Shalakya tantra is a specialised discipline of Ayurveda that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases related to the organs above the clavicle, focusing on the head, neck, eyes, ears, nose, and throat. It emphasises maintaining the integrity and optimal functioning of the sensory organs, which are vital for perception and communication.Ayurveda explains two types of treatment modalities i.e., santarpana & apatarpana chikitsa. Snehana is one among the santarpana chikitsa which is a fundamental procedure in panchakarma. It involves the application and ingestion of medicated oils and ghee to lubricate and soften the body’s tissues, easing the removal of toxins. Snehana plays a crucial role in the management of shalakya rogas chiefly vata predominant diseases. It can be practiced as both bahya(external) and abhyantara(internal) chikitsa in which bahya snehana is called as Abhyanga which is done along with Svedana after the completion of Abyantara Snehana. Snehana is also used as Pradhana karma which plays a pivotal role in preparing the body for effective detoxification and enhancing the success of later panchakrama therapies. It is also a major preparatory procedure to be performed before shodhana. The entire shodhana procedure depends upon the proper mobilization of dosha from the sakha, which is achieved with the help of snehana and svedana. Few of the external snehana procedures are also practiced as a part of Dinacharya and Ritucharya for the maintenance of health in a healthy person. Overall, the practice of snehana in Shalakya rogas is an integral part of Ayurvedic treatment, contributing to the integrated approach of addressing both the symptoms and underlying causes of diseases.
2Dr. Sujathamma K. *1Dr. Madhumitha S. (Sun,) studied this question.