Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Manasa S, B.A.M.S
The Natural and Supporting Fats
Sneha – fats have a very good impact on general health and it is an essential ingredient of our day-to-day food. Sneha is also an important component of the body. Pitta and Kapha have Sneha in them. Dhatus like mamsa, meda and majja are rich in Sneha and so is rasa and shukra dhatu. The wastes are easily expelled from the body if we take Sneha regularly. Sneha keeps the agni intact and active and is antagonist to Vata. By keeping a check on Vata, Sneha keeps the gut and the entire body unctuous.
We consume oil and ghee and some other food substances like sesame seeds etc and fish and other animal products which supply our body with essential fats to support the fat inside us.
The function of medas – the body fat, is snehana – to provide and maintain unctuousness and lubrication in the body, so that all activities take place easily. The Sneha of pure and healthy muscles is called vasa which is also a Sneha. Majja – bone marrow is a Sneha by itself.
The fat we consume gets converted into fatty acids, which support many functions in the body and also supports the fats naturally present in the body.
The Omega Trend
Fatty acids are integral parts of our body and are a vital part of our cell membranes. They have a strong impact on our health and its balance. The external source of fatty acids like Omega-3 Fatty acids are either from animal – fish or plant – walnut, flax seeds etc. origin. They support the fatty acids in our body. They are the building blocks of the fat in our body – the ‘medo dhatu’ or ‘medas’ component. Fatty acids in our body can also be correlated to Snehamsha – the natural unctuousness or oiliness in tissues and membranes.
Related Reading – ‘Omega 3 Fatty Acids for Gut Health and Constipation, Modern and Ayurveda thoughts’
Sources of Sneha vs Sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Ayurveda has explained Sneha Yoni – the source for the fats we eat. They too are of two categories – sthavara – from plant or vegetable products and jangama – from animal products.
Among the sthavara Sneha, the most popular ones mentioned are – Tila – sesame seeds, Priyala – Buchanania lanzan, Eranda – Ricinus communis (castor), Sarshapa – mustard, Atasi – Linum usitatissimum – flaxseed (linseed) etc. (Charaka Sutra 13). All these are sources of Omega 3 fatty acids except Eranda, which is a source of Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, which are equally good for health and gut health.
Among the Jangama Sneha, has been mentioned fishes, milk, curds, ghee, meat, muscle fat and bone marrow of animals and birds like deer etc. fat of animals like boar, tiger etc. (Charaka Sutra 13).
The explanation seems to be so close to the explanation of sources of fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6.
Though all things mentioned in Ayurveda texts might not contain Omega 3, but the basic therapeutic idea is to provide fatty acids to the body and these things definitely has Sneha – vis-à-vis Omega 3 Fatty Acids and other useful fats which would provide and enhance snehamsha in the body.
Action of Sneha and Omega 3 Fatty Acids
If Omega 3 fatty acids can be taken under the discussion of essential Sneha material (sources) used to support the snehamsha of the body, Sneha and Snehana procedure will bestow many therapeutic benefits and the similarity can be found with therapeutic action and benefits of the mentioned fatty acids. So, Ayurveda had its own ways and principles of administering Sneha. Snehana is administered in many forms in Ayurveda.
1. Shodhana Sneha – administered in large doses to saturate the body with fats and as preparatory procedure of Shodhana – cleansing therapies. In a way, Sneha helps in cleansing the body apart from cleansing the gut. This is because when Vamana and Virechana are administered, they not only cleanse the body but will also cleanse the gut since both these procedures take place through the gastrointestinal tracts.
2. Shamana Sneha – administered in moderate quantity, to pacify and nullify the hyperactive doshas in the body, mainly Vata. Vata causes dryness in the gastrointestinal tract and also in the tissues. Shamana Sneha would control the hyperactivity of Vata in the body, ward off the dryness, induce unctuousness and restore the body strength, cellular unctuousness and help in building up strength and endurance.
3. Brmhana Sneha – administered in small quantities along with food, to nourish and strengthen the body and also to promote bulk of the body.
All these functions are also rendered by Omega 3 fatty acids, but Ayurveda ways of administering Sneha are broad spectrum ones with immense therapeutic benefits.
Sneha is also administered as Vasti – therapeutic enema and as Nasya – nasal installation of medicated fats.
Omega 3 fatty acids, when administered and supplemented in the form of foods, which are its sources, will fall under a special type of Sneha i.e. Vicharana Sneha. This form of Sneha includes administration of Sneha with food or ingredients having Sneha as food inclusions.
Vata can cause many gastrointestinal diseases including constipation, flatulence, distension of abdomen, bloating and dreadful conditions like gulma, udavarta etc. Basically, aggravated vata causes dryness in the colon. Enemas will attend to the vata and would bring it to balance, when administered through a rectal route in the form of enema. Colon is the chief seat of vata. Lubricating the seat of vata and controlling it there, is equal to controlling the other subtypes of vata present everywhere in the body through a feedback mechanism.
Role of Sneha in Gut health
Acharya Vagbhata mentions two key benefits of sneha pertaining to gut health,
– Dipta antaragni – which means kindling the core gut fire and keeping it in a state of balance. The easiest way to understand this is ‘to activate the digestive system, correct and balance the core metabolism and keep the gut healthy and as an extended benefit, keep the overall health intact and optimum’.
– Parishuddha Koshta – cleanses the alimentary tract
Acharya Charaka has mentioned ‘Krura Koshta’ as an indication for administering oil for snehana. Krura Koshta means hard bowel movements. Krura Koshta is also an indication for use of Majja – bone marrow as Sneha. Likewise he has mentioned ‘obstruction in the srotas of the body caused by aggravated vata’ among the indications for administering muscle fat (vasa) for snehana. (Cha.Su.Ch13)
In Siddhi Sthana Chapter 1, Acharya Charaka has mentioned ‘Malanam vinihanti sangham’ amongst the action / therapeutic benefits of snehana. It means ‘Sneha eliminates the obstruction of waste materials in the body’ which includes faeces and urine.
Vata, Mutra, Mala Sanga – i.e. obstruction of fart, urine and faeces (flatulence, urinary obstruction and constipation) are indications for Asthapana (Niruha) and Anuvasana (Sneha) Vasti, both forms of enema having Sneha in them.
The other indications of Vasti and Sneha in enema towards gut health are –
– Adhmana – distension of abdomen, flatulent distension,
– Krimi kostha – worms in the gut (gut infections)
– Udavarta – upward movement of vata causing many troublesome symptoms and conditions like constipation etc.
– Shula – abdominal colic
– Vishamagni – erratic digestive activities due to agni being influenced by aggravated vata
