articles
Do we offer the option of remote control in the Ananda Shirodhara System?
Shirodhara and the Science of Calm.
Shirodhara and PTSD: Supporting the Nervous System During Trauma Recovery.
TRUSTED BY PRACTITIONERS FOR OVER A DECADE
Shirodhara and PTSD: Supporting the Nervous System During Trauma Recovery
How an ancient Ayurvedic therapy may complement modern trauma-focused psychotherapy
The gentle, rhythmic movement of the oil or liquid stream across the forehead, including the area traditionally known as the third eye, is an important element of the approach we recommend. A trained practitioner guides this movement, maintaining a steady rhythm while observing the recipient’s comfort and response.
Receiving this care allows you to rest without the responsibility of operating equipment or managing your own session.
Automation Supports the Practitioner
Our automated system is designed to support practitioner-administered Shirodhara. Automation assists with the equipment’s operation, while the practitioner provides the skilled technique, observation, and personal attention that remain central to the treatment.
We recommend that every session be administered by a practitioner trained in Shirodhara.
Why the Remote Control Is Optional
We offer a remote control as an optional accessory at an additional cost. It provides added convenience for operating the equipment during practitioner-led sessions.
The remote is not included as a standard component of our automated system because self-administration is not the approach we recommend. Its availability does not change our guidance: a remote control cannot replace the practitioner’s presence or their role in guiding the treatment.
At Ananda Shirodhara, our intention is to support the attentive care and skilled administration that give this traditional ritual its depth.
Why We Recommend Practitioner-Administered Shirodhara
At Ananda Shirodhara, we believe the practitioner’s presence is an essential part of the experience. For this reason, we do not recommend self-administering Shirodhara—even with an automated system.
Rooted in Ayurvedic tradition, Shirodhara involves more than a continuous stream of warm oil. It requires thoughtful preparation, attentive administration, and a technique adapted to the individual.
The Importance of Rhythmic Movement
The gentle, rhythmic movement of the oil or liquid stream across the forehead, including the area traditionally known as the third eye, is an important element of the approach we recommend. A trained practitioner guides this movement, maintaining a steady rhythm while observing the recipient’s comfort and response.
Receiving this care allows you to rest without the responsibility of operating equipment or managing your own session.
Automation Supports the Practitioner
Our automated system is designed to support practitioner-administered Shirodhara. Automation assists with the equipment’s operation, while the practitioner provides the skilled technique, observation, and personal attention that remain central to the treatment.
We recommend that every session be administered by a practitioner trained in Shirodhara.
Why the Remote Control Is Optional
We offer a remote control as an optional accessory at an additional cost. It provides added convenience for operating the equipment during practitioner-led sessions.
The remote is not included as a standard component of our automated system because self-administration is not the approach we recommend. Its availability does not change our guidance: a remote control cannot replace the practitioner’s presence or their role in guiding the treatment.
At Ananda Shirodhara, our intention is to support the attentive care and skilled administration that give this traditional ritual its depth.
Shirodhara and the Science of Calm
A closer look at an Ayurvedic ritual through modern research.
Shirodhara brings a simple invitation: pause, settle, and receive. At Ananda Shirodhara, we believe this tradition deserves both thoughtful practice and an honest understanding of the science.
What the research found
A 2013 pilot study in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine examined 16 healthy adults. Each received a 15-minute sesame-oil body massage, followed by 45 minutes of Shirodhara with herbal oil. A pump and thermostat controlled flow and temperature.
Afterward, participants reported improved mood and less stress. Researchers also recorded slower breathing, lower heart rate and diastolic blood pressure, and increased alpha brain-wave activity in all participants. They interpreted this pattern as consistent with relaxed alertness, drawing a comparison with meditation.
However, average cortisol and urinary adrenaline-related markers did not change significantly. This study therefore does not establish that Shirodhara lowers stress hormones.
A promising beginning
The study had no separate control group, and massage preceded Shirodhara. Consequently, the effects of oil flow cannot be separated from massage, quiet rest, or expectations. These findings support further investigation; they do not establish treatment effectiveness for anxiety disorders, insomnia, or other illnesses.
Our approach at Ananda Shirodhara
For us, respecting Shirodhara means honoring its traditional context while communicating research responsibly. We recommend practitioner-administered sessions, with attentive care throughout the experience.
We view equipment as support for the practitioner’s work. The study did not test or validate the Ananda Shirodhara system.
Our intention is to help create space for stillness—a carefully held ritual in which receiving care becomes the focus.
Study reference: Dhuri KD, Bodhe PV, Vaidya AB. Shirodhara: A psycho-physiological profile in healthy volunteers. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2013;4(1):40–44. doi:10.4103/0975-9476.109550.
