Ayurveda - Oil application or Abhyangam

Why Oils and Ayurveda are too related to each other?

Let me tell you what suddenly comes to you mind when you hear the term Ayurveda?

In most of the cases, it’ll be a guy or gal preferably a tourist, minimally clad, smeared all over with oil, getting massaged by  somebody wearing  traditional attire. If this is not the scene that comes to your mind, at least an Ayurvedic hair oil ad would have just come up.

Are all Ayurvedic Oils used for cosmetic purpose?

See, oil application  mentioned in Ayurveda can be classified in two ways. 

As a daily routine or Dinacarya and as a part of treatment of various disease conditions. 

Actually, as a daily routine, it is practised in India since ancient times. Somebody from Kerala would remember the sweet aroma of virgin coconut oil that mother used to apply on our body while we were babies…the strong odour of Karpuradi Thaila or Kottam chukkadi Thaila that grandmother anointed on her painful joints…Even there are scenes in Indian movies portraying a hero, landlord or a local gunda exposing his huge torso for an oil massage with the help of servants or maids.

  

Benefits

When performed as a daily routine, Oil application or Abhyangam bestows the following benefits.

It imparts natural glow and improves the health of your skin, thereby reducing skin ailments.

It stimulates the circulatory process thereby providing nourishment to your body.

The reduces tiredness.

It slows down ageing process.

 Moreover, oil applied on head or Murdha Thaila is given much more significant coz head is the seat of all important sense modalities.It said to bestow vision and provide sound sleep.

Conclusion

But nowadays market-scene  highlights the use of cosmetic products such as oils that they claim to cure baldness and, impart fair skin, or reduce tummy etc. .They do not fix to the category of authentic and pure Ayurvedic Medicines. People should identify them as just cosmetic products.

Only an Ayurvedic Physician can suggest you the right choice of oil you have to use on your body and head considering your body constitution, diseases present, skin type, cosmetic requirements etc..whether it be for daily routine or treatment procedure.

If oil application is practised as Dinacarya or Routine basis it can be applied all over by yourself with mild pressure.

Therapeutic application of Oil ie, for treatment purpose can only be executed by well trained and academically qualified therapists  under the strict  supervision of an Ayurvedic Physician.
It has a much more wider perspective which can be discussed later.