Shirodhara: No Effect On Color-Treated Hair

Any chance this oil treatment could negatively effect one's color-treated hair?

Not that I've seen myself, and not that I've ever heard from the Ayurveda community or from any of my teachers. I also consulted a professional stylist on the matter and according to her, we're in the clear. Here's the lowdown.

Working With Dr. Pratibha Shah

It's been such a blessing to offer shirodhara at Zanjabee Integrative Medicine & Primary Care. Ayurvedic practitioner Dr. Pratibha Shah, BAMS has provided me several referrals for clients struggling with insomnia, anxiety, hypertension and high vata (Ayurvedic air/space element). 

How to GET a Great Shirodhara

When you are going to receive shirodhara therapy or if you are a body worker that will be giving this therapy to a client there are a few simple but often overlooked points to know that make a shirodhara a deeply great experience.

Re-Using Shirodhara Oil

Can you re-use your shirodhara oil for subsequent treatments?
This is one question I've wavered over, not quite sure the right answer for some time. It is obvious that after a client receives shirodhara, the shirodhara oil is altered. It's no longer fresh. It's no longer potent. It's used. Some practitioners say it's okay to use this oil again on that client's subsequent visits. I'm not talking about using the oil on other clients. That is not allowed. It's not sanitary. I'm talking about using your oil again, for yourself, on follow-up shirodharas.

Follow the Sun

I was fortunate to speak very briefly yesterday with Dr. Basmaa Ali (Zanjabee Integrative Medicine & Primary Care) about shirodhara, the pineal gland and how those with irregular sleep and work patterns may benefit from the treatment.

Anyone whose daily sleep routine is irregular and is not experiencing the natural rhythms of the sun, is altering their body's melatonin production and could benefit from shirodhara. Frequent travellers, night workers experiencing Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD), and anyone lacking a regular daily routine would highly benefit because the treatment helps to restore one's natural rhythms of sleep and rest.

The ideal routine is to wake and sleep with the natural rhythms of the sun.

Check out this study on shirodhara and insomnia.

Exciting Research on Shirodhara

I recently came across several abstracts on PubMed regarding the efficacy of shirodhara.
Here's the good news. Shirodhara is an effective complementary therapy for insomnia, hypertension, stress/mood and ADHD in children. It is also an effective alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).