Dhara is a special kind of Ayurvedic treatment popular in Kerala. In this treatment, special medicated herbal oil is allowed to fall down gently on the forehead of the patient in drips in a thin continuous flow from an apparatus. The dhara (flow) is continuous, without a break, for about one or two hours. This is done in cases like insanity, hysteria, and chronic headache. In cases of disturbed vata dosha, dhara is done for the body or both for the head and the body. Sometimes dhara is combined with pizhichil also.
There are different types of dharas. Thaila dhara is done
using a wooden plank resembling a cot with raised edges to retain the oil which
is poured on the head or the body; the end of the plank has a hole on each side
allowing the oil to flow down after application. The patient is made to lie a
wooden cot. The medicated oil is kept in a clay vessel with a capacity of two
liters, having a finger-sized hole at the base through which a wick is passed
to allow the oil to fall down in drips. The vessel is suspended above the
patient’s forehead by a rope.
When the dhara is done with a mixture of special kashayas
and buttermilk, it is called takra-dhara. This is good for patients suffering
from memory loss, severe headache or insanity.
Sarvanga dhara is for the whole body. Two persons sit on either
side of the patient’s body and drop oil from two pots. This is similar to
pizhichil; hence pizhichil is more commonly resorted to in such cases.
Shirovasti and shirolepa are two types of special treatments
for the head. In the former, lukewarm medicated oil is poured into a leather
cap fitted on the patient’s head for 15 to 60 minutes per day according to the
patient’s condition for a period of seven days. This is good for facial
paralysis and disease affecting cranial nerves. Shirolepa is profuse
application of a special medicinal paste all over the head after tying a piece
of cloth round the head and face. This paste is applied uniformly on the
forehead and face. Then the head is covered in softened plantain leaf or lotus
leaf. After one or two hours, the paste is removed.