana Anna Bheshajam – administration of drinks, foods and medicines which are dry in nature and induce dryness in the body – helps in removing the excessive wetness / dampness / moistness which has been caused by improperly administered Sneha, which is the root source for all complications.
b. Also, administration of the below mentioned foods and herbs are beneficial in treating Sneha vyapat –
– Takrarishta – fermented liquid prepared in buttermilk base
– Khala – dish / foods prepared from curds
– Uddala – type of rice
– Yava – barley
– Shyamaka – Echinochloa frumentacea, Barnyard millet
– Kodrava – Paspalum scrobiculatum, Kodo millet
– Pippali – Piper longum / long pepper
– Triphala – fruits of Haritaki – Terminalia chebula, Bibhitaki – Terminalia bellirica and Amalaki – Emblica officinalis
– Kshaudra – honey
– Pathya – Haritaki – Terminalia chebula
– Gomutra – urine of cow
– Guggulu – Commiphora mukul
The above said herbs and foods are antagonistic foods for complications of Sneha and are conducive in presence of complications, to tame and nullify them, along with the measures like kshut etc mentioned above and disease specific or complication specific approach mentioned below ( c ).
c. Also,
Yathasvam Pratirogam Cha Sadhanam Snehavyapadi – Apart from the above said, such other foods, medicines etc. prescribed for each disease manifested as complications of improperly administered Sneha should be administered to treat them.
