Shirodhara & Dhara
Oil Shirodhara शिरोधारा
A steady stream of warm oil on the forehead for stress, anxiety and insomnia
A continuous thread of warm medicated oil poured over the forehead from a suspended vessel for 30 to 60 minutes, usually after a gentle head and shoulder massage. The rhythm settles the central nervous system in a way few therapies match; most people fall asleep during the session. Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, sesame and Bhringraj oils are the ones most often chosen.
How the session runs
Short head and shoulder massage · Oil warmed and the dhara vessel set swinging over the forehead · 30–45 minutes of continuous flow · Head wrapped, quiet rest
Traditionally used for
- Insomnia
- Anxiety and overthinking
- Tension headache and migraine
- Hair fall
- Burnout and mental fatigue
When this therapy should not be done
- Fever
- Recent head or neck injury
- Severe hypertension unless assessed
- Open scalp wounds
Tell us about any of these at the consultation. We will suggest something else that suits you.
Marma points worked
Marma are the junctions where muscle, vessel, ligament, bone and joint meet — 107 of them in the classical texts. These are the ones this therapy uses.
- Sthapani (between the eyebrows)
- Adhipati (crown)
- Simanta (skull sutures)
- Utkshepa (above the temples)
Before you come
- Come with clean, oil-free hair if possible
- No caffeine for three hours before
After the session
- Rest for 30 minutes, avoid screens
- Wash hair with warm water and a mild herbal cleanser after two hours
- Sleep early the same night