The grind through which the human body is put every
day is something that few understands. The body needs rest and care to
recuperate and recapture its energies. And what best other than a good wash and
good night’s sleep to achieve that? Have a good bath and it’s a new world that
you deal with.

Ayurveda, the holistic science of wellbeing,
emphasizes Sadviitha, ie. daily routine to maintain good health. If a person
follows strict dinacharya (daily
regimen) and ritucharya (seasonal
regimen), s/he will live longer without any dreadful diseases, say classical
Ayurveda texts. And, unavoidable in a good dinacharya
is good bath.

Sage Sushruta has said that bathing eliminates
heat, fatigue, sweat, itching, and thirst. Apart from this, it strengthens the
heart and cleanses the sense organs. It removes drowsiness and helps improve
blood circulation and energy. It also improves the vitality of the body.

Due to their ignorance, people usually do not give
bath its due. That is one of the reasons for their getting entrapped in
diseases. Several things have to be kept in mind when we have a bath,
especially regarding use of water and soap. The quality of water, whether it is
cold or hot, quality of soaps, the ingredients in the soap, are all crucial.

Ayurveda concept

Ayurveda says the skin is governed by three lesser doshas – vyana vata, brajaka pitha and shleshaka kapha. Vyanavata controls circulation, brajaka
pitha governs the metabolic and biochemical activity of the skin and shleshaka kapha is responsible for
maintaining moisture balance. The cleansing material should not aggravate any
of these lesser doshas.

Calling for equal attention is the avabasini layer (first layer of
epidermis), which gives lustre and colour to the skin as it contain
melanoblasts ie., skin colour pigments.

How to have bath?

Ayurveda prescribes many ways of bath for different
body constitutions and, depending upon the health conditions of various
age-groups. Generally, Abhyangam (oil
bath) is the ideal option, as it is beneficial to the body in many ways. For
example, a hot bath will eliminate the toxins accumulated in the body through
the skin pores.

Adding herbs to the bath water enhances the quality
of water and aids better absorption and detoxification of the skin and acts
against bacteria and fungi. Herbs can be added depending on the requirements of
individual body. For example, siddarthaka
snanam is indicated in kushta. If
a person has excessive sweat and bad smell, spices are used.

For healthy people

For a healthy person, Ayurveda texts advise
therapeutic baths using petals of rose, milk, honey, sandal and turmeric, and persons
with ailments should bath with medicinal herbs such as vitex negundo (nirgundi), azadirachta indica (neem) or ricinus comniunis (eranda).

For women

The practice of women using turmeric for bath is
centuries-old. The juice of raw turmeric, added with water, increases the glow
of the skin. It is also believed that regular bathing in water containing
turmeric reduces the growth of body hair.

The Friday oil bath with the application of
turmeric was sacred for South Indian women, as it helps in having a beautiful
skin and hairless body. A bath with fragrant herbs is indicated before sex
because smell plays a very important role in sex.

For the aged

Aged people should have bath every day, weather
permitting. In winter, it is better to skip bath. Ideally, they must have a bath
in water in which nirgundi leaves are
boiled, as it prevents not only early ageing but also gives good relief to
muscle and bone disorders and other health problems like arthritis,
spondylosis, slip disc, sciatica and paralytic conditions.

In Panchakarma

After every Panchakarma therapy, a bath in lukewarm
water is advised for good absorption of the oil and strengthening of the body.
Mix Shikakai, hibiscus, rita and amalaki powder in equal quantity with water to
make a paste and apply it on the head. It gives a soothing effect to the head
and generates a positive attitude.

Rules

Bathing should start from the head. Pouring hot
water on the body below the head is strengthening, while pouring it over the
head diminishes the strength of the hairs and eyes. Bathing should not be done
without wetting the head, with very little water or with very cold water.

How long should one bathe? As long as one feels
comfortable. The individual body type determines the ideal pressure, flow,
temperature and ingredients. The determining factor is that one should feel
good during and after the therapeutic bath.

Bath for different body constitutions:

•       Vata
type: Hot water boiled with the leaves of vitex negundo (nirgundi), eranda, shigru, rasna bala, etc, can be used. Prior to
this, warm oil massage over the body is needed. This instantly relieves body
pain, tiredness and dryness and smoothens the skin, increases lustre and tones
and enhances blood circulation.

•       Pitha
type: In this type, use the plants and leaves of azadirachta indica (neem), vetiveria zizani oides (usheera), sandalwood, nibia cordifolia (manjishta), cynodon dactylon (durva), cassia fistula (aragvadha) and petals of rose or lotus
flowers, etc. Besides, have oil massage with neem, sandalwood, ksheerabala, Indian gooseberry, etc.
This will improve the lustre, glow and cooling effect of the skin, increase
blood circulation and cure skin diseases.

•       Kapha
type: In this type, instead of oil massage, it is beneficial to undertake udwarthana, i.e. external powder
applications like kolakuluttha choornams,
pancha kola choo-mams, yava choonams and shonti powder. By doing this, fats and excessive toxins will be
expelled from the skin layers.

•       Kapha-Pitha:
In this type of constitution, amishna
sheeta, i.e., not too hot or too cold, quality products can be used. They
are red sandalwood, layang, giloya, azadirachta indica (neem), cassia fistula (aragvadha),
etc. These are beneficial for skin allergies, bums and other skin infections.

•       Vata-Kapha:
Here, hot water boiled with leaves of eucalyptus, onion and garlic and yavani is much beneficial. And the main
benefits are instant relief from tiredness and weakness, and getting of
relaxation and improvement in body strength and power.

•       Pitha-Vata:
chandana, pittapapada, patola, neem,
chameli, aragvadha, manjishta, etc. can be used. Bath is not advisable for
people suffering from facial paralysis, disease of the eyes, mouth and ears,
diarrhoea, distension of the abdomen, runny nose, indigestion and, certainly
not after food.