Healing Waters

Kashmir is situated in the Northern Hemisphere and has a moderate climate, primarily determined by its geographic location; bound by the towering Karakoram range in the north, the Pir Panjal range in the south and west, and the Zanaskar range in the east. It is generally characterized as chilly in the spring and autumn, mild in the summer and cold in the winter. The weather is frequently colder in the hilly regions of the valley than in the flat lower portion due to the substantial variations in geo-location among the various districts.

In the chilly winter days, as valley remains frosted, the aged populace suffers from frequent aches and pains, like joint pain, back pain, and leg pain. Muscles and joints get stiff, making these sensations worse. To counter this, Kashmiris have been using various traditional means of treatment of which Hammam remains the vital one.

Hamam, a traditional heating system that provides warmth through heated floors helps ease the pain, relax muscles, and boost blood flow to get comfort and move around even in the coldest days. The Hamam’s soothing and warm treatment dates back to centuries, where people have been using this to naturally ease their pain.

In the valley, as a form of treatment, Hamam bathing has been utilized by Hakims and medical professionals for a considerable amount of time. Hamaim, a traditional medical practitioner administers Hamam, and is responsible for preparing it and its required herbs for the patients. In Ayurveda, akin to Hamam, a therapy is utilized called “Sarvanga Swevan.”

Sarvanga Swevan in Sanskrit, and body steam bath in English, an ancient medical practice rooted in rich traditions of Ayurveda, offers a holistic approach to wellness and rejuvenation.

Physically, a Hamam consists of four rooms and each one has a different temperature setting: low, medium, moderate, and hot. In the initial, a patient goes in the chamber with a low temperature, which gradually increases with time to the chamber with medium temperature. As the temperature of the body steadily increases, patients move to rooms with higher temperatures.

Hamam, producer of heat & warmth is a place used for bathing, consisting of several rooms with one room leading to the other with specific provisions and conditions customized according to the disease to be treated. It evacuates the waste materials from the body in the form of sweat and vapors. Inside Hamam, a bather sweats freely in a room hot & dry maintained at progressively higher temperatures, usually followed by a cold plunge, a full body wash and massage and a final period of relaxation in a cooling room. Sitting or lying down in a steam chamber that has been specifically created, the individual is subjected to herbal steam that is directed to the entire body with the exception of the head, kept outside the chamber. Additionally, this is done to guarantee that the head does not become overheated and to ensure comfort.

Neem, Tulsi, Nirgundi, and Dashamoola are some of the Ayurvedic herbs that are frequently incorporated into the steam during the application process. Each of these herbs possesses a unique set of medicinal capabilities, and their selection is determined by the individual’s bodily type (Dosha) as well as their specific health requirements.

Steam bath, a traditional Ayurvedic treatment that includes heating water and then infusing it with fragrant oils and medicinal plants to produce steam encourages perspiration, which in turn assists the body in eliminating toxins that have accumulated all over the body, through the skin. By purifying the body and supporting a variety of physical functions, this detoxification process, which is known as “Svedana,” discomfort alleviation, increased circulation, enhanced respiratory health, mental relaxation, and the elimination of back discomfort are all benefits.

In chambers-cold, mild or hot- steam is directed into a chamber where a patient is kept seated or lying down, which enables the therapeutic vapors to permeate the skin and provide the desired effects.

In addition to purification and rejuvenation, Hamam has numerous health benefits. It is used to reduce Lazoojat-e-Akhlat (viscosity of the humors), improve the health of the debilitated individuals, strengthen body, cure obesity, increase Hararat-e-Ghariziya (innate heat of the body), improve Istehala (metabolism), evacuate waste products through skin, and helps in the treatment of Falij (paralysis) and Zubool (muscular wasting)

Ayurveda medical practices highly recommend heat exposure for the benefits of the promotion of circulation, the elimination of toxins, and the management of Dosha imbalances. Dosha, a central term in Ayurveda originating from Sanskrit, means substances that can cause problems in individual’s well-being. When it comes to heat therapy, one of the most common ways utilized in Ayurvedic treatments is the steam bath.

The duration of Ayurvedic steam bath sessions, as well as the regularity with which they are performed, varies from person to person and situation to situation. In general, sessions can take anywhere from ten to thirty minutes and can be repeated once a week or more frequently if an Ayurvedic practitioner recommends. Ayurvedic steam bath is a method that is natural and effective in promoting well-being at all levels - physical, mental, and spiritual. They give a holistic approach to cleansing, relaxation, and rejuvenation by utilizing the power of heat therapy and medicinal herbs within their practice.

The ancient practice of Ayurvedic steam baths continues to be an essential component of holistic wellness practices, regardless of whether they are performed in a spa environment or replicated at home.

Floriculture Department of Jammu & Kashmir recently discovered one of a kind surface that had been constructed five hundred years ago, appeared like a room, turned out to be a Hamam that was utilized throughout the Mughal era in Kashmir. During the time of the Mughals, it is believed by specialists that in addition to hot and cold facilities, there must have been a hydraulic system that was capable of heating water.

When it comes to the management of disease situations, hydrotherapy is one of the most prevalent therapeutic modalities that are utilized in naturopathy and other traditional medical systems. It accomplishes this by utilizing the various characteristics of water at varying temperatures.

Steam bath is a type of hydrotherapy in which a person is subjected to moist heat to all regions of their body, with the exception of their head. There is a striking resemblance between the physiological changes that occur during a steam bath and those that occur after physical activity or fever.

The practice of taking steam baths for Ayurvedic purposes extends back thousands of years to ancient India, where it was recognized for its deep medicinal effects. The relevance of steam therapy in traditional medicine is highlighted by the fact that references to it can be found in classical Ayurvedic literature such as the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita.

 Hilal Ahmad Tantray, Research Scholar, Department of History and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi

Mohsin Mushtaq is a freelance multimedia journalist based in New Delhi. The author is pursuing MAMC at AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.