Shirodhara Treatment Benefits, Oils, & DIY
When done regularly, Shirodhara or the Shirodhara DIY treatment promotes better sleep, enhances blood circulation, nourishes the hair and scalp (beauty bonus!), and calms the mind and body.
What is a Shirodhara Treatment?
Shirodhara comes from two Sanskrit words, Shiro (head) and Dhara (flow). To start, you relax on a table, often with a thin cloth, rolled like a headband, placed around your head. Next, a warmed herbal oil is continuously poured onto your bare forehead.
The oil can be streamed in specific patterns related to your dosha type from the right to the left temple. After several minutes, the stream is set to the center of the forehead — at the third eye chakra, where it flows uninterrupted.
Then, the oil pour activates a powerful Ayurvedic point between the eyebrows (ajna marma) or the third eye. In Ayurvedic systems, stimulating this point is said to relieve angst, increase the flow of life energy and remove blockages.
Shirodhara Treatment Benefits
When we have an overabundance of air in our constitution, we can feel flighty and anxious. As a result, our skin loses the ability to retain moisture, and we may notice dry, flaky skin and scalp. The Shirodhara ritual has many benefits, including incredible nourishment and moisture delivered directly to the skin and scalp.
Shirodhara treatment benefits include the following:
reducing mental stress
increasing mental clarity
calming anxiety
improving sleep
In one study, Shirodhara was shown "to improve sleep quality and quality of life in persons with sleep problems." In another, Shirodhara treatments were shown to slow the heart rate and reduce diastolic blood pressure.
The steady pour of warm oil encourages your body to enter a deep state of relaxation, which can help minimize stress-related cortisol levels and convert hyper-alert brain patterns (beta waves) into relaxed-alert ones (alpha waves).
The point between the eyebrows, known as the "third eye," where the oil is poured, awakens the recipient's intuition. Some recall memories buried in their past or uncover subconscious beliefs.
Unlike bodywork therapies that focus on physical manipulation — like, say, a deep-tissue massage — Shirodhara primarily works on the mental and internal aspects of your well-being. It's unsurprising, then, that Shirodhara is often prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors for treating anxiety disorders.
DIY Shirodhara Treatment
To capture similar feel-good, sleep-inducing vibes of Shirodhara at home, try this practice:
Start by placing a drop of essential oil on a warm washcloth and spread it over your forehead while lying down. Breathe in and relax.
Next, warm a few drops of plant oil, like jojoba or almond oil, between your fingertips and massage your third eye.
Finally, massage your temples and repeat the process until the oil is completely absorbed and you feel relaxed and emotionally balanced.
For enhanced tranquility, warm ½ cup of oil in your microwave for 10-15 seconds and give yourself a DIY Shirodhara experience. Then, lie down with a towel beneath your head (to catch excess oil), and pour the warmed oil in a steady stream on your third eye center.
Once you've finished, massage the third eye point and then simply rest.
Shirodhara Oils
Oils that might be used for a Shirodhara treatment include:
sesame oil
ksheerabala oil
mahanarayan oil
clarified butter (ghee)
You may also opt for the following:
water
coconut water
cow or goat milk
buttermilk
