UDWARTANA

Udwartana comes under Bahirparimarjana Chikitsa (external therapy), in which Churna (herbal powder) or Sneha (oil/ghee) form are applied & rubbed over the body in Pratiloma Gati (upword direction) by applying required pressure for specific period.

It is described as the Rookshana Karma, practiced by means of rubbing the body with Karshana Karaka (dry powder) drugs.

                             “Udwartanam Kashayadi Choorna Gatra Karshanam”

TYPES OF UDWARTANA 

Mainly there are two types of Udwartana.

Rooksha (dry) Udwartana

Snigdha (oil based) Udwartana

Table - Properties of Udwartana drugs.

Types of Procedure	Guna	Rasa	Virya	Vipaka
Snigdha (dry)  Udwartana	Drava, Sukshma, Sara, Snigdha.	Madhura, Amla, Lavana	Sheeta/ Ushna	Madhura
Rooksha (oil based) Udwartana	Rooksha, Laghu, Khara, Teekshna	Katu,   Tikta, Kashaya	Ushna	Katu

Sushruta explained 4 types of similar procedures, as Udwartana, Utsadana, Udgharshana & Phenaka.

Udwartana- Udwartana dissolve Kapha and Meda, Makes the Body part firm and improves the quality of skin.

Udgharshana– it is a process of rubbing over the parts of body with Asneha/Ruksa Dravyas like, Istika Churna, by using specific pressure for specific period. It produces Srotoshodhana, Vatashamana & cures Kandu, Sphota, Kota & Pidaka.

Utsadana– it is a process of rubbing over the parts of body with Sneha Dravyas in the Kalka form, it improves complexion, good appearance, cleanliness, beautification.

Phenaka–  Use of Phenka is Advised in the both thighs to obtain steadiness and lightness.

UTILITY OF UTWARTANA

In Dinacharya: Indu advices the utility of Kashayarasa Dravya for daily Udwartana.

It improves complexion of skin, removes the deposited waste in the skin, give stability to body & organs.

In Ritucharya: Specially in Vasant Ritu Udwartana is indicated. Because of previous seasonal influence on aggravation of Kaphadosha, Udwartana liquifies Sanchita Kaphadosha.

PROCEDURE OF UDWARTANA

Patient is advised to lay down on the Droni with legs extended; medicine (drugs in Churna or Sneha form) poured first over dorsum of the foot in very little quantity & rubbed in opposite direction of hair root, then relatively on broad and large organs. It should be done in round pattern on joints like elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle and lumber joints. Anticlockwise over abdomen, buttocks, then Medicine poured over the other body parts rubbed in opposite direction of hair root. 

Udwartana should be done in the following seven positions:

Sitting position

Supine position

Left lateral position

Prone position

Right lateral position

Supine position

Sitting position

Simultaneously the process is continued in upward direction of hairs, on the both sides by two attainders uniformly with same pressure on each side, No specific time is mentioned, it can be carried out as in Abhyanga (Same Matra Kala adopted) generally 30 -45 minutes.

THERAPEUTIC ACTION OF UDWARTANA

                            उद्वर्तनं कफहरं मेदस: प्रविलायनम् |

                            स्थिरकरमड्गानाम् त्वकप्रसादकरं परम् ||  (अ.ह.सू.-२\१५)

KAPHA VILAYANA- Dissolve Vitiated Kapha.

MEDA VILAYANA - Dissolve Vitiated Meda.

ANGA STHIRIKARANA- Give strength to the body

TWAK PRASADKARA- Increase complexion of skin

INDICATIONS OF UDWARTANA:

Swastha – In Dinacharya it can be perform daily.

Ati Sweda, Daurgandya, Kandu.

Twakgata Roga, Nidranasha.

Sthoulya – Ruksha Udwartana,

Kapha Pradhana, Medopradoshaja Vyadhi - Ruksha Udwartana,

Karsha –Snigdha Udwartana

CONTRA-INDICATION OF UDWARTANA:

Ruksha Udwartana- In Krisha Purush, Ruksha Shareera, Vata Pradhana Purush & Vyadhi

Snigdha  Udwartana- In Kapha Pradhana Vyadhi, Medopradoshaja Vyadhi, Ama Pradhana Vikaras, and Ajeerna.

Also in Durbala, Kshama, Bhiru, Garbhini, Sadhya prasuta, Sukumara, Immediately after Vamana, Virechanaadi Karma Udwartana is contraindicated.

PROBALE MODE OF ACTION OF UDWARTANA: 

The drugs applied & rubbed over skin were digested by Bhrajakapitta or Twachagni which is present in Avabhasini layer, its Virya enter Rasadhatu, and they remove the obstruction in the Rasa & Swedavaha Srotus. It’s Gunas & Vipaka, Virya spreads all over the body & produce systemic effect and resolve the Dosha Dushya Sammurchana.

It increases the local temperature i.e. Twakgata Agni or Bhrajakapitta increases. Twacha is Upadhatu of Mamsa. All Upadhatus having Bhootagnis, By doing Udwartana so Uttarottara Dhatwagni functions increases that cures Ama, vitiated Medodhatu, thus normalizes Dosha Dhatu Poshana Kriya.

PROBABLE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFCT OF RUBBING:

Raises temperature locally, Which reach up on skin, fasciae, muscles, peripheral nerves, blood vessels & CNS by increasing BMR, Influencing  on muscles(mechanical stimulation), Increase circulation in veins by influencing the general metabolism, hence It increases nutrition to all tissues by helping Interchange of tissue fluid & to remove fatigue, It also increases the cutaneous circulation as influences the vasoconstrictors & vasodilators in skin, by rubbing over the limbs both passively & actively increases the lymph flow, Increase the degree of oxidation, to convert sub-oxides into complete oxides which are compatible with health, It accelerates the activity of the heart.