Hrid Basti in Sanskrit refers to Hridaya, the heart and Basti, the container or retainer. This is also called as Urobasti (Uro=chest and basti=retaining something inside). So Hrid Basti is an oil bath on the heart. This suggests an Ayurvedic hot oil treatment where the medicated hot oil preparation or freshly prepared herbal decoction is poured over the heart region. Hridaya, the heart is considered as one among the trimarma (three vital areas) measuring about four fingers (four anguli pramana), covering heart, middle of sternum.
This procedure is bathing the heart region using warm medicated oils or herbal decoctions or medicated ghee depending on the condition.
Procedure:
The person undergoing Hrid Basti is made to lie face down on the massage table (Droni)
The dough is prepared out of black gram flour or whole wheat flour. It is then made into a small ring of four to five inches in diameter which is placed over the chest to cover the heart i.e., to the left side of the sternum.
After it is glued with some water to make it leakproof, lukewarm medicated oil or the herbal decoction is slowly poured into it. When this cools down it is squeezed out and replaced with more warm oil or herbal decoction.
At the end of the procedure the dough is removed; a gentle massage is given over the area. The person is made to take rest for a while.
Duration of treatment: 30 minutes
Benefits:
Pacifies aggravated Vata dosha in the chest region
Nourishes and Strengthens the cardiac muscles; thus rejuvenate the heart
Regulates cardiac functions
Relieves deep seated repressed stress,anger and grief
Improves blood circulation and breathing
Gives a sense of peace and happiness
The procedure is effective in the following conditions: