Practice
Abhyanga
Of all the daily practices the classical texts prescribe, the anointing of the body with warm oil is the one they return to most often.
- Sanskrit
- अभ्यङ्ग
- Part used
- Medicated or plain sesame oil, warmed
- Action (karma)
- Pacifies Vata, nourishes the tissues, supports sleep and the skin
Overview
Abhyanga is the anointing of the body with oil, performed as a daily practice. It belongs to the dinacharya, the classical daily routine, and to the broader category of snehana, the oiling therapies. The texts describe it as the foremost daily measure for the settling of Vata, and they recommend it not as a treatment for a complaint but as a standing part of healthy living.
The classical rationale
Vata is dry, light and cold, and it rises in the body with age and with exertion. Oil is the direct opposite: unctuous, heavy and warming. By bringing warm oil to the skin each day, the practice meets the qualities of Vata with their contraries. The Ashtanga Hridayam lists its benefits plainly: it lends steadiness to the body, softness to the skin, soundness to sleep, and a measure of resistance to the dryness that age brings.
How it is done
Sesame oil, plain or medicated, is warmed to a little above body temperature. It is applied across the whole body with the open hand, worked along the length of the limbs and in circles at the joints, with longer attention to the head, the ears and the soles of the feet, the three sites the texts single out. The oil is left on the skin long enough to be taken up, traditionally the time it takes to recite a passage, and then a warm bath follows. The strokes move with the limbs, not against them.
The oils used
Plain sesame oil is the classical base, chosen for its warming quality and its affinity for Vata. For particular purposes the tradition uses thailams, oils medicated by cooking herbs into the base by the sneha-paka method. Mahanarayana and Dhanwantaram are among the medicated oils named for the joints and the framework of the body; Ksheerabala and Bala for the settling of Vata.
When it is not advised
The classical texts set out when oiling is not to be done: during indigestion, during an acute increase of Kapha, and at certain stages of an illness. These cautions are part of the classical method and are noted here for completeness, not as clinical instruction.
Frequently asked
Which oil should be used? Sesame oil is the classical base for daily abhyanga. Medicated thailams are chosen for a particular aim, such as the support of the joints.
How often is it practised? As a daily measure, within the dinacharya. The texts treat it as a routine of healthy living rather than an occasional treatment.
One who practises the anointing with oil daily is not overcome by the dryness of age or by exertion.
Classical tradition, after the Ashtanga Hridayam
Frequently asked questions
What is Abhyanga?
Abhyanga is the classical Ayurvedic practice of anointing the body with warm oil, the daily therapy the texts recommend above all for settling Vata. A form of Snehana, or oleation, it is understood to pacify Vata, nourish the tissues, support sleep and benefit the skin. It is a cornerstone of Dinacharya, the Ayurvedic daily routine.
What are the benefits of Abhyanga?
The texts credit daily Abhyanga with settling Vata, nourishing the tissues, softening and brightening the skin, supporting sound sleep, easing fatigue and steadying the body against ageing and strain. By applying warm oil, the opposite of Vata's dry, cold, rough nature, it directly balances the most easily disturbed Dosha. It is classical daily self-care, not a cure.
How do you do Abhyanga at home?
Warm a suitable oil, then massage it over the whole body before bathing, using long strokes on the limbs and circular strokes over the joints and belly, working from the extremities inward. Let it settle for several minutes, then take a warm bath. Sesame oil is the classic Vata-settling base; the choice is fitted to your constitution.
Which oil is best for Abhyanga?
Sesame oil is the classical base for Abhyanga, warming and Vata-settling, and it is often used medicated as a Thailam such as Bala or Ksheerabala. Cooling oils like coconut suit Pitta and warmer seasons. The right oil depends on your constitution, the season and any concern; a practitioner can advise the best choice for you.
Can you do Abhyanga every day?
Yes, daily Abhyanga is exactly what the texts recommend within Dinacharya. Ayurveda does, however, advise pausing it during acute illness or fever, during indigestion, and generally in the first days of the menstrual cycle, and using it more lightly in high Kapha. In doubt, or with a health condition, check with an Ayurvedic practitioner.
References
- Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana, on dinacharya and abhyanga.
- Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana, on the benefits of oil massage.
- Sushruta Samhita, on snehana and the preparation of the body.