Sweating leads the doshas to fluidity,
making it easier for it to flow out of the system. It opens up the pores and rid
the body of impurities through the sweat glands. There are two principal ways of
inducing the sweat.
-
External application of heat or retention of
body heat such as by exercise, use of heavy clothes or blankets, fasting, use
of alcohol etc.
-
Active heating done within a well heated
chamber, medicated steam, sauna, hot water bottle, sunbathing, exposure to
fire (or use of an infra red lamp), plasters of hot substances such as
mustard, hot baths, or showers (especially with medicated oil or water), and
hot packs.
Plants such as castor root, barley,
sesame, black gram, jujube and the drumstick plant all encourage the body to
sweat more easily. Do not administer therapeutic sweating to persons who are
pregnant, persons with bleeding disorders, who have used alcohol recently,
persons who are very fat or very thin, persons with diarrhea, jaundice, anemia.
It is also not recommended for people who are very angry, hateful or jealous.
Patients suffering from fainting, dizziness, nausea, fever, and similar ailments
should not undergo the sweat therapy.
