Ayurveda : Shamana

Shamana- Balancing Therapy
Literally the word Shamana means to suppress or balance. Incase the doshas are not deep rooted and the disease is not chronic these therapies are advised. On the other hand the elimination therapy is time taking and time is an important factor for curing ailments in this modern age. In Shamana therapies a special diet, contradictory to the qualities of the increased dosha is prescribed to the patient for suppressing or balancing the aggravated doshas.

Example: Cooling diet to decrease the Pitta dosha.

Different types of herbal powders, tablets, decoctions, jams, medicated oil or ghee are used in this type of treatment. It is a noticeable factor that in shamana therapies medicines are not always the way to cure but sometimes a very simple diet, or an activity can help to alleviate the aggravated dosha.

This type of therapy involves following types of activities to cure the ailment:

• Fasting
  
• Exercise
  
• Sweating
  
• Exposure to sun or air