Benefits of Sirolepa
Sirolepa shows incredible benefits in curing conditions such as headache, dandruff, and other conditions affecting the hair and scalp such as graying of hair and hair fall. It also shows incredible improvement in case of facial paralysis, disorders of the eye, and even scalp disorders, as well as ear-, nose-, and throat related disorders. The procedure helps in sharpening vision and helping cure insomnia. However, one of its other predominant effects is that the treatment keeps the body and mind calm and peaceful, removing fatigue and anxiety. An interesting application of Sirolepa is in enhancing memory power and managing mental disorders such as vertigo, depression, hyperactivity, and Alzheimer’s disease by using potent medications in the form of pastes during the procedure. Overall this procedure is useful for vata rogas and pitta rogas.
Procedure followed for Sirolepa
There are many simple variants of the Sirolepa; however, the overall procedure is common. As a first step, the therapist first performs a gentle head massage with herbal oil. This process lasts for about 15 minutes. After this preparatory step, the main process begins. The therapist now prepares a herbal formulation in the form of a paste. The main ingredients depend on the type of condition the patient has and the purpose of the treatment. The decision about the specific medicinal herbs and the carrier oil is taken by the Ayurveda doctor after a thorough examination of the patient.
The commonly used herbs include amla, rasanadi, shikakai, triphala, brahmi, and bringaraka. The carriers are usually ghee or buttermilk or any other potent carrier. The therapist prepares a finely ground paste and places the paste all over the scalp evenly, ensuring that every part of the scalp is covered with a thick layer. The entire scalp is then covered with a fresh banana leaf or lotus leaf, which is tied securely. The therapist then waits for 15 minutes for all the medications to seep through and enter the blood stream through the scalp. The banana leaf is then removed and the entire paste is removed and the excess oil wiped off or washed away. Rice bran water is sometimes used for this process. The overall procedure takes about 60 to 90 minutes.
In some variants of this process, a thin muslin cloth is tied over the forehead, so that the paste does not seep through to the eyes. As a last step the therapist gives a warm water bath to the patient.
Sirolepa is not recommended as a one-time procedure. It is repeated across 2 to 3 weeks, with definite period of rest between two sessions. Only then will the patient observe considerable benefits. However, please be sure to consult an expert Ayurveda doctor who can perform a detailed diagnosis and recommend just the right mode of Sirolepa, in terms of the herbal formulation, for you.
