Snana (bath)

Bathing as a daily ritual.

Sushruta Cikitsa 24.33: “Bathing removes somnolence, bodily heat and a sense of fatigue. It allays thirst and checks itching and perspiration, brings on a fresh relish for food, removes all bodily impurities, clears the sense-organs, gladdens the mind, purifies the blood, increases the appetising power, destroys drowsiness and sin, and increases semen. The sight of a man is invigorated by applying cold water to the head at the time of bathing, while the pouring of warm water on the head tends to injure the eye-sight.”

The critical rule: warm body, cool head

The classical Ayurvedic bath uses warm water on the body, cool water on the head. Hot water on the head:

• Damages eye-sight (Sushruta’s explicit warning)
• Aggravates Pitta of the scalp (manifests as premature greying, dandruff)
• Damages hair follicle integrity

Modern shower discipline: never let hot water spray your face or scalp. Wash hair with lukewarm (not hot) water.

Herbal bath additions

For a 100 L bath, decoct in 5 L water (~15 min):

• Neem leaves (Nimba) 100 g
• Tulsi 50 g
• Sandalwood chips 20 g
• Manjishtha 30 g
• Triphala 30 g
• Sea salt 100 g
• Yashtimadhu 30 g
• Rose petals 20 g

Strain and add to bath water.

When NOT to bathe (Sushruta 24.36)

• Acute fever
• Diarrhoea
• Ear pain
• Indigestion
• Immediately after eating