Can Ayurvedic Shirodhara Help in Jet Lag?
Jet Lag is one condition that is physically and mentally perturbing for many people, after travelling long distances by air. This is generally experienced by the foreigners visiting India and vice versa. And where the holistic healing potential of Ayurveda comes to assistance in wide dimensions and magnitudes, Ayurveda support for Jet Lag is also highly relieving and harmonising.
What is Jet Lag?
Jet Lag is a physiological condition which is also medically referred as Desynchronosis or Time Zone Change Syndrome. This condition alters the body’s circadian rhythms resulting from rapid long-distance trans-meridian (east–west or west–east) travel on high-speed aircraft. The symptoms of Jet Lag tend to be more severe when the person travels from westward compared to eastward.
Jet Lag Symptoms
People with jet lag usually have their sleep-wake patterns disturbed and this further interferes in their state of mental relaxation and sleep pattern. A number of symptoms of Jet Lag that may emerge are –
- Feeling drowsy, tired, irritable and lethargic.
- Persistent and recurrent headaches, vertigo, heaviness in the head, fatigue, insomnia, mild depression and loss of appetite
- Attention deficit – hard to concentrate on one thing for long, slight disorientation, dizziness and feeling of being unsettled.
- Some gastrointestinal disturbances might also crop up like diarrhoea or constipation. The more time zones that are crossed rapidly, the more severe jet lag symptoms are likely to be.
Ayurveda Support for Jetlag
The beauty of Ayurveda is that even if there were no high speed travel five thousand years ago, it has clear understanding how to prevent the jet lag and deal with discomfort if at all it happens. Travelling disrupts the biological clock and internal rhythms. In the continuous air movements and air-conditioned environments along with the increased altitude, Vata dosha in the body also increases (Vata is combination of ether or space and air basic elements). The usual symptoms of Jet Lag signify a Vata imbalance. Eventually Vata reducing Ayurvedic treatments and therapies prove to be a big help as Ayurveda support for Jet Lag.
Shirodhara Ayurvedic Treatment for Jet Lag
For physical and mental states of imbalance due to Jet Lag which mainly result from Vata aggravation, Ayurvedic treatment of Shirodhara is a boon. This is because it helps to reset your daily pattern of waking and sleeping as well as it removes built up fatigue. It is beneficial for both for Vata and Pitta dosha imbalance.
Shirodhara is an ancient Ayurvedic massage therapy, in which warm medicated herbal oil (or other liquid) is poured in a continuous stream over the forehead or ‘Ajna Marma’, an area where nerves are highly concentrated. The entire process is performed for 30 to 40 minutes, giving you a sensation of deep peace. The oil gets saturate over the forehead and scalp and penetrates deep into the nervous system of body.
What Is Shirodhara?
The word shirodhara literally means: ‘head’ (shira) and ‘pouring’ (dhara). Basically Shirodhara is traditionally performed as part of the Panchakarma cleansing process using specially prepared shirodhara oil. It is also safe and effective as a stand-alone therapy. There is continuous pouring of fine stream of medicated oil, buttermilk etc on the forehead. This is generally accompanied by a gentle & soothing head massage on the head and forehead.
This entire procedure of Shirodhara Ayurvedic Treatment creates profound relaxation of the mind and body and revitalizes the central nervous system.
How Shirodhara Helps in Jet Lag?
You need Shirodhara Ayurvedic treatment to relax your mind and body in case you are frequently flying and also in case Jet Lag tends to bother you resulting into Vata dosha imbalance. Whereas, this therapy promotes the experience of transcendence, the sought out experience of moving beyond thoughts to pure inner silence and quiet. Broadly, Ayurveda acclaims Shirodhara to be stimulating for the hypothalamus and pituitary glands and calms the nervous system. This Ayurvedic procedure is also believed to be able to reinforce the senses and increases faith, intuition and overall spiritual awareness.
Shirodhara Ayurvedic Treatment at Ayurveda Centre
Like all other Ayurvedic treatments, Shirodhara is broadly performed at the Ayurveda Centre with complete authentic Ayurveda faculties. The Vaidya would decide for the use of oil, milk formula or butter milk etc depending on the health condition and individual constitution of the client. Shirodhara is regarded as ‘Thread of Bliss’ Treatment and there is profound usage of organic oils that have been cooked with precious Ayurvedic herbs, warm whole organic milk or buttermilk (takradhara). The entire procedure is performed by well-trained therapists for 40 minutes.
About the Author
Dr Sonica Krishan is Author and Speaker in Healthy and Joyous Living through Ayurveda, Meditation, Yoga and other Contemplative practices. She is a leading Ayurveda Professional in India. She is also Health Writer, Columnist, Editor, Ayurveda Consultant and Holistic Healing Coach. Dr Sonica is open for National as well as International Collaborations with interested people / institutions in fields of Ayurveda, Meditation and Yoga.
Dr Sonica Krishan’s Books are available at Amazon
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