Abhyanga Oil
Shiroabhyanga Oil
Shiroabhyanga is the Ayurvedic massage of the head: shiras, the head, and abhyanga, the oil massage. This is the classical oil for it, with Amla, Bhringraj and Brahmi in a warm sesame base, at home in the evening ritual and in the treatment room alike.
Ingredients
Sesamum indicum Seed Oil, Cocos nucifera Oil, Prunus dulcis Oil, Ricinus communis Seed Oil, Phyllanthus emblica Fruit Extract*, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Flower Extract*, Acacia concinna Fruit Extract*, Eclipta prostrata Leaf Extract*, Allium cepa Bulb Extract*, Glycyrrhiza glabra Root Extract*, Bacopa monnieri Extract*, Melaleuca alternifolia Leaf Oil, Mentha piperita Oil, Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus officinalis Leaf Oil, Lavandula angustifolia Oil. *Infused in carrier oil base. Contains sesame and tree nuts (almond).
How to use
Warm a small amount. Apply to the crown and work across the scalp, temples and neckline in slow circles for 10 to 15 minutes. Leave in for half an hour or overnight, then wash thoroughly. Use two to three times a week, or daily in the classical manner.
Shiroabhyanga Oil
The ritual
The Ashtanga Hridayam places daily oiling of the head among the practices of Dinacharya, the classical daily routine, and the tradition has carried it for generations. The practice is unhurried: warm oil is worked into the crown, then outward across the scalp in slow circles, down to the temples and the base of the neck, following the marma points of the head the way a practitioner would work them. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough. Kept in the evening, Shiroabhyanga closes the day: the mind settles, the shoulders drop, and sleep comes more easily.
An oil composed for the head
An oil for Shiroabhyanga has different work to do than a body oil. It must feed the scalp and the roots of the hair, sit well in the hair without weighing it down, and carry the herbs the classical texts reach for first. This one is built on sesame, coconut, sweet almond and castor oil, infused with Amla, Bhringraj and Brahmi, with hibiscus flower, Shikakai and liquorice root alongside them. Rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus and peppermint finish it with a clean herbal scent. Used regularly, it keeps the scalp supple and leaves hair soft, glossy and easier to manage.
Shiroabhyanga and Shirodhara
Practitioners use this oil in two ways. As the working oil for a full Shiroabhyanga treatment, the seated head, neck and shoulder massage that opens or closes many Ayurvedic therapies. And as a pouring oil for Shirodhara, the classical treatment in which a fine, steady stream of warm oil is guided slowly across the forehead, one of the quietest experiences Ayurveda has to offer.
Good to know
Contains sesame, almond oil and natural essential oils, so it is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. A patch test is sensible for sensitive skin.
For external use only. Not a substitute for professional advice.
Benefits
- Classical oil for Shiroabhyanga, the Ayurvedic head massage
- Amla, Bhringraj and Brahmi, infused in sesame, coconut, almond and castor oil
- Nourishes the scalp; leaves hair soft, glossy and easier to manage
- Suitable as a pouring oil for the Shirodhara treatment
- An evening ritual from Dinacharya, the classical daily routine
Classical reference
Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana (Dinacharya)
