Snehana (unction therapy)

The word ‘snehana’ means providing unction, oleation, lubrication, rubbing or smearing with oil or unguents, being or becoming oily etc. It also shows a psychological ‘feeling of affection’. The process of unction or unction therapy is an important preparatory procedure (purvakarma) performed before purification therapies (panchakarma). It includes internal and external administration of unctuous substances like ghee, oil etc. (sneha dravya). Besides this unction therapy (snehana) is also applied as principle treatment in various disease conditions due to vitiated vata and pitta dosha. It is one among the major six treatment modalities in Ayurveda. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 22/04]