Sanskrit: Swedhana
A few reasons you may want to do an herbal steam are to:
• Nourish and warm the tissues of the scalp, eyes and jaw
• Calm the mind and relax the body
• Support Lymphatic drainage at the clavical
• Expectoration of congestion in lungs and upper channels
• Warm lymph, blood, muscle, skin, bones, nerve tissues
• Aides sweating for releasing toxins
• Loosen and liquefy dry mucous plaque
• Great during colds and flus
• Chronic sinus infections
• All forms of allergies
How To:
1 Fill a large soup pot with water
2 ADD the dried seeds, barks or any roots you will be utilizing
3 Bring to a BOIL and simmer 10 minutes
4 Turn off heat and ADD fresh herbs or flowers and KEEP COVERED.
5 Set the pot on a table and sit in front of it. With a towel draped over your head, remove the lid and breathe the steam in and out for ten to fifteen minutes or until steam subsides. Take breaks or lift towel as needed.
6 Gua Sha gently around eyes and whole face, then down neck to chest. This is good for skin regeneration, skin hydration and softening surface while draining the lymphatic vessels and nodes, as well as the sinus membranes
It works on many levels and can be done once per week as nourishing maintenance or daily for relief.
Herbal options that need to be boiled & simmered:
• Roots – ginger, osha, red root, licorice
• Barks – cinnamon, white oak
• Seeds – coriander, fenugreek, cardamom, fennel, anise
Herbal options that are added last and kept covered prior to use:
• Leaves – rosemary, sage, mints, thyme, marjoram, lemon balm
• Flowers – calendula, lavender, chamomile, borage, hyssop
