SUGANDHA DRAVYAS IN BAHIRPARIMARJANA

"Manah Priyo Gandaha Sugandhaha"

“SUGANDHA DRAVYAS and the therapeutic use of its essential oils, is one of the most popular
techniques of natural medicine practiced today. It is widely available, pleasant, and easy to use. Everything
in your kitchen and bathroom has an aroma that affects you in many ways. Lavender bath salts calm your
nervous system as you soak in the tub. Aromas are added to candles, soaps, lotions and massage oils, so
oftentimes you are practicing aromatherapy even when you don't realize it. 

AN ANCIENT TRADITION:-
The first form of aromatherapy utilized different kinds of burning Woods, and the use of smoke in the form
of incense has survived in almost all cultures.
The Egyptians used aromatics 5,000 years ago for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The Greeks used olive
oil to absorb the odor from flower petals and herbs. Arab physicians perfected the method of distilling
essential oils and brought them to Europe. By the 16th century, the women of the household made all kinds
of remedies for home use. The new sciences of chemistry and pharmacology, however, reduced these
practices to superstition, thus discouraging the use of aromatherapy until the beginning of the 20th century,
when a succession of French chemists started to research the healing properties of essential oils. The first
and foremost among them, Rene Maurice Gattefosse, turned his attention to the use of oils in dermatology
after he discovered how lavender oil healed his burned hand. He coined the word "aromatherapy" in
1928 and published a book by the same title in 1937.
In the eastern cultures of India and China, however, the tradition remained unbroken. Vaidyas, ayurvedic
physicians, treated Indian royalty with dried and fresh herbs, floral waters and aromatic oil massage.

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils are the highly concentrated essences of aromatic plants. They can be derived from all parts of
the plant: flowers (rose), woods (sandalwood), barks (cinnamon), leaves (basil), roots and fruits (orange).
The methods of oil extraction are time-consuming and expensive, and require a high degree of expertise.
Ayurveda considers the use of aromatherapy as an important tool for prevention and healing. Practitioners
use it for protecting the vital force, prana, regulating digestion and metabolism, agni, and increasing
resistance to disease, ojas. Traditional ayurvedic practices include fumigation by burning neem leaves, use
of holy basil or rose petals in water while bathing, and burning incense sticks during meditation. Essential
oils can be used alone or in combination. One can mix aromas into synergistic blends to increase their
potency and to balance the effect of individual oils.

THERAPEUTIC USES:-

Massage:
Sugandha dravyas like vacha,usheera,lavangakusuma,jatamansi,srigandha,chandana,aguru,mandookaparni in massage is another widely used ayurvedic technique. When you receive, or give yourself a massage, you not only inhale the essential oils but your skin absorbs them as well. They penetrate the tissues and find their way into the bloodstream where they are transported to the organs and systems of the body. Essential oils have different rates of absorption so it is best not to shower directly following a massage to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Bath: Drugs like arishtaka, Madhavi, Sallaki, Shatha pushpa, Shephali, Rasna, Sarpa sugandha are used.
The large surface of the warm water in the tub instantly vaporizes the essential oils, sending their particles
to your brain. Soaking alone relaxes your muscles and your whole physiology, so you enhance the effect of
the aromas.
Skin and Hair Care: Most personal care items are scented with aromas, often with synthetic ones. Use of
only pure essential oils in soaps, shampoos, creams and lotions. The smell of roses, jasmine or neem in
soaps can enliven your shower. For example, rose and lavender help tone your skin and uplift your spirit.
Whatever product used, make sure it contains only natural essential oils and ingredients. Artificial aromas
and perfumes will not provide the same benefits and can cause skin irritation or allergies.
For Personal Balance in Every Season!

"Kumkumena Sadarpena Pradigdho aguru dhoopitaha"---For Hemantha & Shishira(Winter)

"Snaatho anulipthaha karpoora chandana aguru kumkumaihi"----Vasantha Rutu (Spring)

"Vichithra pushpa vruksheshu kaananeshu Sugandghishu"-------Vasantha rutu (Spring)

"Karpoora mallika malaha haaraaha Sa harichandanaha"------Greeshma (Summer)
"Surabihi Satatham Dhoopithambaraha"-------------------Greeshma (Summer)

In the form of floral and herbal extracts and incense, has always been an integral aspect of
Ayurvedic healing. From sandalwood incense to enhance the benefits of meditation to water
infused with holy basil for purifying the environment, aromas has been a pleasant way to infuse
the human psycho-physiology with the healing wisdom of plants.
Although single aroma incense and floral waters are not uncommon in Ayurveda, it is more
typical to see blends or combinations of several different aromas. The benefits? Synergy and
balance.
A synergistic blend of healing substances, according to ayurveda, delivers a holistic benefit that is
greater than the sum of its parts. And careful balancing of ingredients is reported to counteract
possible side-effects from a single healing substance.
Ayurveda talks about restoring balance to mind, body and spirit in every season. The three
Ayurvedic operators – Vata, Pitta and Kapha – that control all the functions of the mind and body
have seasons associated with them as well. Rain fall and winter are associated with Vata, spring
with Kapha and summer with Pitta. There are traditional aroma blends for massage that are
particularly useful for restoring overall balance in each of these three seasons according to its
gunas,rasa veerya and vipaka. Some of ayurvedic drugs used for daha prashamana like
chandana, madhooka, neelothpala,saariva, hrivera.for daha nirvana lepana like udumbara
.sheethaapanayana pralepa like ela and aguru.
Tejapathra,gambhariphala,musthaka,nagakesara,poogaphala,jaathiphala,shilarasa,kunkuma,shati,
padmacharini,vanamallika,amlakatwachasumukha,tumbura,dhanyaka,thurushka,neelapadma,
suvarnakethaki etc rakshoghna gana dravyas like gandha nakuli,Krishna jeeraka,vandhya
karkotaki,,gandha shaali mentioned in our classicals are yet to be explored for there aroma
property. Aroma therapy has regained popularity only two decades back. Various products based
on essential oils and natural ingredients are available designed to alter or enhance moods and treat
a range of ailments and as prevention by just a simple massage.

"If the day and night are such that you greet them with joy and life emits a fragrance like flowers
and sweet scented herbs - that is your success. All nature is your congratulations."