Greeva vasti

 

The word Greeva refers to neck and Basti stands for container or  retaining something inside. It is an Ayurvedic neck care and basically a hot oil therapy. Greeva Basti is bathing the neck region with medicated oil or freshly prepared herbal decoction. The procedure does oleation and sudation around the neck region  simultaneously. Due to present day lifestyle which involves continued and glued sitting position and lack of body movements the problems of the spine, muscles and skeletal tissues of neck and shoulder arise. Greeva Basti addresses these issues effectively.

 

Procedure:

• The person undergoing  Greeva Basti is made to lie face down on the massage table (Droni)
• The dough is prepared out of black gram flour or whole wheat flour. It is then made into a small ring of four to five inches in diameter which is placed over the neck to cover all the vertebrae of the neck and 2-3 vertebrae of the thoracic region.
• After it is glued with some water to make it leakproof, lukewarm medicated oil or the decoction of herbs is slowly  poured into it. When this cools down it is squeezed out and replaced with warmer one.
• At the end of the procedure the dough is removed; a gentle massage is given over the area. The person is made to take rest for a while.

Duration of treatment: 30 minutes
Benefits:

• Relieves the burden of stress and congestion in nerves , bones and muscles of neck and shoulders  and thus relaxing and rejuvenating them
• Improves the flexibility and brings smooth movement
• Improves  circulation around the neck and shoulder region.

Greeva Basti gives relief from the following conditions:

• Cervical spondylosis, cervical spondylitis,
• Vertigo
• Tingling,  numbness of the hands
• Compression fractures
• Chronic pain in neck region
• Frozen shoulder

 

Uro Vasti

 

Word Uro stands for chest and vasthi stands for containing or retaining something. So this is a chest oil bath treatment. In this procedure, specially prepared warm medicated oil or ghee is placed on the chest for a specific time.
The procedure is almost same as Greeva vasti.

Duration of the treatment: 30 minutes to 45 minutes.

Benefits: Urovasthi is beneficial in the following conditions:

• Asthma, bronchitis  and other respiratory problems
• Muscular chest pain

 

 

Hridaya Vasti:

 

Hrid Basti in Sanskrit refers to Hridaya, the heart and Basti, the container or retainer.  So Hrid Basti is an oil bath on the heart. This suggests an Ayurvedic hot oil treatment where the medicated hot oil preparation or freshly prepared herbal decoction is poured over the heart region,depending on the condition.

The procedure is same as Uro basti, performed over heart region.

Duration of treatment: 30 minutes

Benefits:

• Pacifies aggravated Vata dosha in the chest region
• Nourishes and Strengthens the cardiac muscles; thus rejuvenate  the heart
• Regulates cardiac functions
• Relieves deep seated repressed  stress,anger and grief
• Improves  blood circulation and breathing
• Gives a sense of peace and happiness

The procedure is effective in the following conditions:

• Ischemic Heart Diseases
• Cardiomyopathy
• Valvular disease

 

 

Kati Vasti (Specialized lower back therapy)

 

Kativasti is a special type of low back therapy or lumbar therapy. The word Kati stands for low back or waist and Vasti, for containing or retaining something inside. Kativasti is an Ayurvedic lumbo-sacral rejuvenation therapy using hot oil or herbal decoctions. One can achieve both local oleation and sudation by this procedure.

 

 

 

Procedure:

• Dough is prepared out of black gram flour or whole wheat flour and water.
• Medicated oil or herbs for decoction is selected depending on the bodily constitution and the state of the humors (Doshas) of the person.
• The person is made to lie face down on the Massage Table (Droni).
• The dough is made into a ring of four to five inches in diameter which is placed over the lumbo-sacral area of spine.
• After it is glued with some water to make it leak proof, lukewarm medicated oil or herbal decoction is slowly poured into it. When this cools down it is squeezed out and replaced with warmer one.
• At the end of the procedure the dough is removed; a gentle massage is given over the area. The person is made to take rest for a while.

Duration of the treatment: 30 minutes
Benefits:

• Pacifies Vata Dosha
• Reduces pain and inflammation
• Deeply purifies and improves blood  circulation around lumbosacral area
• Removes rigidity and spasm of muscles around lumbosacral region
• Nourishes and strengthens the bones, connective tissues, ligaments, nerves, muscles of the lumbo – sacral region
• Lubricates the joints

Indications:

• Chronic Backache
• Degenerative spine changes
• Compressed discs  and spinal nerves
• Disc prolapse
• Osteoporosis
• Osteoarthritis of the hip
• Rheumatic arthritis
• Sciatica

 

 

Chakra vasti

 

The phrase Chakra Basti is from Sanskrit. The word Chakra means wheel or disk and Basti stands for a Container or retaining something inside. Chakra basti, also called nabhi basti (navel basti), is applied to the umbilical region. Nabhi, the umbilicus is considered as marma in Ayurveda. Nabhi marma is the vital Centre where 72,000 nadis (the subtle energy pathways) converge

The procedure is same as Uro Vasti, performed over umblicus region.

Duration of treatment: 45 minutes

Benefits:

• Acts on solar plexus thus balance the digestive fire
• Strengthen the power of digestion and absorption
• Facilitates the release of deep seated emotions

It is very beneficial in the following conditions 

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Flatulence
• Poor appetite
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain and discomfort

 

Janu Vasti (Specialized knee therapy):

 

The knee joint is called Janu Sandhi in Sanskrit; hence the name Janu Basti  is given to the procedure done on knee joints. In this the knee joint is bathed with warm medicated oil or freshly prepared herbal decoction. Depending on the condition it can be practiced over both the knee joints or on one knee joint. So the janu vasti is specialized knee therapy or massage which rejuvenates the Knee joint.

Duration of treatment: 30 minutes

Benefits:

• Pacifies aggravated Vata dosha in the knee region
• Restores the lubricating fluid in the joint and maintain integrity of the structures involved in the joint.
• Removes stiffness and pain in Knee joint
• Protects knee joints from age related changes
• Increases blood circulation; thus strengthens and nourishes the knee joints
• Improves the mobility of the knee joints (knee flexion and knee extension)

It is indicated in the following conditions:

• Osteoarthritis of knee joints
• Osteoporosis
• Arthrosis of knee joints
• Chronic pain of the knee joint