Dough Ring Treatments for Pain Relief
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Today I want to share some exciting developments at the gurukula. This past weekend, the students had a refresher course on doing some special dough ring treatments for pain relief, known as external vasti. We’re really excited to be able to offer these treatments at our clinic. So, what are these vasti treatments and how can they help us?
Basically, for all these therapies, a warm medicated oil is retained over the painful area, held in place by a dough ring. It’s the retaining of the oil that earns this therapy the name vasti. These are the ideal treatments for localized pain. Let’s describe a few of them.
Low back pain and sciatica are common problems. In fact, as many as 40% of us will experience sciatica at some point in our lives. For these issues, we use kati vasti, a dough ring treatment done on the low back, typically with mahanarayana tailam, a special pain-relieving oil. This comforting and non-invasive treatment helps relieve hip pain, low back pain and sciatica.
Knee pain is also a very common issue. One in four adults has chronic knee pain, often due to sports injuries or overuse of the knee. In this case, we do janu vasti, making a dough ring around the knee and pouring in mahanarayana tailam. Again, it’s a non-invasive and inexpensive way to get relief.
Another wonderful treatment we’ll be offering is hrid vasti. This time, the dough ring and oils are applied over the region of the chest and heart chakra. We choose different oils and herbal pastes for this treatment, depending whether we want to target the ribs for costochondritis, the lungs and bronchi, or the heart itself. This is a wonderful therapy for heart palpitations, heart disease, angina and heart surgery recovery. It is also good for heart opening to relieve emotional pain. And I know what you’re thinking—this treatment is perfect for many Long COVID sufferers who have lung issues or heart palpitations.
Alandi’s students are really excited to be offering these treatments, as part of their overall mission to relieve suffering. Join us for some nurturance!
Alakananda Ma M.B., B.S. (Lond.) is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and graduate of a top London medical school. She is co-founder of Alandi Ayurveda Clinic and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder Colorado, as well as a spiritual mother, teacher, flower essence maker and storyteller. Alakananda is a well known and highly respected practitioner in the Ayurveda community both nationally and internationally.
Enliven your holistic health! Visit Alakananda Ma in Alandi Ashram’s ayurvedic clinic to support the overall rejuvenation of your body, mind, and spirit. In-person and virtual appointments available. Book now!
