Shirodhara : A psycho-physiological profile in healthy volunteers

• Published in: Journal of ayurveda and integrative medicine 2013-01, Vol.4 (1), p.40-44
• Main Authors: Dhuri, Kalpana, Bodhe, Prashant, Vaidya, Ashok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ayurveda; Ayurvedic medicine; Clinical outcomes; Electrocardiogram; Electrocardiography; Electroencephalography; Original; Physiological aspects; Psychopharmacology; Shirodhara; Stress
• ISSN: 0975-9476; 0976-2809
• DOI: 10.4103/0975-9476.109550

Background: Shirodhara is a classical and a well-established ayurvedic procedure of slowly and steadily dripping medicated oil or other liquids on the forehead. This procedure induces a relaxed state of awareness that results in a dynamic psycho-somatic balance. Objectives: The objective of the study is to evaluate the psychological and physiological effects of Shirodhara in healthy volunteers by monitoring the rating of mood and levels of stress, electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), and selected biochemical markers of stress. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the human pharmacology laboratory. The study design was open labeled, comparing the baseline variables with values after Shirodhara. The subjects (n = 16) chosen were healthy human volunteers who gave an informed consent. Shirodhara was preceded by Abhyanga - whole body massage. The Shirodhara method was standardized for rate of dripping with peristaltic pump and temperature was controlled with a thermostat. Mood and stress levels were assessed by validated rating scales. The pre- and post-Shirodhara ECG and EEG records were evaluated. Results: Student′s paired "t" test was applied to the means + SE of the variables to calculate statistical significance at P