Snanam Dahashramaharam Swedakandutrashapaham | Hradyam Malaharam Shreshtham Sarvendriyavishodhanem || Tandrapapopashamanam Tushtidam Punsatva Vardhanam | Raktaprasadanam Capi Snanamagneshca Dipanam ||
Meaning: Bathing eliminates heat, fatigue, sweat, itching, and thirst. It cleans the sweat on the body, boosts up the heart and naturally cleans the sense organs. It removes the drowsiness and helps in recharging the blood circulation and energy; it also augments body-force. Very warm water should not be used for bathing; as its heat has negative effects on the eyesight and on delicate skin. Bathing with cold (up to the temperature easily tolerable by one in a given season) water is best for health y effects; it allays the excess heat of the body and plethora of other problems. Bathing should be started from the head. At least three to four bathing-mugs full of water should be poured on the head in its straight and bent (comfortably by bending the neck) positions. Doing so helps outflow of the heat of the head and the whole body from the soles. The other parts of the body should then be bathed in succession from top to bottom. Using paste of besan (flour of gram pulse), turmeric and mustard oil, or suitable natural herbs twice or thrice a week is better than the soaps. The body should be rubbed by wet towel of khadi (raw cotton woven on handloom) or a similar rough fabric after bathing so that the skin pores are opened up properly. Care should be taken to wipe up all the joints (including those behind the ears and near the nostrils, etc) this way. The body should be clothed only after it has dried completely. Do not bathe after having food or when having fever, or weakness due to dysentery, etc. Proper sponge bath could be taken while suffering from minor cold and/or some disease of ears or eyes. Bathing serves as a medicine as soon as the body is in a position to bathe comfortably. Clothing: The Ayurvedic texts describe � Kamyam Yashasyamayushyamlakshamighnam Praharshanam | Shrimatparishadam Shastam Nirmalambara Dharanam || Meaning: Neat and clean clothing has pleasant and health y effect; it eliminates (the signs of) indigence and enables one to sit with the civilized and cultured people. Different types of clothing are recommended (for best effects) for worshiping, working in the house, outing and sleeping. Different types of fabrics suit for different seasons; for example �light (especially white and light in texture), loose and thin clothes in summer, warm clothes (woolen, silky and dark colored that suppress kaph and vat) in winter and easily drying clothes (especially whitish) in autumn. Washing one’s clothes by oneself is a good physical exercise and also ensures careful cleaning. Do not wear unwashed clothes. Although the choice of color for health iest effect on the mental and physical health depends on chromopathic and astrological theories in Ayurveda , it is generally true that very bright and gaudy clothing should be avoided. Tight clothes have negative effects on blood circulation and nervous system. Choice of clothing should be such that it allows comfortable movement of body and makes the personality graceful.
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